5 Ways to Teach Kids About Jesus Through Storytime

Why Storytime Matters for Faith

Storytime is more than a cozy bedtime routine, it’s an opportunity to plant seeds of faith in your child’s heart! Children naturally learn through stories. The characters, lessons, and emotions they experience in books help them understand big truths in simple ways. By making storytime faith-focused, you create a special moment where your child learns about God’s love while also spending quality family time with your little one. I always try to incorporate one story per night that is faith-focused.

Tip 1: Read Aloud With Expression

When you read with joy, excitement, and emphasis, kids are drawn into the story. Use different voices for characters, dramatic pauses, and even sound effects. I must admit, my husband is much better at this than me! The more animated you are, the more memorable the story will be. When the words of a faith-filled story come alive, kids are more likely to remember the message of Jesus’ love.

Tip 2: Ask Questions About the Story

Pause throughout the book to ask simple, thoughtful questions:

• “Why do you think the character made that choice?”

• “What does this story teach us about Jesus?”

• “How can we show kindness like that in our home?”

Questions encourage children to think deeply and apply the story to their own lives. They also give you the chance to reinforce biblical truths in a way your child can understand.

Tip 3: Relate Stories to Real Life

After finishing a story, connect it to your child’s everyday experiences. For example, if the story was about forgiveness, you might say: “Remember when your friend apologized last week? That’s just like the character in this book who forgave.” These connections help kids see how Jesus’ teachings fit into real-world situations.

Tip 4: Include Prayer After Reading

End storytime by praying together. Your prayer can be short and simple: “Thank You, Jesus, for showing us how to be kind and loving. Help us to live like You.” Praying right after reading reinforces the message and invites God’s presence into your child’s heart and bedtime routine.

Tip 5: Use Faith-Filled Books

Not all storybooks point to Jesus, but choosing the right ones makes a difference. Faith-filled books are designed to teach children about God’s love, truth, and character in ways they can understand. When you fill your shelves with books that reflect your family’s faith, every story becomes an opportunity for discipleship.

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At the end of this book, I like to ask my daughter "and what is Love's name...?" to which she's learned to emphatically reply - "Jesus!!"