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Help Your Kids Learn and Love the Bible
As parents, we deeply desire the best for our kids. We look for the right preschool, teach them to read, and get them involved in extracurriculars. We take our job as parents seriously.
But are we also putting our time and energy into teaching them the Bible? Leading our kids to life through Scripture is not only doable, it's an essential part of parenting kids for Jesus. And the good news is studying God's Word as a family doesn't have to be hard or overly time-consuming.
This book will give you the tools and confidence to study the Bible as a family. It will help you identify and overcome your objections and fears, give you a crash course in what the Bible is all about and how to teach it, and provide the tools and techniques to set up a family Bible-study habit.
You will finish this book feeling encouraged and empowered to initiate and strengthen your child's relationship with the Lord through his Word.
But are we also putting our time and energy into teaching them the Bible? Leading our kids to life through Scripture is not only doable, it's an essential part of parenting kids for Jesus. And the good news is studying God's Word as a family doesn't have to be hard or overly time-consuming.
This book will give you the tools and confidence to study the Bible as a family. It will help you identify and overcome your objections and fears, give you a crash course in what the Bible is all about and how to teach it, and provide the tools and techniques to set up a family Bible-study habit.
You will finish this book feeling encouraged and empowered to initiate and strengthen your child's relationship with the Lord through his Word.
- GenresParentingNonfiction
208 pages, Paperback
Published June 8, 2021
10 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
Danika Cooley
22 books17 followersDanika Cooley is an award-winning children’s author and Bible curriculum developer. Her Bible Road Trip™ curriculum is used across the globe. Each week, Danika encourages tens of thousands of parents to intentionally raise biblically literate children on her Thinking Kids blog. Her books include the Who What Why Christian history series and Help Your Kids Learn and Love the Bible. Danika is a homeschool mother of four with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Visual Art from the University of Washington.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
April 6, 2023
Can not recommend this book enough!! Not only does the book help the reader walk their children through learning and loving the Bible…in the midst it helps the reader learn and love the Bible for themselves. Author, Danika Cooley’s insights into how to read with and to different aged children, split up to preschool, elementary, middle school and high school ages, with thoughts on how each learn and tips for how much to read to or with them. She has laid out plans plus preparations for times that you may skip the plans. She gives quite a few other resources to go along with your Bible reading to understand and study context, history, and background. She also gives fabulous and practical ideas on making the time of studying the word of God fun and creative. Because it’s more than just reading the word. It’s reading, loving, learning, remembering and letting it impact their lives!
Of course there were parts that I disagree with the author on, which I don’t really need to go in to here because they are not even the point of the book or the review. But the overall aspect of the book is a MUST READ for every Christian parent!
Of course there were parts that I disagree with the author on, which I don’t really need to go in to here because they are not even the point of the book or the review. But the overall aspect of the book is a MUST READ for every Christian parent!
June 8, 2021
Danika shares how to make the Bible an integral part of daily life with tips for children of all ages. She provides strategies for cultivating consistent reading habits and building lasting memories with your kids while you dive deeper into God’s Word together.
Danika helps you approach the Bible in a way that makes it come alive. I love how practical and tangible her advice is. She shares simple tools to make Bible study fun, interesting, and life-altering. The book is an easy read, with clear headings to guide you through the chapters.
One of my favorite parts is the conclusion. Danika shares testimonies to inspire and ignite hope in every parent. Regardless of whether you are just starting out with young children, or are struggling to incorporate Bible study with your teens, this book is for you! I highly recommend it!
“Your legacy—the spiritual heritage you leave behind—may stretch far beyond the generation you see sitting at your dinner table.” - Danika Cooley
*Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Danika helps you approach the Bible in a way that makes it come alive. I love how practical and tangible her advice is. She shares simple tools to make Bible study fun, interesting, and life-altering. The book is an easy read, with clear headings to guide you through the chapters.
One of my favorite parts is the conclusion. Danika shares testimonies to inspire and ignite hope in every parent. Regardless of whether you are just starting out with young children, or are struggling to incorporate Bible study with your teens, this book is for you! I highly recommend it!
“Your legacy—the spiritual heritage you leave behind—may stretch far beyond the generation you see sitting at your dinner table.” - Danika Cooley
*Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
June 15, 2021
[Note: This book was provided free of charge by Bethany House Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.]
One of the fascinating things about this book is that the author's desire for children to embrace the Bible comes with such non-biblical baggage attached to it. In reading this book I was struck above all with the fact that much of what the author was seeking to transmit to her children and what she encourages the reader to do is not so much a love of the Bible but a love of the Bible as it is understood by the parent. This is by no means the same thing. Yet what we want to transmit to children, whether we have kids of our own or teach them in some other fashion (as I do in Sabbath School, for instance), is not merely information about the Bible or a love about the Bible as a text, but a specific understanding of the Bible as well as a culture that we want to share that relates to the Bible as the foundation of our faith, as we understand it. The author, as is common, assumes that the reader shares the same understanding of the Bible as she does, but it is often very fascinating to read material from a different perspective, because one can recognize the difference between what is shared and what is not between the reader and the writer, and one can be reminded of one's own hermeneutics.
This book is a relatively short one at less than 200 pages and it is a quick read. The book begins with an introduction that encourages the reader that they can help their children to learn and love the Bible. After this comes three chapters that discuss the reader as a leader within their household (I), including a discussion of how one makes the Bible approachable for one's children (1), helping children make a good start to a strong finish (2), and finding time to talk about and read the Bible in an age of hustle and bustle (3). After that comes four chapters on discussing what faithful reading of the Bible is (II), including a discussion about questions of authorship and inspiration (4), the importance of keeping the message of the Bible in view (5), the Bible as a library of books (6), and also what profitable discussion of the Bible involves (7). After that is a third part of the book on one's daily walk of faith (III), which includes chapters on reading the Word together with one's family (8), hiding the Word of God in the heart of one's children (9), praying the Word of God together (10), and studying the Word when one doesn't feel like it (11). The book ends with a discussion of reaping fruit in a conclusion as well as notes, works consulted, and information about the author.
One of the things that is obvious when it comes to teaching children to have a love of the Bible, and that is in order to inspire someone else with a love of the Bible one has to have a love of it oneself. One cannot inspire a deep and genuine love that one does not feel, as it is not what one says but what one does and what one is that is the most important in communicating a love of the Bible to others. The author, for all of our differences, has certain similarities to me when it comes to being raised with such a love and wishing to spread it to others. I can remember myself growing up in a family where discussion about the Bible and its meaning and its application were regular subjects of conversation among the people in my family, and growing up in this atmosphere certainly encouraged my own deep and abiding interest in the Bible. The author appears to have had the same sorts of experiences and wishes others to have them as well, including her own children and the families of the readers, and that is something to appreciate and enjoy.
One of the fascinating things about this book is that the author's desire for children to embrace the Bible comes with such non-biblical baggage attached to it. In reading this book I was struck above all with the fact that much of what the author was seeking to transmit to her children and what she encourages the reader to do is not so much a love of the Bible but a love of the Bible as it is understood by the parent. This is by no means the same thing. Yet what we want to transmit to children, whether we have kids of our own or teach them in some other fashion (as I do in Sabbath School, for instance), is not merely information about the Bible or a love about the Bible as a text, but a specific understanding of the Bible as well as a culture that we want to share that relates to the Bible as the foundation of our faith, as we understand it. The author, as is common, assumes that the reader shares the same understanding of the Bible as she does, but it is often very fascinating to read material from a different perspective, because one can recognize the difference between what is shared and what is not between the reader and the writer, and one can be reminded of one's own hermeneutics.
