Teaching children to love God’s Word doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are seven practical ways to read the bible with your kids and make it a natural and meaningful part of family life.
Disclosure: Towers of Light provided us with complimentary Bible reading resources for this review. All opinions are my own.
As Christian parents, we want our children to grow up knowing and loving God’s Word. We want them to turn to Scripture for wisdom and comfort, and to recognize what God has done throughout history and in their own lives.
However, we know that sometimes with the demands of family life, even something as important as Bible reading can get pushed aside.
Even when we make time for it, keeping children engaged can be a challenge!
The good news is that teaching children to read the Bible doesn’t require an elaborate curriculum or hours of preparation. It begins with creating simple habits that make Scripture a familiar, enjoyable, and treasured part of everyday life.
7 Ways to Help Your Children Develop a Lifelong Habit of Reading the Bible
Whether they’re just beginning to recognize letters or are old enough to study Scripture independently, these ideas will help you read the Bible with kids.
1. Start Young, and Keep It Simple
Children are never too young to begin learning about God.
For toddlers and preschoolers, Bible reading might mean listening to a short story while looking at pictures. As they grow, children can follow along with the text, ask questions, and eventually read passages on their own.
The key is to make Bible reading a natural part of family life, not something reserved for formal lessons.
For younger children, look for:
- Short, engaging Bible stories
- Beautiful illustrations that bring the stories to life
- Language appropriate for their age
- Opportunities to listen, follow along, and ask questions
For Example, we enjoy The Children’s Bible in 365 Stories by Mary Batchelor.
Rather than limiting children to only the most familiar Bible stories, this illustrated collection includes 365 readings from throughout the Old and New Testaments, introducing children to biblical history, poetry, wisdom literature, the prophets, and the teachings of the early Church.
It’s designed to make exploring the Bible manageable, with one story for each day of the year!
2. Make Bible Reading a Daily Family Tradition
Some of our most meaningful family traditions are also the simplest.
Reading a few verses together at breakfast, listening to a Bible story before bedtime, or beginning the homeschool day with Scripture can become moments children remember long after they’ve grown.
The goal isn’t necessarily to read a bunch of Scripture every day. When it comes to reading the Bible with kids, I believe consistency matters more than quantity. Because a child who grows up hearing the Bible read regularly becomes familiar with its language, characters, and teachings.
And when the whole family participates in Bible reading, children begin to understand that Scripture isn’t simply another school subject. It’s a source of wisdom for life.
Choose a time that works for your family, and give yourself permission to keep it simple. Five or ten meaningful minutes are better than an elaborate plan that’s too hard to maintain. I love doing this at mealtimes because it is the quietest and everyone is sitting still! I try to eat my lunch ahead of time so I can fully commit to helping the children read or reading to them.
3. Let Children Listen While They Read: How to Read the Bible With Kids
One of the best ways to help children become comfortable with Scripture is to allow them to hear it read aloud.
Listening gives children the opportunity to encounter unfamiliar vocabulary, hear the rhythm of the language, and follow the meaning of passages that might otherwise seem intimidating. It’s especially helpful for beginning readers who are still developing fluency.
This is one of the ideas behind the Daily Bible Reader for Kids from Towers of Light, a screen-free audio Bible device that lets children listen to Bible stories independently or follow along in a corresponding printed book.
For younger children, the device can be paired with The Children’s Bible in 365 Stories, allowing them to listen to the narration while looking at the illustrations or following the words on the page. This can also boost reading skills significantly. Because this approach combines two valuable activities: listening to Scripture and practicing reading.
Rather than replacing books with technology, it uses audio to encourage children to engage with actual printed books.
And because the device works without an internet connection or smartphone app, it offers a distraction-free alternative to the screens that so often compete for our children’s attention.
4. Encourage Questions and Conversations
One of the wonderful things about reading the Bible with children is discovering just how many questions they have!
- Why did David fight Goliath?
- Why did Joseph’s brothers sell him?
- Why did Jesus speak in parables?
Don’t feel that every Bible reading session needs to turn into a formal lesson. Sometimes, the most meaningful conversations begin with a simple question:
“What did you think about that story?”
Further, give your children opportunities to share their thoughts, wonder about difficult passages, and connect what they’ve read to their own experiences.
You don’t have to have every answer. Sometimes exploring a question together teaches children something equally important: that studying Scripture is a lifelong pursuit.
5. Give Older Children Opportunities to Read Independently
As children grow, our goal should gradually shift from always reading the Bible to them, toward helping them develop the habit of reading it for themselves.
This is especially important as children approach their preteen and teenage years. At this age, they become more independent in their thinking, develop their own convictions, and begin to ask deeper questions about faith and life.
Giving them their own Bible and encouraging personal reading time can help them take greater responsibility for their spiritual growth.
For children ages 10 and older, we gave this gift to our son for his birthday to make it easier for him! He loved using the Daily Bible Reader Gold Edition from Towers of Light, along with a beautiful burgundy King James Version Bible.
