Reading with your children is one of the most special times you can share, especially when you’re reading the Bible together and nurturing a love for God’s Word. The Bible is full of stories of adventure, courage, faith, and redemption. Best of all, these stories unveil the depths of God’s love—a love so deep that he sent his Son to die for us. These are the stories we pray will stick with our kids for a lifetime.
Here are two ways to bring Bible stories to life and create lasting connections for kids:
The first is to provide context for the story. For example, if you are reading the story of Jonah, use maps from your Bible to show where Jonah was from and where the story took place. Fill in any other details that provide background for the story too, like what the boat might have looked like that Jonah took to Tarshish. This reminds kids that these were real people and real places.
Another way to bring a Bible story to life is by tapping into your child’s five senses. How many times has a song, a smell, or a taste evoked a memory for you? You can create those same powerful memory and sensory connections for your kids. Let’s look at Jonah again. Several elements of this story lend themselves to a fun sensory experience:
There are many things to you can do to bring Bible stories to life. Whether your Bible storytelling is simple or elaborate, do what works best for you and your family—have fun and don’t stress! After all, the most important thing is that you and your kids are in God’s Word together. That’s what really matters!
Head to Tyndale.com to learn more about Jonah and the Fish and other Tyndale Kids titles!