This book is a relatively short one at less than 200 pages and it is a quick read. The book begins with an introduction that encourages the reader that they can help their children to learn and love the Bible. After this comes three chapters that discuss the reader as a leader within their household (I), including a discussion of how one makes the Bible approachable for one's children (1), helping children make a good start to a strong finish (2), and finding time to talk about and read the Bible in an age of hustle and bustle (3). After that comes four chapters on discussing what faithful reading of the Bible is (II), including a discussion about questions of authorship and inspiration (4), the importance of keeping the message of the Bible in view (5), the Bible as a library of books (6), and also what profitable discussion of the Bible involves (7). After that is a third part of the book on one's daily walk of faith (III), which includes chapters on reading the Word together with one's family (8), hiding the Word of God in the heart of one's children (9), praying the Word of God together (10), and studying the Word when one doesn't feel like it (11). The book ends with a discussion of reaping fruit in a conclusion as well as notes, works consulted, and information about the author.
One of the things that is obvious when it comes to teaching children to have a love of the Bible, and that is in order to inspire someone else with a love of the Bible one has to have a love of it oneself. One cannot inspire a deep and genuine love that one does not feel, as it is not what one says but what one does and what one is that is the most important in communicating a love of the Bible to others. The author, for all of our differences, has certain similarities to me when it comes to being raised with such a love and wishing to spread it to others. I can remember myself growing up in a family where discussion about the Bible and its meaning and its application were regular subjects of conversation among the people in my family, and growing up in this atmosphere certainly encouraged my own deep and abiding interest in the Bible. The author appears to have had the same sorts of experiences and wishes others to have them as well, including her own children and the families of the readers, and that is something to appreciate and enjoy.
June 16, 2021
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers, I was not compensated in any way, all thoughts and opinions are my own.**
Teaching my children to love God and His word is very important to me and my husband. We want nothing more than to raise our children for God and to go out into the world shining the light of Jesus. Even though I have taught Sunday School and Jr. and Sr. Youth Groups, I still wonder "am I covering it enough, and am I doing it right?" This book is good for parents of all faith levels, whether you are just starting your journey or you've been walking with the Lord for some time. I find it always good to read another perspective because even though I might not implement all the ideas provided in this book, there are some that I would like to add to our family life. One thing you can be sure of is that this book is not just filled with ideas that have not been used, everything Danika suggests is something she has used with her own children. Probably my favorite part of the book is towards the ending when she talks about the different learning styles of children and ways to teach then the Bible using their strengths. I think we all know this but we often forget or don't really know how we can use it with the Bible.
There are a lot of references and information based on research. I wasn't really expecting that and sometimes it made the reading dry for me but I know others are really interested in that aspect.
This is a good book to have as it will help you formulate the way you want to teach your children, developing habits in your home for Bible reading, journaling, and scripture memorization.
Teaching my children to love God and His word is very important to me and my husband. We want nothing more than to raise our children for God and to go out into the world shining the light of Jesus. Even though I have taught Sunday School and Jr. and Sr. Youth Groups, I still wonder "am I covering it enough, and am I doing it right?" This book is good for parents of all faith levels, whether you are just starting your journey or you've been walking with the Lord for some time. I find it always good to read another perspective because even though I might not implement all the ideas provided in this book, there are some that I would like to add to our family life. One thing you can be sure of is that this book is not just filled with ideas that have not been used, everything Danika suggests is something she has used with her own children. Probably my favorite part of the book is towards the ending when she talks about the different learning styles of children and ways to teach then the Bible using their strengths. I think we all know this but we often forget or don't really know how we can use it with the Bible.
There are a lot of references and information based on research. I wasn't really expecting that and sometimes it made the reading dry for me but I know others are really interested in that aspect.
This is a good book to have as it will help you formulate the way you want to teach your children, developing habits in your home for Bible reading, journaling, and scripture memorization.
May 9, 2021
Love this book. I wish it had been around when I first became a mom! It has such valuable and super-practical insight about teaching children the Bible and making God’s Word a central part of family culture. I gleaned some great tips and encouragement to continue in this important work. I’ll be sharing the book with all the mamas I know!
September 17, 2025
The old school cover didn’t inspire a lot of confidence, but this book really helped me in both motivation and very practical advice and frameworks on how to lead my girls in a life filled with Gods word and his story. Looking forward to taking what I learned here into practice.
June 12, 2021
I am one who has spent a lot of my adult life considering how to help kids learn and love the Bible. I had super high hopes for this book, to be inspiring, expand my knowledge, my bag of tricks, my resources, my ideas. Unfortunately, I think the book would be more appropriately titled how to help your kids learn the Bible or how to prepare as parents to teach the Bible as a Book and as a daily tool for your children.
I think my struggle with the book comes from my philosophy to have less formal family bible study, and more interactions as a parent with an intentional biblical and gospel led discussion in life events, in helping my children with behaviors, with life challenges, and in the everyday world and way we do our life together. I fear if it feels required, isn't well done, and isn't spurring our children to develop these good spiritual habits in their own lives, it can actually be something our children endure, not enjoy and love. I prefer to transition and train children as they become readers to read and learn more independently and discuss it as they go, rather than daily bible family time. At certain times of the year, we do family Bible reading and discussion, just not always.
This book to me, is written like a textbook, is very informative and prescriptive, but while it suggests that as a parent you consider your child's learning styles and help the global-minded child learn as well as the analytically minded child. But she doesn't recognize that parents will have different teaching styles, and different levels of time to commit to their child's discovery of how to read the bible text well- noting its inerrancy, its infallibleness, and it's inspiring.
The author suggests that maybe your church will clearly help you and your children discover these concepts, but expects the full burden is on the parents and that your local church choice will not teach the Bible well. Yes, it is biblical that fathers are responsible for their child's biblical learning, but nowhere does it say that the father cannot use the church or para-church groups to support this instruction, to reinforce it, and build on the teaching from the home.
The author homeschools her children, and integrates Bible as an educational class, as a family experience, and her children based on the suggestions in the majority of this book will leave her home with basic doctrine, theology, and an overview as the Bible as literature, the intent of the translators of the Bible, having spent time daily in the Word as a family, and the book implies as well as in assignments. But primarily through activities as a whole family. None of this is bad.
But the book I suspect will overwhelm the average parent, especially parents who do not have a solid grasp of the Bible historically, the themes across each book, seeing God in every event in the Bible- and seeing who Jesus is and his appearances in the Old Testament prophecy, as well as the fulfillment of these in the New Testament. I've had a year of intentional college-level Bible study, and that is beneficial to everyone- and I interact in a circle of alumni of this one year program- and if they were to read this book, I'm not sure that they would feel capable of meeting the suggested strategies suggested in the first part of the book without feeling overwhelmed. The focus of the first two sections is really on how to teach it as a textbook. With some fun ideas, she has used incorporated, but not emphasized.
The last section of the book is focused on the daily walk and spiritual disciplines. This was the most practical and realistic part of the book, mentioning your intentional time may not happen daily. The tone of this section is the most encouraging aspect of the book and has some practical ideas. It even mentions AWANA nights, but more as an event that will distract from your priority and keep you busy. So I know that my belief that these groups- with spiritually mature adults leading them, and often young people, and even other kids parents working with the individuals, reinforce and impact our children in their spiritual lives often more than our home routine. Seeing other children, other youth, other adults enjoy and celebrate their accomplishments in memorizing the Word, the intention of fun games, and council time, to me only enhances and celebrates our goals as parents to help our children love and learn the Bible.
As a resource and guide, this book is detailed- it references many excellent resources for parents to read for their own spiritual maturity, to think about how their kids learn, for fun videos to encourage spiritual development, etc. These are woven well into the book, but I'd encourage any reader to realize that this author is a curriculum developer, you will note in her many references to her own curriculum for sale on her blog, that she will provide you materials to help your children through the Bible, and that she's spent years studying and training herself to help her kids love the Bible, but that she started overwhelmed, uncertain, and that over years of practice, planning, and thinking she's suggesting this is how it worked for her. I just wish she'd left more room for how to get there, how it doesn't happen overnight, and how baby-steps of what you are learning in your own walk with God and study of the Bible, add up to a genuine showcase of your love of the Word of God, and your modeling through your choice to be in the Word impact your kids as much if not more than a daily family study time. As well as the fact that in a busy life, you can choose from the menu of spiritual habits and reinforce different aspects and concepts that she has suggested. You don't have to do everything that she models as her daily practice.
