FREE Gratitude Journal Pages For Kids Printable

FREE Gratitude Journal Pages For Kids Printable

Faith, Homeschooling, Kids

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An attitude of gratitude doesn’t just happen. It’s intentional. A person must choose to think on what they’re thankful for. This is why we need to teach our kids about gratitude. Gratitude journal pages for kids are a great way to begin.

Gratitude Takes Consciousness

Our ability to be thankful to the Lord takes consciousness. You see, a lot of what we do in life is subconscious. We don’t need to think too hard and long about most things. But gratitude requires us to consciously take time to think about what we have.

An attitude of gratitude doesn't just happen. It's taught and intentional. Grab these FREE Gratitude Journal Pages For Kids!

Gratitude Is Not About Things Or People

As a child of God, when we think on what we’re grateful for, we’re actually positioning ourselves to think on the One who gave us these things. To be thankful for what we have is partial gratitude. There’s more to gratitude!

David said in Psalm 30:4,

Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.

David had lots of things that he struggled with. He had lots of heartache from His past decisions, enemies that were hunting him down, and a feeling of inadequacy. I think we can all empathize with David based on some things we’ve experienced in our lives. Yet, David still remembered and thanked His God.

In Luke 17, we read in verses 10-19 how ten men who were lepers lifted their voices to Jesus. Jesus healed them, and yet only one came back and gave Jesus thanks. And the one who came back was a Samaritan who were considered an outsider. Wow!

Jesus said in verse 18,

Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”

By Jesus’ remark to the Samaritan, it reminds us that God gets the glory. He is so gracious and compassionate. How could we withhold from Him what is due to Him? A simple “thanks” to Him where we set our gaze on the Lord, is all it takes. Yet we’re so easy to forget and keep walking on our way.

FREE Gratitude Journal Pages For Kids

One way to teach our kids to consciously think about what they’re thankful to God for is with a Gratitude Journal.

Be sure to grab the FREE Gratitude Journal Pages For Kids below!

How do you teach your kids an attitude of gratitude to the Lord? What are some things you do daily to outwork the spiritual discipline of gratitude? I’d love to know!

Anchored in Christ,
Melanie

Gratitude Bible Study For Kids - Revised & Updated

Fruit Of The Spirit Bible Study For Kids + FREE Notebooking Pages

Fruit Of The Spirit Bible Study For Kids + FREE Notebooking Pages

Homeschooling, Faith, Kids

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Teaching our kids the fruit of the Spirit is a powerful concept! We want them to exhibit the powerful traits of the Holy Spirit — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.

What we may not realize is that if our children aren’t developing in their personal relationship with the Lord by reading the Bible, it’s very difficult to produce the fruit of the Spirit.

Stay Attached

As children of God, our first and highest priority is to get to know our Heavenly Father. And the way we do this is by reading the Bible.

Reading the Word of God allows us to understand who God is, what He’s intended, why we’re here and what our purpose is. When we see that our purpose comes from Him, we learn that we cannot operate this life the way we’re designed to without Him. We must find ourselves attached remaining, abiding and staying attached to Him. 

As a fruit tree grows, we know that it’s designed to produce fruit. We expect it to. In fact the reward of growth is pruning. Pruning helps a fruit tree become healthier and produce more fruit.

Fruit Of The Spirit FREE Notebooking Pages
https://www.wildlyanchored.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Fruit-Of-The-Spirit-Bible-Study-For-Kids-Blog2.jpg

Have you ever tried to rip a branch from the trunk? It’s difficult, isn’t it?! The fibers are so intertwined and connected that in order to remove a branch, it must be cut off.

Just like branches are so connected to the trunk, so must we find our lives connected to the Holy Spirit. We do this by building a personal, intimate relationship with Him. And out of that relationship we become who we are designed to be; we are a by-product of who our Father is. This is Christ-likeness bearing the image of God.

Your kids will discover that God wants to have a relationship with them, and we are designed to produce the fruit of the Spirit.

