HeritageBuilders

There are some basic tips that can make you more effective. The reason I say more is that your
children have a natural desire to be with you and learn from you. First understand that teaching at
home has two components: formal and informal. The formal requires an investment in time and effort -
time you will learn to cherish as your children learn and apply God's principles. The informal time is the
reinforcement of the structured lesson principles. This is what the Bible refers to in "walking along the
road, sitting down and getting up." Let's look at some tips:

1. Teach to age: Be careful to have discussions that the kids can understand. Teach at their level
giving examples from their daily activities. The Christian book stores are great because they have
books and bibles written for your kid's age. (Men- Your wife sitting in is a great filter, she can
translate when you get carried away.)

2. Study: Do your home work to clearly identify the principle you want to teach and find a supporting
verse. Make it relevant to what is happening in your home- teasing, bad language…

3. Make it simple - Try and find a few points that you can make stick so they will remember them,
particularly with young kids. You may want to identify a thought or verse for the week and post it in
your house for all to see. (Sermons are for Sundays.)

4. Make it fun: Studying God's word should not be work or painful or you will set up a bad image in
their mind. Use objects or games to make your points when possible. Or use materials that have
engaging stories to illustrate the principles. Many family devotions are written around stories.

5. Teach to their learning style: Every one of us learns differently, we are auditory, visual or motor
skill learners. Identify what your children's are and relate to each in their style. If they are auditory,
use CDs at bed time or in the car. If they are visual, use DVDs of movie clips or bible stories to make
your point. If they are activity based, use object lessons to drive home principles.

6. Use situations and object lessons: Jesus left us with object lessons in baptism and communion. Look
for or create teachable moments through your day or have a family night 2-4 times per month.

7. Use questions: You want to draw out of the heart of the child their understanding of biblical
principles. So ask questions about what they think or what they would do or what the character in the
story was thinking or…..use questions that start with what, why, how.

8. Seek engaging resources: There are a lot of great resources available in Family Night Books,
devotionals, story books… Find one that works with your family. Locate resources that have topics in
the index so you can turn to a devotional that addresses your family issues.

9. Reinforce everyday: The formal sets up the informal, look for situations in your family's lives that
you can use as a teachable moment reinforcing the principles you have taught.

10. Make part of family routine: You better schedule your formal times be they: prayer, devotional or
Family Nights or they will be crowed out. One approach is to think through the natural family gathering
times and build into them. For example, dinner time is a natural point where you could open in prayer
and have a family member read an engaging devotional, then follow it up with a discussion. Dad do
your homework - you are the leader - know the principle ahead of time so you can drive it home.

11. Make symbols to put on door posts: You might make crafts as part of your time together - post
them in the house as a reminder of your lesson. Or put signs up or a verse for all to memorize. Let
your home reinforce your teaching.

Informal times are great opportunities to reinforce God's principles and find out what is
happening in your kid's lives. Ask them how their day went and look for opportunities to teach a
point. With young kids around the dinner table, you can have each family member answer two
questions for the day: "Good day- Bad day" - What good thing happened to them today and then;
What bad thing happened to them today. Mom and dad you're included. With each point, you will have
an opportunity to reinforce or teach a new principle. When bringing the kids home from school or
putting them to bed, you can engage them in revealing conversations.