A Special Place at Home

Taking our children to church is an important ritual to do in order to grow their relationship with God. However, the best way to grow closer to God is to spend time with God every day. Many parents search for ways to create that time and space in their home. Of course reading the Bible each day as a family is important; sharing in prayer and meal blessings brings the family closer to one another as well as to God.

It is also important to create time and space for your children to be alone with God.  We spend so much time in a chaotic, loud and busy world that being quiet is almost a foreign concept, especially for children. But children need time to be quiet and to be alone with God. We don’t need to teach them how to be quiet, but just provide time and space. 

A suggestion: create a corner of their bedroom or another room in the house where they can go so that no one will disturb them.  It is their “time out with God” spot. Use a rug or large pillow to make the space comfortable. The family knows that when their child is in this space, no one will bother them. Using a candle/or tea light (for safety) gives a focus point for the time alone. Of course a Bible, especially for reading children is a plus. 

Bible focused objects are also beneficial. Look into other religious educational materials such as figures that depict bible characters. These will allow the child to have hands-on experiences; many are visual learners. You can also stock up on biblical puzzles for your child to work with in their spot. Provide art supplies in the area for them to create pieces that show what they have learned and what the stories mean to them. You could also work with your child to create a prayer or find one online to have printed out and placed in their corner. This way if they want to speak to God but don’t know how to begin they can look at their prayer. 

Whatever you end up adding to your child’s “time out with God” spot make sure that they have a say in what is added. Allowing your child to have a say in the area and encouraging them to make it their own will allow them to feel more comfortable to go there. This space does not have to be fancy, it just needs to be theirs. The most important thing is that you respect their space when they are in it. Make sure to walk more slowly and talk more softly when near your child’s spot so you don’t disturb them if they are talking to God.