Fruit Producer

As we abide in Christ and spend time with Him, we produce good fruit. And that fruit is the fruit of the Spirit.

As parents we often teach our kids to be loving, be kind, be patient. We do this because we know they’ve been taught and have the skills and abilities to be these things. But it still isn’t easy to exercise these traits. We can find ourselves operating in the things of the flesh rather than that of the Spirit.

The fruit of the Spirit is produced and accomplished out of being with the Spirit. If we abide and walk in the Spirit, we will not produce the things of the flesh.

Galations 5:16-17 says,

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

So a key to not fulfilling the things of the flesh isn’t to stop doing them, but rather replacing the things of the flesh with the things of the Spirit. By this, we produce the fruit of the Spirit.

Fruit Of The Spirit Bible Study For Kids

Our kids must learn about who God is by reading the Bible and studying His Word. The more they learn and know about Him, the more than the fruit of the Spirit will come out of them as a by-product of spending time with Him.

Teaching our kids the fruit of the Spirit is so important! I want to help you teach these traits along with helping you teach your kids about their relationship with the Lord. This comes first and out of that relationship, they will produce love, joy, peace, patience, kindness goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.

You do who you are. If you want to change who you are, do different and you’ll become different!

To find out more about the Fruit Of The Spirit Bible Study For Kids, check it out here.

Anchored in Christ,
Melanie

Your kids will discover that God wants to have a relationship with them, and we are designed to produce the fruit of the Spirit.
FREE Valentine’s Day Countdown Printable

FREE Valentine’s Day Countdown Printable

Faith, Freebies, Kids

*This post contains affiliate links. Please read disclosure policy.*

How do you create a fun time with your kids as you approach Valentine’s Day?

As a Christian, we choose not celebrate the meaning of Valentine’s Day with the world’s perspective, but rather, we celebrate God’s love for us, our love for Him and our love for others.

One way we like to celebrate God’s love for others is by sharing Christan Valentine’s Day cards.

Countdown to Valentine's Day with a scripture each day with this FREE PRINTABLE

FREE VALENTINE’S DAY COUNTDOWN PRINTABLE

Why not lead up to Valentine’s Day with an easy-to-prepare countdown.

I’ve created this Valentine’s Day Countdown printable for FREE to help add some fun.

Countdown to Valentine's Day with a scripture each day with this FREE PRINTABLE

I’d love to see how you set up the countdown. Will you tag me on Instagram @wildlyanchored to share how it looks in your space!

ANCHORED IN CHRIST,
Melanie

Christian Valentine's Day Cards Printable
Love Bible Study for Kids Printable
How To Teach Kids To Guard Their Hearts

How To Teach Kids To Guard Their Hearts

Homeschooling, Faith, Kids

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The heart is a very special place. It’s the place of our inner-most being where passions, desires and interests are formed. It’s also a place that needs protecting. As a parent, it’s our responsibility to teach our kids to guard their hearts.

But how do we do this big job?

The heart is a special, sensitive place that needs protecting, and it's our responsibility to teach our kids to guard their hearts.

What Is The Heart & How To Understand It

The heart isn’t an easy place to understand, so how can you teach your kids about it especially when it isn’t a physical place that nobody can see?

If you look up what the heart is in the Bible digging deep into the Hebrew or Greek, you’ll find that it means:

  • inner-most being
  • inclination
  • resolution
  • determination (of will)
  • conscience
  • seat of appetites
  • passions

These meanings are a lot for an adults and kids to understand.

So, the only way I was able to talk about the heart with my daughter was to say simply, “The heart is the real you. It’s where you decided you like something or don’t like something, where you decided how to treat someone.”

It’s at this point, where it seemed my daughter was starting to catch what the “heart” was. And so we began the journey to look into a few more scriptures to help gain understanding, including the story of David found in 1 Samuel 16:1-13.

The heart is a special, sensitive place that needs protecting, and it's our responsibility to teach our kids to guard their hearts.

How To Teach Kids To Guard Their Heart

Firstly, it’s important for kids to learn what it means to guard their heart and why they need to do so.