I found all of her teaching points relevant, good things to think about, to learn, and ways to approach the Word of God individually and in discussions with anyone including your children. But her emphasis on the academic aspects of the Bible- was greater than I would have shared, and might overwhelm most parents. But she has an amazing appreciation and dedication to teaching the Word of God well and considering all the angles and layers of learning a student of the Word will gain in a lifetime of study. So if that's what you are looking for then this book is for you.
Thankful to partner with Bethany House Publishers and read a physical copy of the book.
I think my struggle with the book comes from my philosophy to have less formal family bible study, and more interactions as a parent with an intentional biblical and gospel led discussion in life events, in helping my children with behaviors, with life challenges, and in the everyday world and way we do our life together. I fear if it feels required, isn't well done, and isn't spurring our children to develop these good spiritual habits in their own lives, it can actually be something our children endure, not enjoy and love. I prefer to transition and train children as they become readers to read and learn more independently and discuss it as they go, rather than daily bible family time. At certain times of the year, we do family Bible reading and discussion, just not always.
This book to me, is written like a textbook, is very informative and prescriptive, but while it suggests that as a parent you consider your child's learning styles and help the global-minded child learn as well as the analytically minded child. But she doesn't recognize that parents will have different teaching styles, and different levels of time to commit to their child's discovery of how to read the bible text well- noting its inerrancy, its infallibleness, and it's inspiring.
The author suggests that maybe your church will clearly help you and your children discover these concepts, but expects the full burden is on the parents and that your local church choice will not teach the Bible well. Yes, it is biblical that fathers are responsible for their child's biblical learning, but nowhere does it say that the father cannot use the church or para-church groups to support this instruction, to reinforce it, and build on the teaching from the home.
The author homeschools her children, and integrates Bible as an educational class, as a family experience, and her children based on the suggestions in the majority of this book will leave her home with basic doctrine, theology, and an overview as the Bible as literature, the intent of the translators of the Bible, having spent time daily in the Word as a family, and the book implies as well as in assignments. But primarily through activities as a whole family. None of this is bad.
But the book I suspect will overwhelm the average parent, especially parents who do not have a solid grasp of the Bible historically, the themes across each book, seeing God in every event in the Bible- and seeing who Jesus is and his appearances in the Old Testament prophecy, as well as the fulfillment of these in the New Testament. I've had a year of intentional college-level Bible study, and that is beneficial to everyone- and I interact in a circle of alumni of this one year program- and if they were to read this book, I'm not sure that they would feel capable of meeting the suggested strategies suggested in the first part of the book without feeling overwhelmed. The focus of the first two sections is really on how to teach it as a textbook. With some fun ideas, she has used incorporated, but not emphasized.
The last section of the book is focused on the daily walk and spiritual disciplines. This was the most practical and realistic part of the book, mentioning your intentional time may not happen daily. The tone of this section is the most encouraging aspect of the book and has some practical ideas. It even mentions AWANA nights, but more as an event that will distract from your priority and keep you busy. So I know that my belief that these groups- with spiritually mature adults leading them, and often young people, and even other kids parents working with the individuals, reinforce and impact our children in their spiritual lives often more than our home routine. Seeing other children, other youth, other adults enjoy and celebrate their accomplishments in memorizing the Word, the intention of fun games, and council time, to me only enhances and celebrates our goals as parents to help our children love and learn the Bible.
As a resource and guide, this book is detailed- it references many excellent resources for parents to read for their own spiritual maturity, to think about how their kids learn, for fun videos to encourage spiritual development, etc. These are woven well into the book, but I'd encourage any reader to realize that this author is a curriculum developer, you will note in her many references to her own curriculum for sale on her blog, that she will provide you materials to help your children through the Bible, and that she's spent years studying and training herself to help her kids love the Bible, but that she started overwhelmed, uncertain, and that over years of practice, planning, and thinking she's suggesting this is how it worked for her. I just wish she'd left more room for how to get there, how it doesn't happen overnight, and how baby-steps of what you are learning in your own walk with God and study of the Bible, add up to a genuine showcase of your love of the Word of God, and your modeling through your choice to be in the Word impact your kids as much if not more than a daily family study time. As well as the fact that in a busy life, you can choose from the menu of spiritual habits and reinforce different aspects and concepts that she has suggested. You don't have to do everything that she models as her daily practice.
I found all of her teaching points relevant, good things to think about, to learn, and ways to approach the Word of God individually and in discussions with anyone including your children. But her emphasis on the academic aspects of the Bible- was greater than I would have shared, and might overwhelm most parents. But she has an amazing appreciation and dedication to teaching the Word of God well and considering all the angles and layers of learning a student of the Word will gain in a lifetime of study. So if that's what you are looking for then this book is for you.
Thankful to partner with Bethany House Publishers and read a physical copy of the book.
March 14, 2023
Empowering. Equipping. Accessible.
This was excellent! The author never lost sight of the God we're helping our kids to learn and Love through the pages of the Bible and did not over-elevate scripture, but kept it appropriately esteemed as the way that we know God, but not a member of the Trinity itself. That was my first concern when I saw the title so if that's yours too, let me calm that fear and assure you Cooley wants her kids and yours to know and love the Bible so that they will know and love God.
I loved how practical the tips and ideas are in this book. I appreciate the thoroughness in approach, though I understand how it could also feel overwhelming. If I was sharing this with moms at church, I would encourage small steps for big impact. Trying a few of the tips and ideas at a time and growing your Bible engagement over time will feel far more manageable than trying to start where Cooley is in her process with her family. The steps are both formal and informal and include ways to ask your kids questions for learning, ways to engage their questions, activities to do together for family Bible time, and ways to weave the gospel into other moments and conversations. The author is a homeschool educator and I believe a curriculum writer and her theology and pedagogy is incredibly sound.
I want every parent to read this with a teachable spirit and without comparison. At times as I read, I felt pressure to do more of this and I don't even have my own kids so I know that it could be easy to feel you're not measuring up. View it more like you're brainstorming with Danika and being inspired or like you're being handed the step-by-step guide by a friend who wants to make a daunting task more manageable. This book is a gift and a grace and not a measuring stick.
One last note: these strategies, to varying degrees, are also great to help yourself learn and love the Bible or to help another adult learn and love the Bible. I've been blessed as a single gal (with lots of kiddos in my life) as I consider the gospel conversations I have with children and the ways I'm learning and loving the Bible myself.
I wish I owned this so I could make all the notes in the margins.
Ch 1
Scripture is not too difficult for kids to understand!
Ch 2
Gradual progression of knowledge, then understanding, then wisdom
Your role early on is a Bible tour guide and moves into the role of trusted mentor (around high school)
Your kids are the right age for Jesus. They are never too little to understand the gospel. Point to God and His word early and often. Focus on the gospel and who God is.
Ch 3
Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian (A. W. Tozer)
Ch 4
SCAN (from Kevin DeYoung)
S - Sufficient - We don't need to look for God anywhere else. We will find Him in the Bible.
C - Clear
A - Authoritative - The Bible is our authority. It is God's words.
N - Necessary
Ch 5
-The girl with all the questions is loving all these suggested questions throughout the chapter
What do you learn about God from this passage?
How do you feel about sin after reading this story?
What was this person's heart longing after? An idol or God?
What does Jesus say about how Christians should live?
How should we respond to false teachers?
Help kids write their own question cheat sheets to look for main ideas of what God is communicating to us:
How does this story point to Jesus?
What did I just learn about God?
How does human sin show up in this poem?
How does this piece of history point to my need for a savior?
What did I just learn about how to follow Jesus?
Does this passage show me how to love God and love others?
How does this passage relate to the passage before or after it?
Does this passage give me enough information to understand what the Bible is saying to me?
Do I need to look up this character or idea in the Bible to learn even more about what God is telling me?
Ch 6
God commanded the protection of women whose marital vows were violated by their sinful husbands.
