Learning to Read

Learning to Read Milestone: First Grade Bible Celebration

Get excited about your child learning and mark that memory with the “Learning to Read” milestone by presenting your child with their very own Bible. We recognize your child’s growth up to this point as they transition from kindergarten to first grade and that you as parents are the primary disciple of your child. We can’t wait to spend time opening our Bibles at church, finding our verses, reading God’s stories, and sharpening our Bible navigating skills. Receiving God’s word is a gift, learning to read God’s word is food for our soul, and understanding God’s word is a treasure beyond comparison.

Tell Me, What is This Phase All About?

Parents, you are the spiritual leader of your child. The early elementary phase is a big deal, a great time to establish the practice of reading and memorizing scripture together as a family.  Curiosity, learning, and having fun are all part of their world in this phase of life. Teach your child the importance of having a Bible, being able to read it, and understanding that its where we get our answers. This milestone helps our church welcome new first graders into our MET Kids Ministry and highlight how God’s Word is life changing! One of the greatest joys and responsibilities you have as a parent is to guide your child to love God’s Word and build their life on the solid foundation of His Truth. Use the practical ideas and resources that follow to help you purposefully teach your child to love God’s Word and build their life on the solid foundation of His Truth. As Psalm 119:24 says, “Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.”

Put It Into Practice

You can help your child discover the importance of God’s Word using these suggestions:

• Choose a Bible – Find a translation that’s easy for your child to read and understand, such as the New Living Translation (NLT), the International Children’s Bible (ICB), or the New International Readers Version (NIrV). Teach them how to look up any passage by searching for the book, then the chapter, and then the verse.
• Model it – You cannot pass to your child something that you don’t have. Schedule a regular time to read the Bible in a place where your kids can see you. Openly share what you are learning from God’s Word.
• Use as a guide – Show your child how the Bible can be used as an everyday guide for life. Help him or her learn how to search for God’s wisdom. This is especially powerful when your child might be struggling with a particular issue or looking for answers on a particular topic.
• Keep it simple – Choose one simple Bible truth or verse and repeat it often, such as “God is love.”
• Be creative – Don’t just read the story; think through ways to make it engaging. Become the Bible character, use games or crafts to engage all five senses, or use Legos and action figures to act out what you read.
• Don’t bluff – It’s okay to not know the answer to a question your child might have. Use the opportunity to show your child how to search in God’s Word for wisdom. Be authentic by admitting that none of us understand everything. Only God is God, and we must learn to trust what He says in the Bible. You can also tell your child you will get back to them within a certain period of time so that you can investigate and/or ask for guidance from someone you trust.
• Study it – Show how to study God’s Word using a simple Bible study plan (like Join the Journey Junior). Teach your child to look at Scripture and ask questions about the passage like, “Who wrote this passage?” or “What does this verse teach us?” or “How can I apply this truth in my own life?”
• Find tools – There are many great tools out there, including children’s Bibles, Bible storybooks, Christian Scripture songs, Christian videos, and games to make understanding the Bible easier and more fun.
• Pray – Ask God to give your child a love for His Word as well as understanding and wisdom as they read and memorize it.

“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11)

Next Steps

As you progress through your Bible training, here are some additional activities you can try:

• Write verses on index cards to put in your child’s Bible, backpack, or lunchbox, or tape them to the mirror or refrigerator.
• Write out Bible verses, cut out each word, mix them up on the floor, and then play a game to put the verse back in order. Or make it into a memory game where you remove one word at a time and see who can still say the whole verse.
• Try teaching your child memory verses using sign language or making up your own hand signals.
• Play a memory game by passing a ball or beanbag as each person says the next word in the verse.
• Allow your child to pick a book of the Bible or devotional to read with you at breakfast or bedtime.
• Memorize the books of the Bible together with a fun song.