Family Devotions for Kids and Parents

Hope for Kids when School Is Hard (Devotional)

Your kid said, "I hate school" or "I’m no good at math." You need God’s help. Read this plan together, or listen to it in the car on the way to school. You’ll hear Jesus' words driven home through the story of one kid’s struggle with school. Suggested activities each day help parents and kids connect to hope together.

You can find this devotional on the YouVersion Bible App (download the app here), or read the Hope for Kids when School Is Hard devotinal on Bible.com

Excerpt:

"I’m no good at math," Lucas said.

"Oh, cut it out," his mother said, "We have to leave for school in fifteen minutes."

"I’m not going!” Lucas yelled. "Math is stupid! I hate school!"

Have you had a fight like this one? Have you ever felt “no good” at something?

There’s hope for kids who feel "no good" at school. We can find that hope in the Bible. From the very beginning, God created each of us “good.” What’s more, as soon as God created people, he gave everyone important work to do. Take charge of the world, God said in Genesis 1:28. Schoolwork is an important part of taking charge. God cares very much about your work and about you when you’re at school.

Read Hope for Kids when School is Hard on Bible.com

Help when a Kid Hates a Teacher (Devotional)

A teacher can make a kid's day, or break a kid's spirit. If your child doesn’t get along with a teacher, read this plan together, or listen on the way to school. The Bible offers practical advice to help a kid who’s struggling with authority. That includes praying for teachers, learning to speak with respect, and looking for ways to help out.

You can find this devotional on the YouVersion Bible App (download the app here), or read the Help when a Kid Hates a Teacher devotional on Bible.com

Excerpt:

"Carlie! Hannah!" Ms. Mitchell barked. "We’re talking about the Bill of Rights. Can either of you tell me the First Amendment?"

"Um, the right to remain silent?" Carlie guessed.

"No, that’s wrong."

Carlie looked down at the desk, embarrassed. Hannah thought of the perfect joke to cheer her up.

"She should have called it the Bill of Wrongs!" Hannah exclaimed, a little louder than she had meant to.

Some kids laughed, but others gasped.

"Hannah," Ms. Mitchell growled. "Hallway. Now."

Correction and punishment are sometimes part of a teacher’s job. If you’re the one getting corrected or punished, you might feel like you have a right to mock your teacher or not listen to what they say. Sadly, disrespecting a teacher will hurt more than it helps. Disrespect makes it hard for a teacher to respect you! If you want school to improve, you can’t “be overcome by evil” as Romans 12:21 puts it. You need to “overcome evil with good.

Read Help when a Kid Hates a Teacher on Bible.com

How to Make Friends at School (Devotional)

For some kids, making friends is hard. A child might not know how to start a conversation, or how to join a group at play, or how to maintain friendships. Thankfully, the Bible is a friendship how-to. In this three-day plan you’ll meet Jose, a boy who’s feeling lonely at school. See how the Bible helps Jose learn how to make and keep new friends.

You can find this devotional on the YouVersion Bible App (download the app here), or read the How to Make Friends at School devotional on Bible.com

Excerpt:

"Owwwweeee!" Carl yelled as the turtle bit him. He scowled at Jose. "Stop laughing, jerk!"

Jose put his hand over his mouth. Carl stared at him with eyes like lasers.

"I’m sorry," Jose said. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah." Carl said. He wiped his nose. After a minute he said, "That was pretty cool, right?"

"Totally cool!" said Jose.

Being a friend means caring about what the other person might be feeling. This is called empathy. When you see someone hurt or embarrassed, do you laugh? Or do you show concern and try to help? If your first response isn’t that of a real friend as described in Proverbs 18:24, then you can practice your empathy.

Read How to Make Friends at School on Bible.com

Sibling Rivalry (Devotional)

"Don't fight with your brother!" "Don't fight with your sister!" Sibling rivalry is as old as the Bible. Thankfully, the Bible can also teach siblings how to work together. Parents and kids, read this plan together, or listen in the car on the way to school. You’ll gain perspective from the ancient story of Abraham and Lot, and from modern siblings just like you.

You can find this devotional on the YouVersion Bible App (download the app here), or read the Sibling Rivalry devotional on Bible.com

Excerpt:

"It’s mine!" Hannah screamed, grabbing the brush out of Esther’s hand. Esther reached for it, but Hannah hid it behind her back. Esther leaped at Hannah, tackling her to the ground. Their mom walked in just at that moment.

"Esther, go to your room."

"It wasn’t my fault!" Esther protested...

One of the Bible’s heroes, Abraham, had a younger family member who gave him trouble. Lot tagged along with Abraham. That was okay most of the time. But Abraham and Lot had to separate when they started fighting over stuff. So Abraham let Lot choose where he wanted to be, and then went in the other direction. To Abraham, it was more important to end the fight than to get exactly what he wanted.

Read Sibling Rivalry on Bible.com

Working Together at Home (Devotional)

Inside the four walls of your home, there’s a lot of work to do. Kids and grownups all want their work to be noticed. This plan teaches children to value the work that goes on around them. Learn from Sean, Riley, and their parents—a family like yours struggling to work together at home.