Book Rec: HOW TO READ THE BIBLE FOR ALL ITS WORTH
Ch 7
Book Rec: THE WAY THEY LEARN
-Our brains tend to process analytically or globally
-Analytic learners may relate all the facts of the story but may struggle to relate the theme
-Global learners fly over the text and grasp the meaning of the overall picture, but they often miss the details that formed their general impressions
-help kids see both the individual details and instructions as well as the bigger picture
Your thoughtful inquiry helps kids learn. Share your questions. Thinking starts with a question mark.
Build a framework in their minds of words and ideas and concepts so that when we tell them about sin and the Savior who came to die for it, there is a way for them to understand what we're saying.
Catechisms give a clear picture of the gospel and the grand themes of the Bible, they confront heresies and false teachings, they create a community of people who hold the same biblical values.
This was excellent! The author never lost sight of the God we're helping our kids to learn and Love through the pages of the Bible and did not over-elevate scripture, but kept it appropriately esteemed as the way that we know God, but not a member of the Trinity itself. That was my first concern when I saw the title so if that's yours too, let me calm that fear and assure you Cooley wants her kids and yours to know and love the Bible so that they will know and love God.
I loved how practical the tips and ideas are in this book. I appreciate the thoroughness in approach, though I understand how it could also feel overwhelming. If I was sharing this with moms at church, I would encourage small steps for big impact. Trying a few of the tips and ideas at a time and growing your Bible engagement over time will feel far more manageable than trying to start where Cooley is in her process with her family. The steps are both formal and informal and include ways to ask your kids questions for learning, ways to engage their questions, activities to do together for family Bible time, and ways to weave the gospel into other moments and conversations. The author is a homeschool educator and I believe a curriculum writer and her theology and pedagogy is incredibly sound.
I want every parent to read this with a teachable spirit and without comparison. At times as I read, I felt pressure to do more of this and I don't even have my own kids so I know that it could be easy to feel you're not measuring up. View it more like you're brainstorming with Danika and being inspired or like you're being handed the step-by-step guide by a friend who wants to make a daunting task more manageable. This book is a gift and a grace and not a measuring stick.
One last note: these strategies, to varying degrees, are also great to help yourself learn and love the Bible or to help another adult learn and love the Bible. I've been blessed as a single gal (with lots of kiddos in my life) as I consider the gospel conversations I have with children and the ways I'm learning and loving the Bible myself.
I wish I owned this so I could make all the notes in the margins.
Ch 1
Scripture is not too difficult for kids to understand!
Ch 2
Gradual progression of knowledge, then understanding, then wisdom
Your role early on is a Bible tour guide and moves into the role of trusted mentor (around high school)
Your kids are the right age for Jesus. They are never too little to understand the gospel. Point to God and His word early and often. Focus on the gospel and who God is.
Ch 3
Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian (A. W. Tozer)
Ch 4
SCAN (from Kevin DeYoung)
S - Sufficient - We don't need to look for God anywhere else. We will find Him in the Bible.
C - Clear
A - Authoritative - The Bible is our authority. It is God's words.
N - Necessary
Ch 5
-The girl with all the questions is loving all these suggested questions throughout the chapter
What do you learn about God from this passage?
How do you feel about sin after reading this story?
What was this person's heart longing after? An idol or God?
What does Jesus say about how Christians should live?
How should we respond to false teachers?
Help kids write their own question cheat sheets to look for main ideas of what God is communicating to us:
How does this story point to Jesus?
What did I just learn about God?
How does human sin show up in this poem?
How does this piece of history point to my need for a savior?
What did I just learn about how to follow Jesus?
Does this passage show me how to love God and love others?
How does this passage relate to the passage before or after it?
Does this passage give me enough information to understand what the Bible is saying to me?
Do I need to look up this character or idea in the Bible to learn even more about what God is telling me?
Ch 6
God commanded the protection of women whose marital vows were violated by their sinful husbands.
Book Rec: HOW TO READ THE BIBLE FOR ALL ITS WORTH
Ch 7
Book Rec: THE WAY THEY LEARN
-Our brains tend to process analytically or globally
-Analytic learners may relate all the facts of the story but may struggle to relate the theme
-Global learners fly over the text and grasp the meaning of the overall picture, but they often miss the details that formed their general impressions
-help kids see both the individual details and instructions as well as the bigger picture
Your thoughtful inquiry helps kids learn. Share your questions. Thinking starts with a question mark.
Build a framework in their minds of words and ideas and concepts so that when we tell them about sin and the Savior who came to die for it, there is a way for them to understand what we're saying.
Catechisms give a clear picture of the gospel and the grand themes of the Bible, they confront heresies and false teachings, they create a community of people who hold the same biblical values.
July 28, 2021
The Christian faith has become increasingly under attack in America, while sadly, Biblical literacy has been in decline. Danika Cooley's book, Help Your Kids Learn & Love the Bible offers a valuable tool in equipping parents to not only teach Biblical truth to their children but to help them love it. The Word is life to our souls and yet we often treat it as some optional activity. Something relegated to Sunday mornings or midweek church programs.
Cooley asserts, "The impact we have on our families lasts not just through the lifetimes of our children, but through the lifetimes of their kids, and perhaps the generations to follow." Spending time with your kids in the Word is one of the most valuable investments you can make!
Whether or not your family is in the habit of daily reading the Bible together, Cooley's wisdom will motivate and instruct both new and seasoned parents. She offers insights into how children learn at different ages as well as strategies for helping families squeeze the Word into existing daily routines. She even tackles some common excuses for why you may think you don't have time.
Her explanation of the classical educational model really helped me see the stages of Bible instruction in a new way. The earliest stage is the Grammar stage when children are mainly learning through rote memorization. This represents the knowledge phase. The second level is called the Logic stage and that is when children are learning to reason and think critically. This is when knowledge turns into understanding. The final stage of learning is Rhetoric and this is when the classical learner is equipped to persuade. This stage is when understanding turns into wisdom. And wisdom is the ultimate goal we should have for each of our children. Wisdom derived from Scripture--not from the world, their peers, or from teachers.
Cooley then spends a great deal of time explaining the method for beginning a time of Bible instruction. She includes a number of very practical suggestions for parents to use depending on the age of their children. She tackles sticky questions, like how to handle sensitive topics. She emphasizes the importance of accurately handling the Word by considering the genre of a book and its historical context. The goal for instruction should be exegesis (discovering the meaning that God intended), and not eisegesis--reading one's own ideas into the text.
Cooley explains the importance of helping children see the main points of a Bible passage, how it fits into overarching themes of the Bible, and then determining how the passage applies to them personally. Which nicely fits into the 3-stage model of learning--going from knowledge about a passage to understanding (how it fits into the Bible as a whole) and finally becoming wisdom to see how Scripture applies to our lives.
One of the most helpful sections of the book deals with mistakes people make when reading the Bible. It is imperative that we carefully handle the Word of God and not unknowingly model erroneous thinking. We must make sure to avoid the following:
"Allegorizing" Scripture: looking for "hidden meanings" and reading things into the text that were not intended
Decontextualizing: taking verses out of context
Selective reading: cherry-picking verses to focus on
Moralizing Bible Stories: trying to apply a "moral" to every story in the Bible
Cooley concludes the book with a dose of encouragement for parents to run the race, make the effort, to not become weary in leading their children to the Lord. I highly recommend this book for new parents as well as seasoned parents or even grandparents. Believers, we must take seriously the task of equipping the next generation to love and serve the Lord. And that begins with helping them move from knowledge to understanding and finally to wisdom so that they in turn can continue this cycle with their own children.
Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of Help Your Kids Learn & Love the Bible from NetGalley for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received.
Cooley asserts, "The impact we have on our families lasts not just through the lifetimes of our children, but through the lifetimes of their kids, and perhaps the generations to follow." Spending time with your kids in the Word is one of the most valuable investments you can make!
