Skip to main content

How to Teach the Scriptures to Toddlers

Teaching scripture stories to toddlers is important for instilling them with faith in God, gospel knowledge, and power to do what’s right. But it’s not easy for them to understand the scriptures and they have short attention spans, so try the following ideas to help them learn better.

  1. If your toddler has difficulty cooperating during family scripture study, let them read their church books while the family reads from the scriptures. They will learn that it is a special time to read about the gospel. 
  2. Try reading toddler books about scripture stories together before bed.
  3. Retell scriptures stories in your own words at a toddler level. To get little children involved, have them do something (like clap) every time they hear a certain key word (like faith). Or make little happy and sad faces for them to hold up when they hear the words “happy” and “sad.”
  4. Read the Church's scripture stories for children. After a few sentences, read the corresponding verses from the scriptures. Remember Elder Bednar's words that even babies can feel the spirit of the scriptures although they do not understand them.
  5. Use puppets, stuffed animals, toys, pictures, and other props for visual and audio aides while you tell scripture stories. Toddlers enjoy a lot of sensory stimulation.
  6. Buy or make a flannel board to teach scripture stories. Let the kids help you put up the paper cutouts.
  7. Have toddlers act out scripture stories. Make it fun and dress them up in bath robes and sandals and use props. This idea works best for Family Home Evening.
  8. Watch Veggie Tales cartoons or other animated scripture stories. Discuss the story afterward to help your toddler understand the lessons taught and how to apply them in their young lives. Try corresponding the movie to what you are reading in family scripture study.
  9. Sing Primary songs about scripture stories, such as “Nephi's Courage.” Again, try to correspond them to what you are reading.
  10. Most important, be an example to your children. Let them see you read and study the scriptures, follow the commandments, and live a Christ-like life. They will learn by example how to apply the gospel to their own lives.
Sharing Time: How do you teach the scriptures to your toddlers?
Labels:

Comments

Anonymous said…
very good ideas - use them and watch him grow loving the Gospel like you!-DAD
October 21, 2011 at 1:08 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Family Home Evening for Babies

ldsclipart.com Family home evening can sometimes be a challenge because we don't know what to do. This is especially true for those of us with only a baby. There are plenty of ideas for single members, couples, and families, but I have yet to find good suggestions for planning a family home evening lesson for a baby (not yet in Nursery). So I compiled my own list: Read gospel-related board books. They are short and introduce common scripture stories in a very simple manner. Read the scriptures. Elder Bednar said , "Youth of all ages, even infants, can and do respond to the distinctive spirit of the Book of Mormon. Children may not understand all of the words and stories, but they certainly can feel the 'familiar spirit' described by Isaiah ( Isaiah 29:4 ; see also 2 Nephi 26:16 )." Sing Primary songs together. There is no better way to invite the Spirit, teach basic gospel principles, and prepare your baby for Nursery and Primary. Sing inte...
6 comments
Read more

How to Know if the Book of Mormon Is True

photo from lds.org A previous set of elders put me on the 12-week course for new missionaries. Last night as I was finishing up the week on revelation through the Book of Mormon, I came upon this study activity: Read Moroni 10:3-5 and discuss how these verses show what an investigator must do to gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon. Discuss the meaning and importance of real intent and how to help investigators develop real intent. I considered skipping it since I had read that scripture passage countless times, especially with studying Preach My Gospel , and because the discussion seemed to focus on real intent, which had been covered thoroughly in that week's study. But I decided to humor myself and do it anyway. And what I learned surprised me. There are actually four steps an investigator must complete before asking God with real intent and receiving an answer: Read the Book of Mormon. How can we know if something is true if we haven't even read it? We have to b...
4 comments
Read more

Scripture Power: Revelation & Protection

[The second half of my talk given 1/11/15. Read the first part here .] The second reason why we need scripture power is to receive personal revelation. We can find guidance in the word of God. Nephi wrote, “feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do” ( 2 Nephi 32:3 ). By following the counsel in the scriptures, we can always know what we need to do to stay on the path back to Heavenly Father. A great example is when Joseph Smith read James 1:5 and followed its advice, praying to God and thus bringing about the entire Restoration. We may not be able to find a specific answer in the scriptures as Joseph did, but diligent scripture study invites the Holy Ghost, who will reveal to us answers to our gospel questions and life decisions. Third, scripture power protects us from temptation and sin. The best way it does so is preventively. President Packer said, “True doctrine, understood, changes attitude and behavior....
2 comments
Read more