Smiling woman with long curly brown hair resting her chin on her hand wearing a sleeveless turquoise blouse.
Merry Madden
December 31, 2025
Faith Mama Life

How to Teach Kids About Jesus at Home

Teaching our little ones about Jesus is so important! In Proverbs 22:6 it says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” and in Deuteronomy 6:6-7 it says, “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”

Teaching children about Jesus is one of the greatest acts of love and kindness we can bestow upon our children. 3 John 1:4 says, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

It might feel overwhelming the thought of teaching your kids about Jesus, sin, consequences, eternity, etc. And partly, because it is a tremendous calling. So if you are a little overwhelmed, you’ve come to the right place. 

In this blog post, I am going to share with you how to incorporate Christ in the center of your home. Am I an expert? Absolutely not. But I was raised by God honoring parents and I want to do the same for our kids. 

How to Teach Your Kids About Jesus Naturally and Organically 

You know what quote has stuck with me in parenthood? “It’s caught, not what’s taught.” There have been so many little things said and done by our toddlers that they have repeated that we do. I am amazed at how their brains are little sponges and they mirror things that we do (good and bad). 

Be Like Jesus 

The key to teaching kids about Jesus is that YOU need to be like Jesus. Jesus is kind, gentle, loving, selfless, the list goes on. Do your kids see Jesus in you? Or do they see a mom that is abrasive, harsh, mean and selfish? Kids pick up on a lot, even if they don’t let onto it. How are we to be like Jesus? We spend time with him. Prayer and Bible reading will transform our lives and chip away the rough edges. 

Long before our children understand Bible stories or memorize Scripture, they are watching how we live. The way we speak, respond, forgive, and love leaves a lasting impression. If we want our kids to know who Jesus is, they need to see Him reflected in us. Jesus is kind, gentle, patient, loving, and selfless. He is slow to anger and quick to extend grace. And while none of us embody those qualities perfectly, our children notice the effort. They notice when we apologize after losing our temper. They notice when we choose grace over harshness and humility over pride. These moments speak louder than any lesson we could teach.

Have a Jesus Filter in Your Home

Let’s play a game of pretend. One day, Jesus in the flesh visits your home. He spends a week in your home gently observing what you are doing. Are you embarrassed with the books you have on your bookshelf? Are you uneasy when you turn on your favorite Netflix binges? Are you convicted about the conversations you have in your home whether with your spouse/kids, texting or phoning a friend? Do you feel disconcerted when your realize how much you’ve been wallowing in news and politics? Are you sheepish when you look at your search history on your phone or YouTube? 

The idea here is not to live in fear of getting caught or dwelling in guilt and shame. The idea is to reflect on what external influences we are allowing into our home. While a PG-13 movie might not bother you, it can affect your child in ways you may not immediately notice. The goal is to have a Christ centered home where you are delighting (not begrudgingly) doing things that reflect the heart of Jesus. So turn that Jesus filter on in your home! 

Think Relationship NOT Rules

My mom always told me growing up that “rules without relationship breeds rebellion.” If you create strict rules in your home without teaching them about a relationship with Jesus, sadly it will not stick. This truth has stuck with me into motherhood. It’s easy to focus on setting boundaries and rules for our kids — what they can watch, listen to, or participate in — especially when we’re trying to protect their hearts. But if those rules aren’t rooted in a growing relationship with Jesus, they often feel restrictive rather than life-giving.

When children don’t understand why certain standards exist, rules can quickly turn into resentment. Instead of seeing them as loving guidance, they may view them as control. That’s why it’s so important to prioritize relationship over rules. When kids are taught who Jesus is, how much He loves them, and why we desire to honor Him with our choices, obedience begins to flow from the heart rather than obligation.

As parents, our goal isn’t to raise rule-followers, but Christ-followers. When we invite Jesus into everyday conversations, model our own walk with Him, and show grace when mistakes are made, our children learn that faith is about connection — not perfection. Rules may guide behavior for a season, but a relationship with Jesus is what truly shapes their hearts for a lifetime.

Make it Fun

Sometimes we have imagery of Jesus as a man etched in stain glass. But you know what? Jesus is FUN. How do I know that? Look at His creation and everything he designed – not boring! Jesus has a sense of humor. He created laughter! In scripture he is sarcastic and easy going with his disciples. He knew they were flawed and had to poke fun at them now and then. Think of all the lessons you learned in school. My guess is that the lessons that stood out the most were fun, enjoyable or interesting like making a volcano erupt in science class. Ways to make learning about Jesus fun include scripture memorization with high stakes (stickers or gummy bears!), watching a kids show about Jesus (our toddlers love Minno on YouTube), reading Bible stories that are easy for kids to understand, listening to Bible stories, and acting out Bible stories to name a few. 

Faith-Based Resources to Teach Kids About Jesus

Teaching kids about Jesus can be fun for you and your kids. Here are some of our family favorite resources we use to teach our kids about Jesus. 

At the end of the day, teaching our kids about Jesus isn’t about getting everything right or having the perfect faith routine. It’s about faithfully pointing them to Him in the everyday moments — through the stories we share, the tools we use, and most importantly, the way we live. When our homes are rooted in grace, love, and a growing relationship with Jesus, those seeds of faith will take root in ways we may not immediately see. Trust the Lord with the process, lean on Him daily, and remember that even small, consistent moments of faith can have an eternal impact.