Whether or not your family is in the habit of daily reading the Bible together, Cooley's wisdom will motivate and instruct both new and seasoned parents. She offers insights into how children learn at different ages as well as strategies for helping families squeeze the Word into existing daily routines. She even tackles some common excuses for why you may think you don't have time.
Her explanation of the classical educational model really helped me see the stages of Bible instruction in a new way. The earliest stage is the Grammar stage when children are mainly learning through rote memorization. This represents the knowledge phase. The second level is called the Logic stage and that is when children are learning to reason and think critically. This is when knowledge turns into understanding. The final stage of learning is Rhetoric and this is when the classical learner is equipped to persuade. This stage is when understanding turns into wisdom. And wisdom is the ultimate goal we should have for each of our children. Wisdom derived from Scripture--not from the world, their peers, or from teachers.
Cooley then spends a great deal of time explaining the method for beginning a time of Bible instruction. She includes a number of very practical suggestions for parents to use depending on the age of their children. She tackles sticky questions, like how to handle sensitive topics. She emphasizes the importance of accurately handling the Word by considering the genre of a book and its historical context. The goal for instruction should be exegesis (discovering the meaning that God intended), and not eisegesis--reading one's own ideas into the text.
Cooley explains the importance of helping children see the main points of a Bible passage, how it fits into overarching themes of the Bible, and then determining how the passage applies to them personally. Which nicely fits into the 3-stage model of learning--going from knowledge about a passage to understanding (how it fits into the Bible as a whole) and finally becoming wisdom to see how Scripture applies to our lives.
One of the most helpful sections of the book deals with mistakes people make when reading the Bible. It is imperative that we carefully handle the Word of God and not unknowingly model erroneous thinking. We must make sure to avoid the following:
"Allegorizing" Scripture: looking for "hidden meanings" and reading things into the text that were not intended
Decontextualizing: taking verses out of context
Selective reading: cherry-picking verses to focus on
Moralizing Bible Stories: trying to apply a "moral" to every story in the Bible
Cooley concludes the book with a dose of encouragement for parents to run the race, make the effort, to not become weary in leading their children to the Lord. I highly recommend this book for new parents as well as seasoned parents or even grandparents. Believers, we must take seriously the task of equipping the next generation to love and serve the Lord. And that begins with helping them move from knowledge to understanding and finally to wisdom so that they in turn can continue this cycle with their own children.
Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of Help Your Kids Learn & Love the Bible from NetGalley for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received.
March 12, 2022
I’m a lover of reading so of course I was up to reading this book and providing a review.
This is a paperback book. The book itself is broken up or written into three sections. Part one, You’re the Leader. Faithful Reading is part two. And part three is A Daily Walk. The book is 182 pages long. Throughout the book, the author infuses bits of her life and story and her journey through parenting as examples.
About the Book
In Help Your Kids Learn and Love the Bible is about making the Bible an integral part of every day in your life and that of your children. The Bible should be the number one book we teach from and learn from in our day to life but sadly it is often the last book we reach for or the one we only reach for when we have “extra” time.
Danika Cooley offers to help you learn how to make the Bible the most important book in your life and in your children’s lives so that it is always the first one consulted. This book will encourage you but also challenge you to move forward in your own walk and also help our children in their walk and lives.
It is by this solid start to life with the Bible as the center that we can have hope that our children will walk with the Lord as they grow and go from our home. This is a book that should be in every home as well as all churches in my opinion.
Danika is an award-winning author as well as a Bible curriculum creator with her husband. Together they have four children who they homeschool. They are committed to raising their children to live for the Lord and want to help you do the same.
Our Thoughts
I found this to be a good read. It read quickly but also had words of wisdom that made me want to highlight or take notes.
We take so much time with our kids to work on this or that. We find them the perfect curriculum, we find them the perfect activities for them, but do we find them the perfect Bible and study to do?
I enjoyed reading this book. There were parts that challenged me to do better and gave me practical ideas on how to do that. I struggle with teaching my kids the Bible. We work on memory verses and we work on copywork of Bible verses. My husband leads family devotions. But is that really enough? Are they really learning? Are they really hiding words in their heart? Will it serve them as they grow and are on their own? Have I done enough to set the foundation?
If you’re like me and have some of these questions then I highly recommend you get this book. It answers them and more while giving you practical steps to work through and achieve your objectives. You’ll also find encouragement throughout the pages cheering you on when you feel that you’re failing.
I would love for Danika to come out with another book geared more towards teens. Whether that’s one for teens raised in a Christian home but maybe where the Bible wasn’t the centrepiece or one for teens who were raised in secular homes. Both would be good I think. This one was more geared to formative years when they’re young.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the Homeschool Review Crew. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
This is a paperback book. The book itself is broken up or written into three sections. Part one, You’re the Leader. Faithful Reading is part two. And part three is A Daily Walk. The book is 182 pages long. Throughout the book, the author infuses bits of her life and story and her journey through parenting as examples.
About the Book
In Help Your Kids Learn and Love the Bible is about making the Bible an integral part of every day in your life and that of your children. The Bible should be the number one book we teach from and learn from in our day to life but sadly it is often the last book we reach for or the one we only reach for when we have “extra” time.
Danika Cooley offers to help you learn how to make the Bible the most important book in your life and in your children’s lives so that it is always the first one consulted. This book will encourage you but also challenge you to move forward in your own walk and also help our children in their walk and lives.
It is by this solid start to life with the Bible as the center that we can have hope that our children will walk with the Lord as they grow and go from our home. This is a book that should be in every home as well as all churches in my opinion.
Danika is an award-winning author as well as a Bible curriculum creator with her husband. Together they have four children who they homeschool. They are committed to raising their children to live for the Lord and want to help you do the same.
Our Thoughts
I found this to be a good read. It read quickly but also had words of wisdom that made me want to highlight or take notes.
We take so much time with our kids to work on this or that. We find them the perfect curriculum, we find them the perfect activities for them, but do we find them the perfect Bible and study to do?
I enjoyed reading this book. There were parts that challenged me to do better and gave me practical ideas on how to do that. I struggle with teaching my kids the Bible. We work on memory verses and we work on copywork of Bible verses. My husband leads family devotions. But is that really enough? Are they really learning? Are they really hiding words in their heart? Will it serve them as they grow and are on their own? Have I done enough to set the foundation?
If you’re like me and have some of these questions then I highly recommend you get this book. It answers them and more while giving you practical steps to work through and achieve your objectives. You’ll also find encouragement throughout the pages cheering you on when you feel that you’re failing.
I would love for Danika to come out with another book geared more towards teens. Whether that’s one for teens raised in a Christian home but maybe where the Bible wasn’t the centrepiece or one for teens who were raised in secular homes. Both would be good I think. This one was more geared to formative years when they’re young.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the Homeschool Review Crew. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
October 20, 2021
As a mother of 2 (11 & 14), I highly recommend this book. Why? Even as a Bible college graduate, it's one I need, and would have loved to have had when my girls were younger. Although I am well versed in Bible & Theology and have a degree in Education, the depth and breadth of Danika's application and instruction has been invaluable to me. I love that she gives age & stage appropriate suggestions for helping your kids learn and love the Bible. Also, to be perfectly honest, I have the best intentions and don't always follow through--so having concrete, doable suggestions driven by the impetus of seeing my children fall deeply in love with their Lord and Savior through a knowledge and love of the Word is exactly what I need.
What this book isn't:
1. It isn't a list of rituals you "should" do.
2. It isn't a dry and dull approach that will make your kids feel like spending time in the Word is drudgery.
3. It's not based on a performative, works oriented motivation for Bible reading or study.
4. A burden, making you feel guilty.
What this book Is:
1. Borne from a deep love of WHO God is, and WHAT He communicates to us through his Word. You can sense Danika's passionate love for the Lord and the Scriptures.
2. A dynamic discipleschip tool, empowering parents to come alongside their children as they seek to live out the command given to God's people in Deuteronomy 6:4-9. This book equips parents to help their children move toward loving the Lord their God with all their heart, mind, soul and strength and gives creative ideas, tips and Biblical incentive for ways to talk & study the Word in ways that imprint them on the heart--as you sit, walk, lie down, rise, etc. I believe that this is one of the most important passages in Scripture in regard to parenting and discipling our children, and I love that Help Your Kids Learn and Love the Bible has this passage as it's core heartbeat and aim.
