Age-Level Insights: How Kids Learn Bible Stories at All Ages

Here’s a peek into how children of various ages and stages learn Bible stories — and ways to teach them.

How Children Learn Bible Stories Ages 2 to 5 Years

Young children like to be read to with age-appropriate books. They like pictures, age-appropriate terminology and simple wording. Their attention span is only two to 10 minutes. Preschool children like to interact with objects. They learn by touching objects and through repetition.

Ways to Teach

Paraphrase Bible stories and highlight only main points. For example, say: “God chose Noah to save all the animals from the flood. He told Noah to build an ark. An ark is a large boat. Noah brought in the animals. The flood came. Finally, the ark landed on dry land and God made a rainbow.” Tell the story using objects, such as storybooks, stuffed animals, or a wooden animal and boat set. Allow children to play with the objects after the story. Remind children about or repeat the story as they play. Reinforce the story with an activity such as an animal craft, song, or game.

How Children Learn Bible Stories Ages 6 to 9 Years

By this age, children’s attention span is 10 to 20 minutes. They understand more details. Objects hold their attention during story time. Children love to be a part of and interact with the story. Children think concretely and focus on the parts and actions of the story.

Ways to Teach

Provide details. For example, say: “God wasn’t happy with people on earth. But Noah made God happy because Noah obeyed. Noah built the ark and gathered animals as God told him to.” Have children act out the story, playing different parts such as Noah, his family, friends and animals. Let children tell the story in their own words. Highlight only one main point with one direct application.

For example, say: “Noah obeyed God. We can obey God too.” Reinforce the story with crafts, games, or other activities. For example, play Simon Says, and focus on the importance of obeying the leader.

How Children Learn Bible Stories Ages 10 to 12 Years

By this age, children have heard many of the Bible stories over and over. And when they hear the stories again, kids ask “So what?” Older children need modern-day applications to Bible stories. They learn more when they see how stories apply to them personally.

Ways to Teach

Introduce the story with a question or personal anecdote kids can relate to. For example, ask, “How do you feel when someone tries to make you do something wrong?” Or describe a peer-pressure issue. Then get into the action of the story as soon as possible to arouse identification and emotion. Identify and highlight one main issue in the story. For example, Noah was obedient to God even if he possibly came up against opposition from other people as he built the ark.

Weave personal explanations and applications into the story. Relate the story to events in kids’ lives. Say, “Sometimes in our lives, doing the right thing is difficult. It may take time and lots of effort but we can trust that God asks us to do things for good.” Wonder with kids how much effort it must have taken Noah to build such an enormous boat when there were no machines, computers, or other modern tools to help. But Noah was faithful. And God kept his promises to Noah. God still and always will keep his promises. So even when following God takes big effort, it’s all for our loving, trustworthy God who does what he says he’ll do.

Brent Van Elswyk is pastor of families and counseling at RiverLakes Community Church in Bakersfield, California.