Summer break is finally here and with it are several extra hours in the day to be intentional about building up their faith. 

Whether your child is involved in a phenomenal children’s ministry programs, attends public school, is homeschooled, or attends a Christian school, you need to be diligent about ensuring that you fulfill your primary calling as their parent – to train them up in the ways of the Lord. While this is your task 24/7, summer break provides additional time and flexibility for you to focus on that priority. 

Note: This post may contain affiliate links which means I may receive a small commisison (at no additional cost to you) for purchase made through links. See my sidebar for more information. 

Find a way to serve as a family

Take time to enjoy summer freedom, but don’t waste it. Use your additional time to serve regularly with your kids. But don’t just cart them along to whatever your doing, be intentional about finding ways they can serve and explaining to them why it is important for the Christian faith. 

Visit a nursing home. Let your children talk with the elderly residents and bring along some games to play.  Have them paint or color pictures to bring along to brighten up their rooms. But always explain the why. Remind your children of the Christian call to visit the sick and tell them that this is one way they can live that out. 

Go to a local park or beach to clean-up trash. Again, remind your children of the why and the task God has given us to care for Creation. Then, enjoy some time in the water or swing set. 

Make-up ziplock bags, filled with basic hygiene essentials and some non-perishable food, to keep in your car and give to those you see in need. This is a great way to teach your children about providing for the poor. If they’re older and able, it would wonderful to have them copy down Bible verses or little notes to include in the bags as well. 

Begin the habit of family devotionals

If the school year makes it hard to begin your day as a family with time in the Word together, take advantage of leisurely summer mornings and encourage your children to spend time, daily, reading their Bible by embracing setting the example of family devotionals. Spending time in the Bible will feed your child’s faith. 

If you’re unsure of where to begin, the book of Proverbs has 31 chapters, one for each day of the month, that you can read aloud together. Growing up, my dad would always read the “Proverbs of the day” aloud and then would read a chapter from another book of the Bible. If you have children who are reading, encourage them to participate by reading a few verses or an entire chapter out loud. 

Do not be discouraged if it’s hard to keep everyone sitting still, listening. It may be hard at first but, your diligence will reap a harvest if you do not give up! If you need to start small and work up to full chapters, that’s okay. 

Introduce a Bible writing plan

Bible writing plans have been quite popular on social media in the last few years. Having your children develop their handwriting skills over the summer by copying Bible verses is a great way to help engrain the Word of God deeply in their minds. 

Not only will it feed your child’s faith and develop their handwriting skills, but copying something down is a great memory aid. Picking a passage as a family to memorize, and having your child copy it regularly, is a great way to help your child hide the Word of God deep within their heart, where they will hold it for years to come. 

Cultivate What Matters has developed a wonderful book for kids called “Write the Word” which has 175+ pages of Scripture memory activities for kids. What I love about this book is that is not only has a page for them to copy the verse of the day, but it has an area for them to color a picture response which teaches them to process and share what the verse means. These verses are chosen to imprint in young minds verse about God’s love, power, and mercy. 

Find what works for your family and develop habits that consistently point your children back to their Maker and Redeemer. Don’t let this summer fly by without intentionally feeding their faith. Focus on your primary task as their parent, training them up in the ways of the Lord, and feed your child’s faith during these months where the rhythms and demands of the school year are absent.  

You only get 18 summers with your kids, make them count. 

You might also enjoy: 

6 Important Principles For Fostering Family Devotions

Teaching Kids To Pray: A Catholic Perspective

Stop Praying About It Because, Yes, You’re Called to Serve

Let the Little Children Come

3 Christian Books I’m Reading This Summer