You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.
(Deuteronomy 6:7)
Our statewide ad council sponsors Public Service Announcements on TV all the time encouraging everyone to get their five servings of fruits and vegetables daily. However, our children need spiritual food also! Here are some ways to get more Bible into your children this summer:
Summer Reading Programs: Many Christian book stores sponsor summer reading programs for children. Some have strict guidelines as to what will count for their particular program. Some I have seen state that the book has to be of a spiritual or character-building nature.
Bible Bowls: Many congregations host fun-filled Bible Bowls. A Bible Bowl is a contest where questions are asked on a particular theme announced in advance (think spelling bee). The children study the books of the Bible pertaining the theme and answer questions based upon it. They often break the Bowl up into various age groups and modify the questions to match the abilities of the children in those groupings.
Youth Forums & “Lock-ins:” Many congregations have a weekend lectureship series and overnight “lock-ins” for youth. Bonding with children the same age can help children form solid spiritual friendships. At the point where children become more and more independent, friends have far more influence than parents do. When that happens, you want friends around your child that will help them spiritually, not hinder them. You can “stack the odds” in their favor by providing opportunities for them to meet like-minded children of faith.
Bible Camp: There are camps based on various abilities (sports, cheerleading, etc.), academic subjects (Math, Space, etc), and health conditions (epilepsy, diabetes, etc.). This goes for religion as well. Sleep-away camp is a staple of childhood for many kids. There are arts and crafts, nightly skits and devotionals, and recreational activities each day. Check with your local congregation to see what camps are available. Many are sponsored by colleges as a recruitment tool and are low-cost, or may be free to members of the congregation. Check with your particular congregation.
Vacation Bible School: Any kid who grew up in a church-going family will have fond memories of VBS! Similar to a day-camp, children come daily to a themed classroom and learn facts about the Bible and Bible characters, or a particular virtue or characteristic. There are snacks and crafts, and tons of fun for all!
Trying some or all of these ideas will help your children gain additional Bible knowledge, and they will have so much fun and create lasting memories and pleasant associations in doing so!
