If there ever was a time when a mom or dad could give their child "the talk" and call it good, those days are long gone. Our oldest turned 9 this summer, and both my wife and I felt he was overdue for some formative instruction about sex. By "sex" I mean sexual intercourse—he grew up learning about gender differences, correct names for body parts (at least boy parts), and learning to respect others' privacy. But Trisha and I decided he was more than ready to get the fuller story. Speaking to some friends about this afterward, I was met with some raised eyebrows. "Nine years old? The sex talk? Isn't that a bit ...Read More
9 Ways to Teach Your Kids the Word of God
Let's talk about ways to teach your kids the Word of God. As parents, we want to use every method we can to fill our children's minds with ideas from the Word of God. What methods did God use to help His people grasp His word? 9 Ways to Teach Your Kids the Word of God Reading aloud: Like many books written in a predominantly oral culture, the Bible was written to be read aloud. This is what God told His teachers to do (Deuteronomy 31:11; 1 Timothy 4:13; Colossians 4:16; 2 Chronicles 34:18) and we can do this for our own children. Personal reading: By reading the Scriptures with our own eyes, we ...Read More
Homeschooling The Ultimate List of Bible Memory Songs: Over 1,400 Songs
Bible memory songs are one of the best ways for our children to memorize the Word of God. But when you're looking for a specific passage of Scripture set to music, it can be difficult to find. That's why we've created this index of Bible memory songs: over 1,400 songs from dozens of collections, all of them songs with lyrics straight from the Bible. Find exactly the songs you want your family to listen to based on the passages you want to memorize. Below you'll find our catalogue songs from the Psalms. Access the Complete List of Bible Memory Songs! When you click on the link below, you'll get links ...Read More
5 Great Bible Verses for Kids to Memorize About Complaining
I've collected some great Bible verses about complaining for kids to memorize as a parent teaching tool. Even when our children are eventually obedient to our wishes, nothing is quite as discouraging as hearing those words, "But Dad..." or "Do I have to?" Following these words are usually a flurry of complaints. On a really bad day, parents might debate about what is worse to deal with: disobedience or grumbling obedience? Need more positive ideas for raising Christian kids? Check out my book The Heart of Humility: Teaching Your Kids to Put Other's First. Below are some great verses for your family to meditate ...Read More
100+ Memory Tools for Homeschoolers
There are many memory tools for homeschoolers that are available for parents who want to help their children memorize Bible verses, math facts, famous speeches, states, capitals, poetry, science facts, historical events, phonics, grammar, and spelling rules. Below you'll find links to more than 100 books, flash cards, memory systems, music, apps, DVDs, online programs, and games that will aid you and your children in memory work. "...anything and everything which can be usefully committed to memory should be memorized at this period, whether it is immediately intelligible or not." (Dorothy Sayers) In the early ...Read More
7 Benefits of Bible Memorization
Rote memory of anything is unpopular these days. Why memorize anything when it can be at the fingertips of your smartphone in seconds? There was a time, into the early decades of the 20th century, when the memorization of poetry in school was mandatory. Educators knew that this not only helped children develop language skills and strengthen their brains, but even helped them internalize the themes of poetry. Teachers understood that when we learn something by heart, it becomes a part of who we are. “If we do not learn by heart, the heart does not feel the rhythms of poetry as echoes or variations of its own insistent ...Read More
New Family Bible Study: The Heart of Humility
Last school year my family memorized Philippians 2:1-18. While we had our fair share of discussions about the passage as we memorized it, I kept thinking, "It would be great if I could explain all the richness of this passage to my kids. I would love to walk them through this, line by line." So, last month I spent time creating 30 family devotionals for parents to read aloud to their kids, explaining Philippians 2 in depth. The book is called The Heart of Humility: Teaching Your Kids to Put Others First. . How This Bible Study is Different Many family devotionals help children get a broad understanding of ...Read More
The Ultimate List of Bible Memory Tools
This ultimate list of Bible memory tools will help you and your children memorize important Bible passages. Bible memory is a wonderful discipline for our children to learn while they are young. In the elementary (grammar level) years, their minds can easily absorb large amounts of information, and this includes the memorization of Bible passages. In addition to the resources below, one easy way to make Bible memory a part of your daily routine at home is to use a Charlotte-Mason-style "memory box." This simple system organizes all the Bible verses and facts so that you can move what you memorize from ...Read More