3. Creative, fun, developmentally appropriate and do-able! I love all the ideas in here! And, I love that Danika not only includes ideas for different ages & stages, but her plethora of ideas span the learning styles, so you're sure to find a great fit for your child(ren)'s learning & heart languages.
4. Encouraging and Empowering--I walked away from each chapter inspired and confident that there were intentional and practical ways I could invite my girls to engage in God's word.
I received this book as a gift, because Danika is my friend. I am not being compensated for this honest review. Let me tell you why this makes my review valuable --I can tell you personally that over the years, I have benefitted greatly from the wisdom of this precious friend, and I am always blessed by how humble and her intense love for the Word is and how extensive her knowledge both of the Word and ways to study the Word are. I have watched her live out what she proclaims in this book, and what you read is real, authentic and effective. I see the impact of her intentional engaging and educating her boys in God's Word has had. These aren't "pie in the sky" theories and ideas. This book is a genuine treasure for any parent who desires to engage and equip their child(ren) to learn and love God's word!
What this book isn't:
1. It isn't a list of rituals you "should" do.
2. It isn't a dry and dull approach that will make your kids feel like spending time in the Word is drudgery.
3. It's not based on a performative, works oriented motivation for Bible reading or study.
4. A burden, making you feel guilty.
What this book Is:
1. Borne from a deep love of WHO God is, and WHAT He communicates to us through his Word. You can sense Danika's passionate love for the Lord and the Scriptures.
2. A dynamic discipleschip tool, empowering parents to come alongside their children as they seek to live out the command given to God's people in Deuteronomy 6:4-9. This book equips parents to help their children move toward loving the Lord their God with all their heart, mind, soul and strength and gives creative ideas, tips and Biblical incentive for ways to talk & study the Word in ways that imprint them on the heart--as you sit, walk, lie down, rise, etc. I believe that this is one of the most important passages in Scripture in regard to parenting and discipling our children, and I love that Help Your Kids Learn and Love the Bible has this passage as it's core heartbeat and aim.
3. Creative, fun, developmentally appropriate and do-able! I love all the ideas in here! And, I love that Danika not only includes ideas for different ages & stages, but her plethora of ideas span the learning styles, so you're sure to find a great fit for your child(ren)'s learning & heart languages.
4. Encouraging and Empowering--I walked away from each chapter inspired and confident that there were intentional and practical ways I could invite my girls to engage in God's word.
I received this book as a gift, because Danika is my friend. I am not being compensated for this honest review. Let me tell you why this makes my review valuable --I can tell you personally that over the years, I have benefitted greatly from the wisdom of this precious friend, and I am always blessed by how humble and her intense love for the Word is and how extensive her knowledge both of the Word and ways to study the Word are. I have watched her live out what she proclaims in this book, and what you read is real, authentic and effective. I see the impact of her intentional engaging and educating her boys in God's Word has had. These aren't "pie in the sky" theories and ideas. This book is a genuine treasure for any parent who desires to engage and equip their child(ren) to learn and love God's word!
June 19, 2021
In Help Your Kids Learn & Love the Bible, Danika Cooley explored the topic of helping our children to love reading the Bible. She shared a personal story about how her son asked her about Jonah and why he was called a prophet and not a missionary and how she had to study the scriptures to figure it out. She explained how she used a children’s audio Bible CD when they were small. She revealed tips on how she made the Bible approachable and how she continued the Bible reading appropriate for the age range. She went into details on how she did it from little people until high school level. She also looked at some of the excuses we use such as, “reading the Bible is too hard for kids, too edgy, and too big”. She shared ways we can overcome this and still teach our children the Word of God. She also described how she used fun creative ways to keep her small children occupied while the other older children would read and study the Bible together as a family. She used boxes as an idea and the kids would do different things such as, stickers, dollhouse, coloring, and action figures and they had to play 30 minutes during the older children’s Bible study. This helped them to also gain some of the Bible conversations while they were busy playing in the background.
I would recommend this life changing book to anyone who has children and they are searching for a book to assist them in leading their children into a relationship with the Word of God. It contained countless tips and suggestions on how a family was able to leave a lasting legacy in their children’s lives. I immensely enjoyed how she shared creative ideas she used to engage her own children and teaching them the importance of studying the written word and building a foundation on Christ’s teachings and leadership. I also liked how she explored how we can have a profitable discussion on what our children are reading and asking open end questions that will cause our children to ponder what they are reading about and how they can apply it to their lives.
"I received this book free from the publisher, Bethany House/Chosen Books for my honest review.”
I would recommend this life changing book to anyone who has children and they are searching for a book to assist them in leading their children into a relationship with the Word of God. It contained countless tips and suggestions on how a family was able to leave a lasting legacy in their children’s lives. I immensely enjoyed how she shared creative ideas she used to engage her own children and teaching them the importance of studying the written word and building a foundation on Christ’s teachings and leadership. I also liked how she explored how we can have a profitable discussion on what our children are reading and asking open end questions that will cause our children to ponder what they are reading about and how they can apply it to their lives.
"I received this book free from the publisher, Bethany House/Chosen Books for my honest review.”
September 4, 2021
Are you looking for a great resource to give you ideas of how to teach your kids about the Bible? We know that helping our children grow in a relationship with God should be our primary priority, but when life gets going, it can become a big struggle. And knowing where to start with this important task can be difficult! Danika Cooley has written a new book called Help Your Kids Learn & Love the Bible to help parents implement family Bible study in their homes.
I thought Danika's book was great! This book was such an encouragement to me and gave me some great ideas to help aid me in my job to teach my kids the Bible. I appreciated that she walks through different subjects like:
Making the bible approachable for your kids
Appropriate reading for the different age groups (toddlers to high school)
Building a daily routine
Seeing the bible as a whole
Exegesis ("...the study of the Bible, searching for the meaning intended by the author."p. 101)
Asking good questions to facilitate learning
Memorizing Scripture
Praying the Word together
Not only are there some great topics that she discusses, but she also recommends some additional resources to help with your family Bible study. I also appreciated that the author ends her book with a chapter called, "Study the Word When You're Not Feeling It." We all know those days do come here and there, and Danika gives some ideas of what to do when we face those kinds of days.
I would definitely recommend this book as a great resource. It was encouraging to read through as I was contemplating how to implement Bible time into our schedule for our current homeschool year.
I received this complimentary book from Bethany House publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
I thought Danika's book was great! This book was such an encouragement to me and gave me some great ideas to help aid me in my job to teach my kids the Bible. I appreciated that she walks through different subjects like:
Making the bible approachable for your kids
Appropriate reading for the different age groups (toddlers to high school)
Building a daily routine
Seeing the bible as a whole
Exegesis ("...the study of the Bible, searching for the meaning intended by the author."p. 101)
Asking good questions to facilitate learning
Memorizing Scripture
Praying the Word together
Not only are there some great topics that she discusses, but she also recommends some additional resources to help with your family Bible study. I also appreciated that the author ends her book with a chapter called, "Study the Word When You're Not Feeling It." We all know those days do come here and there, and Danika gives some ideas of what to do when we face those kinds of days.
I would definitely recommend this book as a great resource. It was encouraging to read through as I was contemplating how to implement Bible time into our schedule for our current homeschool year.
I received this complimentary book from Bethany House publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
March 28, 2021
First sentence: Erik’s tone from the backseat was serious. “Why does the Bible call Jonah a prophet and not a missionary?” “I don’t know.” I’m seriously not up for this today. “Buddy, you’re three. Hey, look at that train! Doesn’t it have a lot of cars?”
I recently finished reading Danika Cooley's Help Your Kids Learn and Love the Bible. It was written with parents in mind; parents with children of all ages in mind. Her background, from what I can determine, is she's a homeschooling mom with a (large) blended family. She also writes Christian curriculum.
