Devotional help for Small Children

[JohnDickerson]

Brothers and Sisters,

I've recently been introduced to reformed theology and it has changed my life. I now found myself having a great desire to make my faith the focus of every aspect of my life, which ashamedly it was not before.

I have 2 small daughters, ages almost 2 and a little past 3. I know I want to start evening devotions immediately with them but am unsure what material would be appropriate for their comprehension level. I see a lot of guides and material for older kids 6+, but not much of any true substance for smaller ones. I want it to be theologically correct and to teach them core biblical truths without confusing them.

Any material suggestions and tips would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Faithhopelove24]

I would start with simple catechism, like Truth and Grace. Most importantly, pray with them. You can teach them a lot through your prayers. You will also teach them a lot by how you love and serve your wife. Blessings to you.

 

[John Nyberg]

We started with singing psalm 121 together, with our own hand motions to help with memory. Praying the Lord’s Prayer frequently is a good practice. Simple questions and answers like “who made you? God made me.”

Starting at 4-5 we began memorizing the Apostle’s creed.

 

[JohnDickerson]

I would start with simple catechism, like Truth and Grace. Most importantly, pray with them. You can teach them a lot through your prayers. You will also teach them a lot by how you love and serve your wife. Blessings to you.

Thank you, that catechism looks perfect.

 

[SolaScriptura]

Not quite 2 and not quite 3? At this point you need to do devotions for you and your wife and just get them used to being there during devotions.

Figure out the rhythm of "what" it will look like for devotions in your house. I remember when my kids were small we would bracket off the time by having them help light our "Trinity candle" - one of those big fat pillar candles with 3 wicks. Don't overthink it, but it was helpful to a little kid: One candle, 3 flames. While they were really young I'd light it... but then I'd get the lighter going and let them "walk my hand" over to the candle so they helped light... eventually, they did the lighting. Anyway, we lit it at the start, and then we blew it out at the end. Thus devotions had a "ceremony" at the start and a "ceremony" at the end, and it helped them think of the time as set apart.

Pray, sing, read manageable portions of Scripture, close with prayer... introduce simple catechesis to the older one after they've grown accustomed to doing devotions.

It "works."

 

[iainduguid]

To aid with memorization, you might like Hannah Duguid Estes' "Tiny Hands" series:
Tiny Hands Hymns (vols. 1 & 2)
Tiny Hands Psalms
Tiny Hands Promises
Tiny Hands Prayers
Tiny Hands Apostle's Creed

Psalms, Prayers and Promises are simplified Biblical texts; these board books are beautifully illustrated by Jessica Stout.

 

[JohnDickerson]

Not quite 2 and not quite 3? At this point you need to do devotions for you and your wife and just get them used to being there during devotions.

Figure out the rhythm of "what" it will look like for devotions in your house. I remember when my kids were small we would bracket off the time by having them help light our "Trinity candle" - one of those big fat pillar candles with 3 wicks. Don't overthink it, but it was helpful to a little kid: One candle, 3 flames. While they were really young I'd light it... but then I'd get the lighter going and let them "walk my hand" over to the candle so they helped light... eventually, they did the lighting. Anyway, we lit it at the start, and then we blew it out at the end. Thus devotions had a "ceremony" at the start and a "ceremony" at the end, and it helped them think of the time as set apart.

Pray, sing, read manageable portions of Scripture, close with prayer... introduce simple catechesis to the older one after they've grown accustomed to doing devotions.

It "works."

Thanks for the information. My 3 year old shows some ability to understand and is familiar to some extent about Jesus from songs and prayers we pray. For instance, she on her own accord has thanked Jesus before during her bedtime prayers.

 

[JohnDickerson]

To aid with memorization, you might like Hannah Duguid Estes' "Tiny Hands" series:
Tiny Hands Hymns (vols. 1 & 2)
Tiny Hands Psalms
Tiny Hands Promises
Tiny Hands Prayers
Tiny Hands Apostle's Creed

Psalms, Prayers and Promises are simplified Biblical texts; these board books are beautifully illustrated by Jessica Stout.

