03/05/2026
I never thought I would find myself agreeing with the U.S. Department of Education, but when they get something right, it is worth sharing.
Their recent research highlights something many parents and grandparents have known for years: children learn to read best at home. Parents and caregivers are a child’s first and most important teachers. Long before school begins, daily habits like talking, reading, and listening help build the foundation for literacy.
For those of us who follow Jesus, that truth connects naturally with something even more important: teaching our children the Word of God.
So here is a simple idea.
Combine the two.
Try reading God’s Word with your children for about 15 minutes a day.
If your children are old enough to read, take turns reading Scripture together and talk about what it means. If they are younger, start with a children’s Bible or Bible storybook. The goal is not perfection. The goal is consistency.
Interestingly, the Department of Education points out several practices that help children develop strong literacy skills at home:
• Read together daily. Even a few minutes makes a difference.
• Talk and listen. Ask questions about what you read.
• Create a reading culture. Let your children see you reading.
• Use everyday moments to point out words and talk about language.
These simple habits help children develop what researchers call “emergent literacy,” which includes vocabulary, communication, and early reading skills.
But for Christian families, something even more important is happening when we read Scripture together. God’s Word is being planted in young hearts, and faith conversations become a normal part of daily life.
Sometimes the most powerful step in family discipleship is also the simplest: open the Bible, sit together, and read.
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