Talking to Your Toddler About Jesus
Before I became a parent, I thought that all discipleship happened within the form of Bible study. I pictured my one-day children sitting around the kitchen table listening as we read and discussed Scripture. Discipleship can be done this way, but the greatest impact will happen when you invite Jesus into your day-to-day routine.
I’ve learned most of this from trial-and-error, learning from books, and letting the Holy Spirit lead.
Something special happens when you surrender your own efforts
and seek Him for ideas on intentionally leading your kids in Christ.
My son turns three next week. He knows what His Bible is, frequently joins my quiet time, and will say that Jesus lives in His heart. He knows that kindness and giving makes Jesus happy. He sings “Honey in the Rock” and refers to “Graves into Gardens” as The Jesus Song. None of this happened because of one family Bible study. It is the accumulated effect of intentionally letting Jesus in.
I didn’t start all of this overnight, but day after day I attempted to allow Him into another area.
Over time, He has become a daily topic. Here are ways I talk to my toddler about Jesus:
1. Intentionally arrange routines.
Try adding a faith element to the tasks and routines you complete daily with your toddler.
Pray before each meal.
This is a simple way to model talking to Jesus. This is one of the hardest ones for us because we don’t always eat dinner together at the same time.
Listen and discuss worship songs in the car.
Instead of just letting worship music play, I try to explain what the song is about. Keep it simple.
When “Honey in the Rock” plays, I will say, This song is about how Jesus gives us what we need.
When “Graves into Gardens” plays, I will say, This is talking about how Jesus gives us life.
Read Scripture-based bedtime stories.
I keep a few books on his bedside table for bedtime stories. Some of our favorites are linked below. When he chooses Noah’s Ark or the Dollar General find, Miracles of Jesus, I give him plenty of time to study pictures and flip through the pages. As he has gotten older, he asks questions like: Who is that? What is he doing? What is that?
I answer simply, but thoroughly.
That is Jesus. He is washing His friends’ feet because He is showing them he loves them.
That is Noah. He listened to Jesus and built a BIG boat.
Reflect on the day before bedtime prayers.
Before we pray, I try to highlight highs and lows. I’m hoping this will foster future open communication before bedtime. We talk about how well, or not well, we shared and showed kindness. We discuss what was really fun or what upset us. I lead the conversation, but my son is starting to voice his own thoughts and reflections.
I have so much fun with Granny.
I made Mommy upset.
I played with my friends.
I started most of these routines well before he could fully understand or respond. I try to establish routines and habits before they are necessary, instead of attempting to incorporate them once they are desperately needed.
2. Open doors of opportunity.
Maybe the most important element of sharing Jesus with our young children is being aware of open doors. From looking at the sunset to the car ride after school, I try to always be aware and alert of instances where I can speak “Jesus.”
Some common phrases I use are:
Jesus made such a pretty sunset.
How cool is it that Jesus made the moon?
Jesus loves when we share with our friends.
I bet that made Jesus so happy.
Jesus gave us some awesome friends.
3. Allow them to observe your faith.
Our kids see and hear EVERYTHING.
I have always made an effort for my son to see my quiet time. Although it is sacred, I didn’t want this time to be a secret.
He knows when Mommy is reading her Bible or writing. It is now common for Walker to go get a book, sometimes his Bible, and a crayon and join me. This only started because he observed my faith in action.
He also sees how I speak to our neighbors.
He is aware of what I do for my husband.
He knows how I speak to and about others.
He sees how I respond in conversation.
Although he doesn’t quite see it yet, he will one day model his actions, reactions, and priorities after mine. Much of his character, convictions, and core habits will be modeled after my own. This is why it is important that we are not only allowing them to observe us, but we are intentionally aware of what they are seeing.
Don’t just let them observe you, let them be involved with you.
This one is hard, because kids have a way of making tasks a little more tedious and a lot more chaotic.
But it’s imperative that we allow them to observe and interrupt, so that we can lead intentionally.
4. Always discipline with love.
*Insert eye roll*
I know…but the attitude. But the non-stop back talk.
But he just won’t listen. But I’ve tried everything.
But they know better…this one sounds familiar.
We know better too, yet we defy God daily.
That is what always brings me back to Jesus.
The simple fact that we often behave just like toddlers.
We want things done our way. We have little patience.
We throw fits. We do the opposite of what our Father says.
And God always responds with love and correction.
He doesn’t condemn us or shame us, he allows conviction, comes alongside us, and corrects us.
On a good day, my discipline for minor issues looks the same:
My son misbehaves.
I ask him to come to me.
I kneel down, hold his hands, and ask him to look at me.
I explain what he did, natural consequences, and what he should have done.
You threw your car at the wall. That will break it and mess up the wall. You need to play with your car on the floor or the tracks.
I assign his punishment (usually if we are having the same conversation again).
You need to put your cars up and sit in timeout for 2 minutes.
I call him back to me after his punishment and tell him what happens next.
If you throw your cars at the wall again, you won’t be able to play with them anymore today.
I tell him that I love him, we hug, and it’s over.
*Find what works for you and your child. Make it consistent. Include hugs and I love you.
That’s on a good day. Just know that there are still moments when I lose my patience.
This is also easier when my husband is home and we are able to share the load.
I may not speak of Jesus in these moments, but it sure is an opportunity to show Jesus.
Always coming to us. Always guiding us. Always loving us. Never condemning us.
Bonus: Be extra!
Make it fun!
Talking about Jesus and walking in your faith shouldn’t be a boring chore.
It’s a joy-filled, peace-bringing, life-giving walk.
Here are a few things we do to make it fun:
Dance to worship music.
Listener Kids is our go-to, but we will dance to anything!
Check out the Jesus Loves Me (Hip Hop Remix).Get loud!
We like to yell, Go Jesus! in the middle our worship songs.
You turn graves into gardens, GO JESUS!
Resources linked below:
Habits of the Household by Justin Whitmel Earley
Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian
