5 Daily Spiritual Routines For Kids

As Christian parents, we nurture our children’s faith, but we also must always keep the end goal in mind. That goal is that they would own their relationship with Jesus and begin to nurture their own faith. Let’s look at five daily spiritual routines for kids that will help them take ownership of their walk with Jesus.

Eating

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV

Many Christian families say a blessing before eating, which Jesus modeled for us and is wonderful. But how can you take it a step further?

You’ve modeled it and built the habit; now, you can help plant the seeds of why we do this. When your children understand the reason behind giving God thanks for their meal, it can become personal and more meaningful.

Play a game at meals where you choose one food from the menu and make up its story backward from your plate to God creating it. Name the farmer, pick a place, and perhaps even give the veggie or protein a crazy adventure before it lands on your plate. Then, find all the places that God shows up in your story.

It may seem silly, but it helps your children to connect the dots of their food and their faith.

Self-Care

“So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God, he created them; male and female, he created them.” Genesis 1:27 NLT

Teaching our kids self-care practices can feel like a chore, especially with pre-teens. However, we know it is important.

We can partner self-care tasks with biblical truths, not only to help give more meaning to us but to build Christ-centered identity for our children.

As your children brush their teeth or hair, talk about how they are created in the image of God. Reflect together on what that means for their value and worth. How does God see them?

How can they see God in others? Especially when others look differently than they do.

These conversations may not seem as impactful when your children are young and full of self-confidence, but as they mature, it will be important for them to hear God’s truth in their heads and hearts when they look in the mirror.

School

“Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 NLT

Whether your children are educated at home or somewhere else, we can set the stage for education to be a spiritual practice. Our words, attitudes toward education, and celebrations of their efforts can disciple them.

My children attend public school, and the last thing we do before they leave the van is to give them a blessing. Using fruit-scented lip balm, I mark their foreheads or the backs of their hands with a cross and the Holy Spirit to help them be “fruity” (my term for showing the fruit of the Spirit).

We regularly discuss what this looks like and ask the Holy Spirit for help with a specific fruit. My kids know that love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are more important than good grades or being “smart.”

But, the overflow of the fruit is that my girls also work hard at school work. Not because they need an A, but because they want to try their best and reflect who they are.

Play

“You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures.” Psalm 16:11 CSB

Children need play in their lives for many reasons. Let’s teach them to invite God into that play so they do not compartmentalize Him.

For kids, playing with God might involve acting out Bible stories or pretending to be moms and babies. It doesn’t have to look one particular way; it is about helping kids see God everywhere in their lives.

One fun game for this is “I spy God.” Simply play, I spy, but I am looking for God. Your family might see Him in the kindness of a friend, the beauty of a heartfelt apology, or even in the laughter of a joke.

Sleep

“When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.” Proverbs 3:24 NIV

There are many wonderful spiritual routines you can follow at night. I invite you to explore several options before committing to one.

One you might want to try with even young kids is journaling about their day. Though journaling isn’t my favorite way to connect with God, many thrive from this practice.

Children can learn to journal even before they can write. Invite kids to draw something from their day. Consider making it a gratitude journal, as ending your day with gratitude can benefit your sleep.

This can be a fun way to end the day and build a habit of thanking God for who he is and what he has done.

Their Best Routine May Not Be Your Routine

As we strive to help our children build routines for their faith, it is important to remember that their faith will be different from ours. You may connect with God best in the quiet stillness of reading the Bible, and they may hear Him best while riding their bikes down a hill with the breeze in their hair.

Trust God to be seeking your child and enjoy the journey of discovering how God made your kids connect with Him.