Thanks for the material suggestions, I will look into it.

 

[Theoretical]

I'm a big fan of this: https://www.christianfocus.com/en-gb/product/9781527107045/christian-focus-story-bible-hardback and have given quite a few away over the years. There's no 2CVs and it's pretty solid.

Some friends use this for their kids 1-4, plus a hymn from the Trinity hymnal or just the doxology.

I also second Pastor Ben's recommendation to fold them into you and your wife's daily worship rhythm wiggles and all.

 

[Mr. Great-Heart]

Brothers and Sisters,

I've recently been introduced to reformed theology and it has changed my life. I now found myself having a great desire to make my faith the focus of every aspect of my life, which ashamedly it was not before.

I have 2 small daughters, ages almost 2 and a little past 3. I know I want to start evening devotions immediately with them but am unsure what material would be appropriate for their comprehension level. I see a lot of guides and material for older kids 6+, but not much of any true substance for smaller ones. I want it to be theologically correct and to teach them core biblical truths without confusing them.

Any material suggestions and tips would be greatly appreciated.

As a fellow RB, the 1689 in Rhyme is a good resource. I am currently working through it with 6, 4, and 2 year old children. Most of the rhymes can be sung to familiar hymn tunes.

Even if you hold off on using it in your family worship for another year or two, it could be helpful for you to look through now and get a sense of how they simplify the concepts in each chapter. You could also use it now and in a couple of years, because your children won't remember it and you'll be better at teaching it the second time around!

As the primary material for your family worship, I agree with the suggestion to sing, read short portions of the Bible (not a children's Bible), and pray. Ask very simple questions about what you read in the Bible - start by asking the question right after you've read the verse with the answer. The 3 year old should be able to answer. The almost 2 year old might just need to try repeating what her sister said.

 

[jwithnell]

Read a bit of scripture with them daily in order, straight through books; avoid skipping around to the "big stories." The readings can get longer as children mature.

 

[Andres]

Not quite 2 and not quite 3? At this point you need to do devotions for you and your wife and just get them used to being there during devotions.

Ben has a point here. Now, I personally distinguish between family worship and devotions. Family worship should be daily and should include the elements of worship as God has prescribed in His word - prayer, Scripture, and singing. You can choose the order but read some Scripture, sing a Psalm, and pray. As Ben noted at your children's age they can't follow along in the bible and likely can't sing much, but you are washing them in the Word and training them for worship. Most importantly, God expects you to do this. I don't agree with everything in this book, but overall I recommend Family Worship by Whitney to anyone new to the idea of daily family worship.

As for devotions (I take this to mean things specifically geared to more age appropriate materials to help point your kids to Christ), have them begin memorizing the Children's Catechism. All my kids began this around age 2. It's made for young children. A helpful book to go along is From the Lips of Little Ones by Kingwood. You can read to them from a good children's bible daily (I like this one), but again do not let this replace family worship where you read from a faithful translation of the Scriptures. Beyond these, anything from RHB children's sections will be solid.

 

[njen]

Not quite 2 and not quite 3? At this point you need to do devotions for you and your wife and just get them used to being there during devotions.

I wholeheartedly agree with Ben. Not saying you are doing this, but I often see the emphasis in family worship exclusively being on teaching the children. I am called to teach my wife and myself as well. It is a work in progress.

Additionally, be careful not to set the bar too high for yourself or your children. This can just lead to frustration rather than faithfully & joyfully growing into this role over time. For context, i have a 7yr, 5yr, 2.5yr, & 6mo.

 

[JohnDickerson]

I wholeheartedly agree with Ben. Not saying you are doing this, but I often see the emphasis in family worship exclusively being on teaching the children. I am called to teach my wife and myself as well. It is a work in progress.

Additionally, be careful not to set the bar too high for yourself or your children. This can just lead to frustration rather than faithfully & joyfully growing into this role over time. For context, i have a 7yr, 5yr, 2.5yr, & 6mo.

I definitely set the bar too high this week. Like you said it only led to frustration. I am adjusting my expectations while making sure to continue so that it becomes a daily action my children expect.