She advocates that the whole family should be spending time in the Word of God. There is no one too young--no one too old. Older ones may get "extra" time in the Word so that they can be discipled further. But no child is to be left out or left behind.
She acknowledges that there are ages and stages. That is that there are stages of brain development, and that not all ages will interact/relate/approach the Bible in the same way. A teen will read, study, memorize, pray the Word differently than a kindergartner. But all ages and stages can be learning something.
She also acknowledges that there are different kinds of learners. That is that not every person learns (processes, absorbs, picks up) information (knowledge) the same way. There are strengths and weaknesses to all types of learning styles. You can use multiple techniques to round out the learning.
She tends towards the dramatic. She recommends a LOT of dramas, re-enacting, skits, arts and crafts. Puppets. Lots and lots of puppets.
She addresses concerns, common questions, and myths about the Bible, about teaching the Bible, about raising children, etc.
The book is practical and full of advice, tips, and general information about the Bible.
I recently finished reading Danika Cooley's Help Your Kids Learn and Love the Bible. It was written with parents in mind; parents with children of all ages in mind. Her background, from what I can determine, is she's a homeschooling mom with a (large) blended family. She also writes Christian curriculum.
She advocates that the whole family should be spending time in the Word of God. There is no one too young--no one too old. Older ones may get "extra" time in the Word so that they can be discipled further. But no child is to be left out or left behind.
She acknowledges that there are ages and stages. That is that there are stages of brain development, and that not all ages will interact/relate/approach the Bible in the same way. A teen will read, study, memorize, pray the Word differently than a kindergartner. But all ages and stages can be learning something.
She also acknowledges that there are different kinds of learners. That is that not every person learns (processes, absorbs, picks up) information (knowledge) the same way. There are strengths and weaknesses to all types of learning styles. You can use multiple techniques to round out the learning.
She tends towards the dramatic. She recommends a LOT of dramas, re-enacting, skits, arts and crafts. Puppets. Lots and lots of puppets.
She addresses concerns, common questions, and myths about the Bible, about teaching the Bible, about raising children, etc.
The book is practical and full of advice, tips, and general information about the Bible.
June 29, 2021
Ever wish you could have a do over? Often as parents we wish we could do something over as we move along in life. I think at those times it's important to pass on that insight to younger parents. I wish I had the book, Help Your Kids Learn & Love the Bible by Danika Cooley when my kids were younger.
Danika (a fellow Moms in Prayer mom) shares such insight and wisdom of how and why to teach your children the Bible. I am still amazed at Danika's point on Biblical literacy that, "It's difficult to profess literacy in a subject when you're read the underlying text only one time. If you have read only passages or sections of a founding text for a subject...well then you can only claim partial knowledge at best." (page 14). This is the perfect argument for teaching our children the Bible. I would suggest that instead of looking for the ideal devotional, you read Danika's book and follow the practical suggestions for reading the Bible!
I am impressed that Danika offers practical application of the "how to". She doesn't just suggest having your kids read that Bible, but rather offers the how to accomplish it. She shares valuable insight that she has learned along her journey. Her website is also full of great ideas.
I have found this book to be super insightful and just may consider it a new baby shower gift! All parents need this book to understand the why and follow through on the how for Biblical literacy. I was given a free copy from the publisher for my honest review which I was more than happy to do. I highly recommend this book!
Danika (a fellow Moms in Prayer mom) shares such insight and wisdom of how and why to teach your children the Bible. I am still amazed at Danika's point on Biblical literacy that, "It's difficult to profess literacy in a subject when you're read the underlying text only one time. If you have read only passages or sections of a founding text for a subject...well then you can only claim partial knowledge at best." (page 14). This is the perfect argument for teaching our children the Bible. I would suggest that instead of looking for the ideal devotional, you read Danika's book and follow the practical suggestions for reading the Bible!
I am impressed that Danika offers practical application of the "how to". She doesn't just suggest having your kids read that Bible, but rather offers the how to accomplish it. She shares valuable insight that she has learned along her journey. Her website is also full of great ideas.
I have found this book to be super insightful and just may consider it a new baby shower gift! All parents need this book to understand the why and follow through on the how for Biblical literacy. I was given a free copy from the publisher for my honest review which I was more than happy to do. I highly recommend this book!
June 8, 2021
What I love most about “Help Your Kids Learn & Love the Bible” by Danika Cooley is that it’s a very practical book. It’s perfect for both Bible-literate moms who have been believers for decades and for brand new Christian moms or those who don’t know much about the Bible at all. If you want your kids to learn and love the Bible, and therefore, to learn about and love Jesus, you should pick up this book. It will teach you about the different books of the Bible, what genre they’re in, and how to read each in the right way (to avoid misinterpretation and heresy). It will give you tips on how to teach the Bible to different age groups: preschoolers, elementary, or teens. You’ll also get some very practical ideas about how to start doing Bible reading with your family.
I’m so grateful that the book “Help Your Kids Learn & Love the Bible” won’t encourage you to do anything “weird.” In fact, Danika includes an entire section on how not to read the Bible “weirdly.” The last thing I’ll say is that Danika doesn’t encourage legalism. She says, “There are going to be days that you don’t read the Bible as a family. The practice of family worship is just that—a practice. It’s a spiritual discipline that we continue to make a habitual part of our daily lives. But it won’t happen every day, and it’s not law.”
(Disclosure: I received a complimentary book in order to write this completely honest review.)
I’m so grateful that the book “Help Your Kids Learn & Love the Bible” won’t encourage you to do anything “weird.” In fact, Danika includes an entire section on how not to read the Bible “weirdly.” The last thing I’ll say is that Danika doesn’t encourage legalism. She says, “There are going to be days that you don’t read the Bible as a family. The practice of family worship is just that—a practice. It’s a spiritual discipline that we continue to make a habitual part of our daily lives. But it won’t happen every day, and it’s not law.”
(Disclosure: I received a complimentary book in order to write this completely honest review.)
July 16, 2021
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers. I was not compensated in any way, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.**
If you need a kick in the pants to get your kids in the Word, this is it! Thankfully, Danika doesn't come across as perfect or Pinterest-y at all as she shares her family's experience of Bible reading and study. She could have given off an air of, "I'm so great, my kids were biblical scholars because of me by age 7, now they're fluent in Hebrew AND Aramaic and are currently on an archaeological dig in Cairo so as to deepen their relationship with the Lord -- what's your excuse?" but she doesn't. She acknowledges that sometimes life gets in the way of the best intentions, but that the important thing is to make a plan, execute it whenever possible, keep plugging away without feeling guilty about your missteps and trust God to take care of the rest.
I would say most of the strategies in this book are doable, even if you have more kids than Danika does. That doesn't mean they will be *easy,* but I have no doubt they will prove fruitful.
Even though it's short, it took me a while to get through this book, because I wanted to digest each part and put its advice into practice. I suggest you do the same, if possible. This shouldn't be a speed-read.
This would also be a great book for a MOPS or other moms'/parents' group.
If you need a kick in the pants to get your kids in the Word, this is it! Thankfully, Danika doesn't come across as perfect or Pinterest-y at all as she shares her family's experience of Bible reading and study. She could have given off an air of, "I'm so great, my kids were biblical scholars because of me by age 7, now they're fluent in Hebrew AND Aramaic and are currently on an archaeological dig in Cairo so as to deepen their relationship with the Lord -- what's your excuse?" but she doesn't. She acknowledges that sometimes life gets in the way of the best intentions, but that the important thing is to make a plan, execute it whenever possible, keep plugging away without feeling guilty about your missteps and trust God to take care of the rest.
I would say most of the strategies in this book are doable, even if you have more kids than Danika does. That doesn't mean they will be *easy,* but I have no doubt they will prove fruitful.
Even though it's short, it took me a while to get through this book, because I wanted to digest each part and put its advice into practice. I suggest you do the same, if possible. This shouldn't be a speed-read.