The Gold Edition is a portable audio Bible player designed for independent Scripture listening and study. Unlike a smartphone or tablet, it provides access to Bible audio without the constant interruptions of internet browsing, social media, or notifications.
Depending on the edition selected, it also includes additional study resources and features that can help older readers explore Scripture more deeply.
Paired with a printed Bible, an audio reader can be a useful tool to read the bible with kids who are older. They can enjoy listening while following the text, or incorporate Scripture into quiet time and daily routines.
The important thing is giving children opportunities to make Bible reading a habit they begin to own.
6. Reading the Bible With Kids: Make Scripture Part of Everyday Life
Reading the bible with kids doesn’t have to happen only at the kitchen table.
Children can listen to Scripture while working on a quiet activity, traveling in the car, or winding down before bed. And the conversations that follow can happen anywhere.
When a child struggles with a difficult friendship, you might discuss what Scripture teaches about forgiveness. If they’re afraid to attempt something challenging, you might remind them of David’s courage. When they see someone in need, you can talk about the Good Samaritan.
These ordinary moments help children recognize that the Bible isn’t simply a collection of ancient stories. Its lessons apply to the decisions and challenges they face every day.
The more naturally we connect Scripture to real life, the more children begin to understand its importance.
7. Let Your Children See You Reading the Bible
Perhaps one of the most powerful ways to inspire children to love Scripture is also one of the simplest:
Let them see you reading it.
Children notice what matters to us. They notice the books we keep nearby, the conversations we have, and the habits we make time for. When they see their parents turning to Scripture for guidance, comfort, and wisdom, they learn that reading the Bible is not merely a childhood assignment.
It’s something worth doing for a lifetime.
I like to get to church early and pray and read while we wait for the service to start. It’s worth getting up a little earlier so my children can see me reading the Bible!
We don’t have to be perfect examples. In fact, starting or rebuilding a Bible-reading habit alongside our children can be a beautiful family experience too.
What matters is demonstrating that God’s Word deserves a place in our everyday lives.
Bible Reading Resources for Different Ages: From Towers of Light
One challenge of teaching the Bible in a family with children of different ages is finding resources that meet each child where they are.
That’s why I appreciate the idea of using age-appropriate resources while keeping the larger goal the same: helping children become familiar with and engaged in Scripture.
Towers of Light sent us two different sets of Bible reading materials to explore.
For Younger Children: Ages 4–8
Daily Bible Reader for Kids and The Children’s Bible in 365 Stories
The younger set includes a portable audio Bible reader and a beautifully illustrated collection of 365 Bible stories.
Some of the features that stand out are:
- Screen-free listening: No internet connection or smartphone required.
- Read Along opportunities: Children can listen to the narration while following along in the corresponding book.
- Child-friendly design: Raised buttons and simple navigation are intended to make it easier for children to use independently.
- A daily reading structure: With 365 stories, families have a simple way to build a year-round Bible reading habit.
- Portability: The rechargeable audio device can be used in different rooms or taken along when traveling.
For families with younger children, I especially like the concept of combining listening with a physical book. Because, it gives beginning readers an opportunity to explore Scripture without requiring them to read every word independently.
Click here to explore the Daily Bible Reader for Kids here!
For Older Children: Ages 10+
Daily Bible Reader Gold Edition and the KJV Thinline Bible
The older set we received includes a more advanced audio Bible player and a printed King James Version Bible.
The Gold Edition is designed for deeper and more independent engagement with Scripture.
Features include:
- A 365-day audio Bible reading plan
- A portable, solar-powered design
- Rechargeable battery
- Tactile navigation buttons and playback controls
- Additional commentary or devotional resources, depending on the selected version
- The ability to listen without using a phone or internet connection
The accompanying KJV Bible is a thin line edition with a burgundy leather soft cover and red-letter text.
For an older child ready to explore the full biblical text, this combination offers both a physical Bible and a convenient way to listen.
It’s a great option for families who want to encourage independent reading while keeping screen time to a minimum.
Explore the Daily Bible Reader Gold Edition
Check out the KJV Thinline Bible Here!
How to Read the Bible with Kids: The Most Important Thing Is to Begin
It’s easy to think that to read the Bible with kids, you need to have a perfect schedule, curriculum, or family devotional routine.
But the most important thing is simply to begin.
Read a story together. Discuss a passage at breakfast. Listen to Scripture on a quiet afternoon. Encourage your older children to open their Bibles and explore the questions that interest them.
These small, ordinary moments can build a foundation that lasts a lifetime. After all, our goal isn’t simply to raise children who know Bible stories. It’s to raise children who love God and turn to him throughout their lives.
If you’re looking for ways to make Bible reading more accessible for children of different ages, you can explore the audio Bible readers and accompanying books available from Towers of Light.
I’d love to hear from you: How do you make Bible reading part of your family’s daily routine?
Leave a Reply