First thing I began teaching Peter was about God the Father.
Who is God? Where is God? What is God like?
Firstly: THERE IS A GOD. THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD.
God is all powerful, all kowing, everywhere at once
I especially started teaching Peter about there being a God and where
God was first. I would say to Him, “where is God?” and he would say (I would at first
say this untill he learned it.) “In Heaven, In my heart, and All around.” I used hand
signs to help with this, so i would point to the heavens, to his heart, and then
sweep the area or make a big circle to signify “all around”. After my son began to
grasp this concept he would add things like “in mommy’s heart” “in daddy’s heart”.
(oh yes when your kid does this you will think it the cutest thing ever
Next I spent a lot of time teaching him that everything belongs to
God. I did this because my husband and I did not want a child who was always
screaming “mine! mine!” and so from teh beginning we taught him that nothing is truly
“his” it is all God’s and that is why we must take care of it, and share it. Now
while all our friends kids are screaming “mine!” and yanking toys from other kids,
ours willingly shares (even by 18 months and into the 2’s) he very very rarely
becomes possessive, we do not have to pry toys from his hands or take things away
nearly as often due to his unwillingness to share. Furthermore, this is setting the
groundwork for the rest of his life. Just because the Pediatricians and Psychologists
say that this is just “a phase” and he will grow out of it doesnt make it right.
Besides we all know that our inner self never grows out of it, we may act nicer to
others, but we are still pineing away for things in our heart. Why allow our son to
covet and possess with such unchecked verocity, only to tell him later that this is
inappropriate?
I also spend a lot of time teaching Peter that God loves him. I say “who
loves you?” and then I say (or he says) “Mommy loves you (me), Daddy loves you (me),
and God loves you (me)” (sometimes I say Jesus loves you). Because of these simple
things mentioning Jesus and God I was recently pleasantly surprised when my 23 month
old son asked me to tell him a story about Jesus. This was great, now he was asking
to know more. So I told him the story of the fish and the loaves and feeding 5,000
people. I didnt get out the Bible, I just told the story as well as I could. I did
this purposely, because I want my son to know that I know Jesus personally, not just
as a story in a book. This is not to say that the Bible is not important, it is
imeasurably important. However, I do not always use it to tell stories because, most
of the books we read our kids at this age are fictional. And we have to spend time
explaining that what happens in the book is not real. I want my son to know that
Jesus is real. So I speak about Him as I speak about other people we know. My son
has two Bibles and he sees me reading mine nearly everyday. When he pulls out his
Bible I tell him that it is God’s special book, that God wrote for us. That it isnt
like other books.
more to come…..
Meg
I was really searching for some info on teaching 7 year olds about God our Father and your post has helped me a lot. Thank you
Thanks for coming by. I am glad it was helpful!
Mrs. Meg Logan
In this world I spend a good deal of time teaching my toddlers about the attributes of God. I teach them that He is Creator, that He is Holy, that He is ever present to help in time of need. I also teach them to pray. But the real secrete to teaching your children about God is to teach them constantly- when you rise, walk, sit, eat, lay . . .
My 7 year old asked me tonight “How do you know God is real?” I offered several suggestions
- you can’t see the wind or air, but you know these are real
- the world had to be created by a creator
- the Bible tells us of his love for us (but to this one I got the “How do you know the Bible is real?” response.
I have read many books on these topics, but have a hard time explaining at a 7 year old level. Do you have any suggestions? My exhusband has turned away from God…and I am not sure how much support I will be getting from him.
How do you prove to a 7 year old that God is real???
Thanks for any help you can provide!
Amanda,
One of the greatest testimonies of God’s existence is how you walk with Him. Let me ask you, in your personal life, are you seeking God’s face? Do you pray, and read your Bible, not out of some sense of duty, but because you hunger and thirst after God? Do you pray with your son. Do you see prayers answered? When prayers are not answered (or not in the way you asked for), what do you tell your son?
You cannot prove to ANYONE that God exists. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to bring people to a saving knowledge of Him. This is one thing I have really had to think and pray about. Even were we to be perfect parents, (as Jesus was the perfect discipler), our children are still free willed humans, with the opportunity to choose to go astray, just as Judas did.
It is Jesus alone who can save your son. Rely on HIM.
Now for practical advice… 1. Pray for your son, pray over him as he sleeps, pray for him at bedtime. Meaningful prayers, specific prayers, scriptural prayers, pour out your heart before the throne of Jesus.
2. Read the Word to him. Daily is best, but ANYTHING is better than nothing. It is my recommendation that you start in the beginning and read through to the end. The Word first presents the power of God, then the power of sin, then the law, then God’s mercy, then the new covenant and God’s grace… presenting these things to your son in the same order can help to prepare his heart and mind to receive the Truth.
there are two scriptures that come to mind “teach them precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, there a little.” and “teach them when you walk, when you rise, when you go out and come in..” (both are paraphrased as I did not have the time to look up the exact wording.)
Basically, start at the beginning with the simple things, then add a bit more, and make sure you teach teach teach, at every opportunity. Look for opportunity, MAKE opportunity. Never let one pass by saying something like “Im too busy right now” or “He won’t understand”. Any child who is asking about God has the ability to begin to understand the answers. It is God who causes us to seek His face, and it is God who empowers us to understand His word.
Hope this helps,
Mrs.MegLogan
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog.
Cheers! Sandra. R.