You can find this devotional on the YouVersion Bible App (download the app here), or read the Working Together at Home devotional on Bible.com

Excerpt:

Their mother came back into the kitchen and gasped. "What on earth is all over your sister?!"

"Um, maple syrup?" Sean answered.

"Honestly, I expect a little more help from you," his mother snapped. "I work hard around here. I need you to start working too."

Sean got angry. "I’m working all the time!" he growled, gesturing at his sister. "Why don’t you notice the work I do?"

If your work goes unnoticed, do you get angry? Do you wish you got points for all the work you do? Like you lived in a video game and heard a "ka-ching" sound every time you did something good?

Sadly, our work is not always immediately rewarded. And it can feel frustrating when no one pays attention.

In Matthew 25 Jesus says that God is always paying attention. God cares about the work we do, especially the work that that no one else notices. Jesus says that God will give away "the kingdom" to people who do good work that no one sees. And when you notice the hard work of the people around you, you’re doing an important job for God.

Read Working Together at Home on Bible.com

Kids and Chores (Devotional)

Getting kids to do chores is enough to test any parent’s faith. If you’re fighting with your child over mess, then this plan is for both of you. Each day starts with a kid-friendly story of a parent and child chore negotiation. Read it with your son or daughter to learn biblical ways to approach the subject of chores together.

You can find this devotional on the YouVersion Bible App (download the app here), or read the Kids and Chores devotional on Bible.com

Excerpt:

"This is my house too!" Alaysha yelled over the vacuum. "Why do I have to work?"

What are chores? Chores are things that need to get done in order for family life to happen. Chores around food make sure everyone can eat. Chores around cleaning make sure everyone has a space to work and play. Chores lay the foundation for everything else you want to do in your home.

For all these reasons, the chores of your household should be a shared responsibility. Joshua knew this when he said, "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." For Joshua it wasn't a question whether his family would work together, or each decide separately who they would serve. The work that supports your family takes your whole family working together.

Read Kids and Chores on Bible.com

Job Skills for Kids (Devotional)

No matter what you want to do when you grow up, three basic attitudes help you land a job and keep it. This plan uses the Bible and a story about modern kids to teach the three qualities hiring managers want most.

You can find this devotional on the YouVersion Bible App (download the app here), or read the Job Skills for Kids devotional on Bible.com

Excerpt:

"Knowing me there’s just one thing I need to worry about. Showing up on time."

Once a boss can tell you're hardworking, he or she wants to know that you're dependable. Dependability means being reliable, trustworthy, doing what you said you would to do. Small actions demonstrate this—it doesn't need to be big stuff. Something as simple as showing up on time and bringing a pencil to take notes shows that you’re dependable. People who see you acting dependable in small ways will trust you with bigger responsibilities. Jesus promised this when he said, "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much."

Read Job Skills for Kids on Bible.com

Money Basics for Kids (Devotional)

You want your kids to grow up with a biblical view of money. You also want them to have practical smarts about how money works. This plan gives you a place to start, with simple stories, basic principles, and an activity to try together each day.

You can find this devotional on the YouVersion Bible App (download the app here), or read the Money Basics for Kids devotional on Bible.com

Excerpt:

"There’s something else you need to know about money. Something that’s always true."

"What’s that?" Alaysha asked.

Her mom made a grave face. Finally, she said, "Money is always limited."

Money isn't infinite. It represents real work. You are limited in the type of work you can do and the amount of time you can spend doing it. So your money is limited too. This is true for everyone. From the poorest person to the richest billionaire. No one has enough money to buy every single thing they want. They might try to make more and more money to keep up with their desires, but they’ll still feel unfulfilled and sad.

Many places in the bible, including Ecclesiastes 5:10, say that there’s never a perfect dollar amount that feels like enough. These verses encourage you to ask God for fulfillment, and put money in its place. Money is always limited. God is unlimited. If you see things that way, you can make wise money decisions that lead to more happiness.

Read Money Basics for Kids on Bible.com

Be an Entrepreneur (Devotional)

Help kids grow in business skills and godliness. With stories of a kid-run start-up and wisdom from the Bible, this plan gives kids the light-bulb moment to become an entrepreneur.

You can find this devotional on the YouVersion Bible App (download the app here), or read the Be an Entrepreneur devotional on Bible.com

Excerpt:

"I got 15 dollars tonight!" Sean told his stepdad. "The cocoa and the cups cost me six dollars, so that means I made nine dollars profit."

"Way to go! What’s next for Sean’s Mobile Hot Cocoa?"

"Well, at this rate, it will still take me weeks to save up for that soccer jersey. Plus there are thirsty parents all over town."

"Could you do something to expand?" Sean’s stepdad asked.

"That’s it! I’ll hire some neighborhood kids to work for me! They’ll have fun, and we’ll all make more money!"

A good entrepreneurial idea benefits both you and the people around you. If you can meet a need in your city and people will pay for it, the next step is to hire others. Jeremiah 29:4-7 tells God’s people to work for the prosperity of the city they’re in. Starting a new business, meeting people’s needs, and creating jobs is a great way to prosper your city.

Read Be an Entrepreneur on Bible.com