- Introduce your child to God and Jesus as early as 3 or when they start asking questions.
- Live a Christian lifestyle to be an example of the Lord's love for your child.
- Explain faith and religion to a child using simple and familiar language to keep them engaged and curious.
When should you talk to your child about God and Jesus?
Children as young as 3 may be ready to learn about God and Jesus. Every child is different, so focus on your child’s specific needs. Have they been asking about Christ? Are they asking questions about the hows and whys of the world? These are tell-tale signs that your child is curious about who God and Jesus are. God and Jesus may already be household names if you're raising your child in a Christian home. In this case, they may know God and Jesus’ name, but it may be time to discuss why they’re important.
How to Introduce God and Jesus to a Child
Pray with your child every night. When you tuck your child into bed, say the Lord’s prayer and/or list off the parts of the day you’re both thankful for. Praying with your child will help them learn how to talk to God while counting their blessings. Lead your child in prayer by asking them what they’re thankful for or about their favorite part of the day. Consider praying before meals to show your child that they can thank the Lord for everything in their life.
Live a Christian lifestyle. Children learn best by example, so show your child what it means to follow God and be a good Christian. Follow the 10 Commandments and be compassionate, kind, and honest in all you do. If you follow the golden rules, you’re child most likely will, too! Avoid using bad or inappropriate language around your child. Honor your word and promises, even if things don’t go according to plan. Give people the benefit of the doubt and avoid judging books by their covers. Be respectful and kind to everyone you meet.
Watch Christian television with your child. Christian television shows designed for kids are a great way to introduce Christ and Christian values in an entertaining way. Shows like VeggieTales, Adventures in Odyssey, and Bibleman are classic kid shows that feature Bible verses, Christian values, and even catchy songs. Have family Christian movie nights to get your kids excited about learning about faith (without them even knowing). Consider watching The Prince of Egypt, Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie, or A Turtle’s Tale: Sammy’s Adventures. Ask your pastor or fellow churchgoers if there are any Christian shows or movies they would recommend. Many churches even have libraries children can check movies out from.
Read Bible stories to your child. What child doesn’t like a good story? Thankfully, there are hundreds of Bible stories that can entertain and educate kids. Sit down with your child and read them a picture book of one of your favorite Bible stories. Maybe that’s the story of Adam and Eve, David and Goliath, or Zacchaeus. Use silly voices, sound effects, or dramatic hand gestures to keep your child engaged with the story. There are hundreds of kid-friendly Bible story books out there to pick from for children of all ages. If your child isn’t a big reader, introduce them to cartoon versions of these stories. Search “Bible stories for kids” on YouTube or check out The Beginners Bible’s channel.
Make faith-based crafts with your child. A hands-on activity can get your child excited to learn about God and Jesus. Sit down together and make craft stick crosses, draw a picture of Jesus, or bead bracelets with Christian-themed charms. Talk to your child about the Bible and the importance of the symbols they're using in their craft.
Listen to kid-friendly Christian music as a family. Children love to sing and dance, and listening to faith-based music can help them learn about Jesus’ love for them. Search for kid-friendly Christian music playlists on Spotify, iHeartRadio, or YouTube, or buy a physical kid-friendly Christian CD to play in the car. Ask your pastor if there are any songs, artists, CDs, or radio stations they would recommend. Listen to the music before playing it for your child so you can be prepared to answer any questions they may have while listening.
Take your child to Sunday service. Let your child experience the power of Christ through worship. Enroll them in Sunday school or ask if they want to participate in church activities like Vacation Bible School (VBS) over the summer. Not only is this a great way to introduce your child to God and Jesus, but it also helps them make friends.
How to Talk about God and Jesus with a Child
Ask your child what they know about God and Jesus. Even toddlers may already have an idea of who God and Jesus are. You might say something like, “What do you know about God?” or “Tell me about Jesus.” Listen closely to your child’s response to discover how they’re understanding Christ. For example, many children know of Jesus as the baby in the manager at Christmas, but may not understand that Christmas is Jesus’ birthday. While participating in festive activities, talk about Jesus to teach your child the reason for the season. When your child asks you questions, answer them honestly and ask a question in return. This will help them put faith in their own words. For instance, if your child asks, “Where does God live?” you might reply with something like, “God lives in heaven up in the sky, so He can watch over you every day. What do you think God does in heaven?” Invite your child to ask you questions too. Creating an environment where they can question things and have meaningful conversations will strengthen their faith.
Tailor the language you use to be kid friendly. Connect what you’re saying with things the child does, cares about, and knows. Rather than going into lengthy religious explanations, keep your language and terminology simple yet engaging. This doesn’t mean you need to lie to your child but talk with words they understand in an upbeat, joyful tone. In other words, tell stories of Christ in the language you use with them every day. For instance, share the story of Adam and Eve in stages with a friendly attitude: Stage 1: “God created the heavens and earth. He made a beautiful garden called the Garden of Eden and Adam and Eve to live there. They could do whatever they wanted except eat the fruit from a forbidden tree.” Stage 2: “One day, Eve was tempted by an evil snake. The snake tricked Eve into eating the fruit and disobeying God. The fruit was delicious—the best thing Eve had ever tasted! So, she ran to Adam and asked him to eat the fruit too.” Stage 3: “Adam and Eve felt guilty because they broke God’s only rule. As a punishment, God asked them to leave the garden and never return.” Stage 4: “God has given you the power to know what’s right and wrong, just like Adam and Eve, but you must obey His rules.”
Talk about who God is first. Share the stories of how He created the world and helped people understand the difference between good and evil. Try saying something like, "God is a loving being, and He made everything you love because he loves you. He made the sun, grass, and even dogs. He guides us every day to be the best versions of ourselves, and you can talk to Him at any time because He's always there to help you." Ask your child questions to help them understand God’s importance. If you’re talking about how God created the heavens and earth, ask, “Why do you think God made trees?” or “What can you see that God created?”
Explain that Jesus is God’s son. Once your child has an understanding of who God is, talk to them about Jesus. Let them know that Jesus came into the world to save us—to be our savior—but is just like them. Jesus had friends and family, cared about people, and helped those in need. Paint him as a real person your child can look up to. Your child may already know Jesus’ name from holidays such as Christmas and Easter. Relay these familiar stories and emphasize Jesus’ role in them.
Express that God and Jesus love your child very much. Above all else, your child knows what it means to love someone—after all, they love you with all their heart! Let them know that the love you have for them and they have for you is how God and Jesus feel about them. You might say something like: “God and Jesus love you very much, Michael.” “You know how much I love you, Jessica? Well, God and Jesus love you just as much!” “God and Jesus protect you, mommy, daddy, your sister, brother, and all your friends, all because they love you.”
What do you do if your child asks about God or Jesus, but you’re not religious?
Be open, honest, and respectful when discussing faith with your child. Even if you don’t believe in God, it’s important to discuss religion with your child, especially if they ask about it. Talk open-mindedly about what you and others believe about God and Jesus. Encourage your child’s curiosity by showing both sides to a religious debate so that one day they can decide if they do or don’t believe in God. Ask your child what they’ve heard about God and Jesus. Keep your language simple when discussing religion with them. Explain to your child that there are many religions and depictions of God. Express the importance to respect other beliefs even if they don’t believe them. Convey that someone doesn’t have to believe in God to be a good person.
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