Carol McAdams Moore has written some great devotional books for preteens and talked about the importance of devotions in her May 16 blog. In her January 10 blog of this year, Carol talked about establishing devotional routines with children. I could not agree with her more! The devotional books I write are for a slightly younger audience, but the principle is the same. Parents need to help kids spend time in God’s Word every day, and that is not an easy task. The key is to find Bible story books or devotional books that are kid-friendly and age appropriate. I found that with my children, variety was also important.

Here are a few tips on keeping family devotions fun and fresh and leave your kids wanting more:

1. Turn Mealtime into Talk Time. Kids love to talk and be the center of attention. At the end of your meal, let each child have the spotlight while everyone listens. Ask the child about his or her day—what was great and what wasn’t so great? Follow this talk time with kid friendly devotions and a specific prayer for each child.
2. Take Turns Choosing Devotions. If you have more than one child, take turns letting your children choose what kind of devotions you will have as a family at mealtime—a Bible story book, a reading from a kids’ devotional book, or a favorite Bible passage are a few examples.
3. Pass the Prayer Cup! Write the names of friends and family members on small slips of paper and put them in a cup. When it’s time for the mealtime prayer, pass the cup around the table and have each person pull out a name, then pray specifically for those people. After the people have been prayed for, place their names in another cup so you can continue this process for days or weeks until all the names from the first cup have been drawn. Then you can start over again. Be sure to include your pastor, leaders, and teachers.
4. One on One. Depending on how many children you have, try to have devotions with just one child at a time. This may occur at nap time or bedtime. Your children will love the attention and it often results in meaningful conversation.
5. Memorize Those Verses! Choose one verse a week to read and memorize as a family. Talk about what the verse means and read it together every day. As your kids begin to learn it, read some of the words and see if they can recite the rest. Write the verse on note cards and tape them to your bathroom mirror or kitchen window so they can read them throughout the day.
6. Give Each of Your Children a Bible. Bibles come in many different versions and for all different ages. Letting your children have their own Bibles lets them know that God’s Word is for them. Write your child’s name in his or her Bible and include a specific Bible verse.
7. Watch a Bible Story Video. There are many Bible stories that have been made into videos for kids. Choose one day a week to watch a Bible story video together. Share a special snack as you watch the video as a family.

As your children become preteens and teens, encourage them to have their own personal devotions so they can learn and grow on their own as well as with the family. Just as we need food for our bodies every day—we also need food for our souls.

Crystal