When it comes to fitting faith into your child’s schedule, our children’s calendars are busier than ever. Between school, extracurricular activities, playdates, and family commitments finding time to nurture their spiritual growth feel formidable.
However, just as we prioritize their education and physical well-being, nurturing their faith is even more critical. So, how do we strike the perfect balance between their hectic schedules and their spiritual development? Let’s explore practical tips to fit faith into your child’s schedule.
Prioritize and Plan
The first step is to acknowledge the importance of spiritual development. Just like you schedule doctor’s appointments or sports practices, allocate specific time slots for faith-related activities. Whether it’s attending a children’s ministry at your local place of worship, reading a Bible story together, or engaging in a family prayer routine, intentionally plan these activities into your weekly schedule.
Incorporate Faith into Daily Routine
Integrating faith into your child’s daily routine can be as simple as a morning prayer or reading a Bible storybook before bedtime. You can encourage your child to say a short prayer of thanks before meals, helping them cultivate a habit of acknowledging God’s blessings in their lives.
Choose Quality Over Quantity
While it’s tempting to cram as many faith-related activities into your child’s schedule as possible, remember that quality trumps quantity. Instead of overwhelming them with multiple commitments, focus on a few meaningful activities that resonate with your child. This could be a weekly children’s ministry class, a family worship night, or a monthly community service project that aligns with your faith.
Combine Faith with Other Activities
Blend faith-based activities with other tasks to optimize your child’s schedule. For instance, while driving in the car, you could play uplifting and educational religious songs or podcasts. This way, you’re making the most of travel time while nurturing their spiritual growth.
Embrace Technology
In the digital age, technology can be a valuable tool for teaching and reinforcing faith. Utilize apps, websites, and online resources that offer age-appropriate lessons, interactive stories, and educational games centered around your faith’s values and teachings.
YouVersion and OneHope offer two great resources through the Bible App for Kids and Kids’ Bible Experience.
Set Realistic Expectations
Be realistic about your child’s capacity to engage in faith-related activities. Avoid overwhelming them with a rigid schedule without room for relaxation and free play. Flexibility is critical to maintaining a healthy balance.
Lead by Example
Children learn best through observation and imitation. If they see you actively engaging in your faith and prioritizing spiritual activities, they will likely follow suit.
- Participate in religious services
- Read the Bible
- Practice kindness and compassion in your daily life
Encourage Questions and Exploration
Foster an environment where your child feels comfortable asking questions about their faith. Encourage curiosity and exploration, and provide them with age-appropriate answers. This open dialogue will help them develop a deeper understanding of their beliefs.
This may intimidate you because you fear you may not know the answers. That’s okay! Nobody has all the answers. When a question stumps you, humbly seek answers with your pastor or other trusted spiritual leader.
Celebrate Milestones
Acknowledge and celebrate your child’s faith-related achievements. Whether it’s memorizing a scripture verse, completing a service project, or showing kindness to others, these milestones deserve recognition and praise.
Flexibility and Adaptation
Life is ever-changing, and schedules can get disrupted. It’s essential to remain flexible and adapt your plans as needed. If a week gets hectic, please don’t feel discouraged; you can just pick up where you left off when things settle down.
Remember, the goal is not to add more stress to your child’s schedule but to infuse their lives with faith, values, and a sense of purpose. By prioritizing their spiritual growth and finding creative ways to incorporate faith-based activities into their routine, you’ll be nurturing a well-rounded individual who is academically and physically strong and spiritually grounded.
Who knows! You may find that fitting faith into your child’s schedule is pretty easy!
I drew this cartoon for the August, 2013 Church of God Newsletter.
Editor’s Note: I originally published this blog on October 6, 2015. I revamped and updated it for timeliness and comprehensiveness.