This would also be a great book for a MOPS or other moms'/parents' group.
June 14, 2021
Please note: I received a complementary copy from the publisher in return for my honest opinion.
I highly recommend Help Your Kids Learn & Love the Bible by Danika Cooley. I found her writing style very easy to navigate full of wonderful personal stories, thought-provoking advice, and practical examples of how to incorporate Bible reading into our family's daily routine. After providing advice about how to read the Bible (looking at main themes, reading in context, etc.), she takes us through how to approach the Bible and how to do it every day.
I really appreciated the fact that Cooley was a homeschool mom because it made the stories and advice all that more practical for my own family. But that doesn't mean if you are not homeschooling that you can't incorporate her ideas into your family routine. Reading the Bible can happen at breakfast or after dinner as she shares different ideas. The point is the start reading the Bible to together and make it a habit that you won't want to break.
If you are parent, grandparent, or church minister, this book will help you bring children to the Word of God.
I highly recommend Help Your Kids Learn & Love the Bible by Danika Cooley. I found her writing style very easy to navigate full of wonderful personal stories, thought-provoking advice, and practical examples of how to incorporate Bible reading into our family's daily routine. After providing advice about how to read the Bible (looking at main themes, reading in context, etc.), she takes us through how to approach the Bible and how to do it every day.
I really appreciated the fact that Cooley was a homeschool mom because it made the stories and advice all that more practical for my own family. But that doesn't mean if you are not homeschooling that you can't incorporate her ideas into your family routine. Reading the Bible can happen at breakfast or after dinner as she shares different ideas. The point is the start reading the Bible to together and make it a habit that you won't want to break.
If you are parent, grandparent, or church minister, this book will help you bring children to the Word of God.
June 14, 2021
Thanks to Bethany House for the free review copy.
This book is extremely practical. Cooley hits on so many different ways to teach the Bible and memorize scripture. She doesn't just suggest looking at it alone, but implores her readers to take the time and teach the context and ideas in their historical settings and how things fit into the overarching theme. While some of the tips are not quite practical for where I am in my parenting, this is a book I will continue to come back to for the resources and reading list. She points to other books that may help parents with some of the teaching aspects in this book.
What I also appreciated is how she suggests tailoring this activity to each individual kid and family. She gives ideas on how to help everyone learn best in the way that they learn. I feel like it will be easy to implement some of these ideas, I am challenged to implement others, and some of the methods are not for me. And that's okay! I think everyone could find at least a couple ideas in here to implement in their own home Bible study.
I am encouraged by the ideas in this book, and I can't wait to start using them with my toddler in my everyday life.
This book is extremely practical. Cooley hits on so many different ways to teach the Bible and memorize scripture. She doesn't just suggest looking at it alone, but implores her readers to take the time and teach the context and ideas in their historical settings and how things fit into the overarching theme. While some of the tips are not quite practical for where I am in my parenting, this is a book I will continue to come back to for the resources and reading list. She points to other books that may help parents with some of the teaching aspects in this book.
What I also appreciated is how she suggests tailoring this activity to each individual kid and family. She gives ideas on how to help everyone learn best in the way that they learn. I feel like it will be easy to implement some of these ideas, I am challenged to implement others, and some of the methods are not for me. And that's okay! I think everyone could find at least a couple ideas in here to implement in their own home Bible study.
I am encouraged by the ideas in this book, and I can't wait to start using them with my toddler in my everyday life.
June 8, 2021
As a mom who wants to help my kids grow in their faith and their walk with God, I have searched out, purchased, and done many devotionals and studies with them. This book is different, because the author really encourages parents to use the Bible as their main teaching source, and gives specific and practical tips on how to do this (even if you are still learning to navigate the Bible yourself!).
Sometimes it's intimidating to know where to start or HOW to teach the Bible to our kids. This is the book you need to help you with just that, and it will also help ease any doubts you might have. It helped me realize that investing more time and energy into teaching my kids the Bible is worthwhile, and also helped me implement changes into our family's routine immediately so we are regularly in God's Word together. Highly recommend this book!
Sometimes it's intimidating to know where to start or HOW to teach the Bible to our kids. This is the book you need to help you with just that, and it will also help ease any doubts you might have. It helped me realize that investing more time and energy into teaching my kids the Bible is worthwhile, and also helped me implement changes into our family's routine immediately so we are regularly in God's Word together. Highly recommend this book!
June 15, 2021
I am super excited to receive this book for a review! Help Your Kids Learn And Love The Bible by Danika Cooley is a great book that will give you amazing tips to help you teach the Bible to your children.
Not only is it great for parents well versed in the Bible, but it's also great for beginners. If you're looking for a solid resource that helps encourage and equip you in teaching your children the infallible Word of God, this book is definitely a winner.
Also, if you check out Danika's website, you can get a free 130 page Bible Study Tool Kit which is perfect to accompany this wonderful book!
Not only is it great for parents well versed in the Bible, but it's also great for beginners. If you're looking for a solid resource that helps encourage and equip you in teaching your children the infallible Word of God, this book is definitely a winner.
Also, if you check out Danika's website, you can get a free 130 page Bible Study Tool Kit which is perfect to accompany this wonderful book!
June 25, 2021
This book captured my attention right from the beginning on page 1 of the introduction. The way Danika writes makes you feel like you're reading from a friend. She writes about her experiences and offers great ideas on implementing the suggested Bible study tips and resources. Anyone who always wanted to be consistent and intentional with Bible Time with their kids should start off reading this book first. Once you do, you'll feel more confident and capable of helping your kids know more about Scripture and God's love. Plus, you'll know that you're doing the ultimate duty of parenting - teaching God to your kids!
July 2, 2021
Sometimes as a parent I just want to be told what to do and how to do it. This book does that. Most anyone coming here to grab a copy of this book already knows the importance of their kids knowing God's word, but it's in the doing that we find hard. Danika shows us exactly how to do it and gives actionable habit forming ideas for implementing bible time with our children, whether we have 5 minutes to give or 30. Her desire to see children come to know and love God's word and for parents to feel equipped in teaching it, is evident throughout the book. It's an easy read and easy to put into action right away.
June 12, 2021
As a new to learning the bible mom with a preschooler this book was an amazing help.
I am so happy that I found this book, how Danika Cooley explains the different stages/ ages for learning the bible and how every stage children will learn differently. I highlighted so many different passages throughout the book to help me at this stage. I will be going back and re reading/ highlighting as my daughter gets older. This book is great at any age and stage, but this book will also grow with you and will be a reference for years to come.
I am so happy that I found this book, how Danika Cooley explains the different stages/ ages for learning the bible and how every stage children will learn differently. I highlighted so many different passages throughout the book to help me at this stage. I will be going back and re reading/ highlighting as my daughter gets older. This book is great at any age and stage, but this book will also grow with you and will be a reference for years to come.
May 27, 2021
Help Your Kids Learn and Love the Bible by Danika Cooley aims to help parents do just that— learn and love the Bible. I think this a great resource for parents. Instilling a love for God’s Word can feel overwhelming to parents and this book does an excellent job and simplifying everything. This book is filled with great ideas for a variety of ages. It is an invaluable resource. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.
May 9, 2021
Super ideas, very informative, great Bible study book suggestions! If you're serious about bringing up your children in God's word, this book is for you!! Very practical. I'd not heard of Danika Cooley before, but she did a great job on this book!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-copy. All opinions are mine.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-copy. All opinions are mine.
May 28, 2021
Interesting concept on teaching the children stories of the Bible. Will definitely recommend this to other parents.
June 9, 2021
I so enjoyed this book! It is chock-full of practical ideas and references for the parents who want to go through the Bible with their kids. Danika shares her own journey with her family in an encouraging, enlightening, and entertaining way.
June 9, 2021
Great book to teach your child of any age not only to love but learn about the Bible. It is relatable, encouraging, packed full of resources and an all around awesome book. I highly recommend it!
October 6, 2021
Thorough and practical! My favorite things when I am researching topics like this!
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