A great way to study what it means for kids to guard their heart, based on Proverbs 4:23, is this Treasures In My Heart Bible Study For Kids. The Bible study helps kids to dig deeper into the word, “guard” and then use an activity to illustrate it. Not only that, the Bible study looks into why their heart is important to God and that good treasure is to be stored in it.

 

Let’s help kids learn how to guard their hearts – the most precious place!

Anchored in Christ,
Melanie

Think On These Things Bible Study For Kids

Think On These Things Bible Study For Kids

Faith, Homeschooling, Kids

*This post contains affiliate links. Please read disclosure policy.*

Have you wondered how to help your kids with their thoughts?

Our conversations with our children are really important. How do you find out what they’re thinking unless they say what’s on their minds?

What We Think On Matters

As we hear our kids talk, we find out what’s in their hearts and what’s on their minds. This helps us to get to the root of something that they’ve learned and been informed about or even did – whether it’s right or wrong.

What we think on truly matters. And it’s takes an intentional process whether we’re adults or kids to change our thoughts according to Romans 12:2 NKJV, which puts it this way,

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Think On These Things Bible Study For Kids

Your mind NEEDS renewing so that you can:

  • stop conforming to the influence of the world’s ways
  • be transformed
  • prove the good, acceptable and perfect will of God

In fact, in Philippians 4:8, we find out what we should think on, which includes…whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable or if anything is excellent or praiseworthy.

The process of renewing our minds will happen for the rest of our lives.

So how do you start to help your kids with understanding what to think on, that they’re in charge of their thoughts and that they can change their thoughts?

The Think On These Things Bible Study For Kids is a great way to start and help your kids on a jouney to learn that their thoughts matter.

Think On These Things Bible Study For Kids

Inside this Bible study, your kids with focus on two lessons, entitled:

  • Think On This
  • Renew My Mind

Each lesson includes:

  • The Big Idea
  • Prayer
  • Bible Reading
  • Questions and Reflections
  • Vocabulary
  • Bible Verse Scripture Writing and Memorization
  • Praise and Worship Songs
  • Activities
Think On These Things Bible Study For Kids

Would you find the Think On These Things Bible Study For Kids helpful for your kids?

Anchored in Christ,
Melanie

How To Start Teaching Your Toddler The Bible

How To Start Teaching Your Toddler The Bible

Kids, Faith, Freebies

*This post contains affiliate links. Please read disclosure policy.*

Teaching your kids the Bible at a young age is a wonderful opportunity for us as parents. But you may be wondering how to start teaching your toddler the Bible.

First of all, we always make something out to be harder than it really is. So take a deep breath; this isn’t hard nor time consuming, but, it is important work.

Why Should You Read The Bible To Your Toddler?

A misconception I hear is, “Since my kids are so young, they won’t understand the Bible anyways.”

The journey in our life begins as young as a baby in the womb. A toddler will absolutely start to digest what you read and teach them from the Bible. Their spirit, the person who they really are, is engaged with all that’s being deposited in them that reflects the nature and character of God. Their spirit is hungry!

Our role as parents then is to begin connecting our kids to the Father; He is truly THEIR life-source.

We have VERY important work in raising and discipling our kids to discover who God is and who they are through Him. We get to and are able to teach them simple spiritual disciplines at such a young age by what we do.

Please, I urge you… do not dismiss the importance of reading the Bible to your toddler.

Now, let’s move on to find a Bible appropriate for your toddler…

How To Start Teaching Your Toddler The Bible

Step 1: Choose A Bible Appropriate For Toddlers

We immediately think we have to read our toddler from The Holy Bible, the gigantic Bible that we ourselves as adults find a challenge at times. It can almost do more harm than good to read straight out of The Bible to your toddlers.

Unless you have a way to take the wording from The Bible and what’s being taught, and put it into a format designed for toddlers to digest, then I would suggest reading from a Bible that’s appropriate for their age.

 

Misconceptions about toddler Bibles…

  • #1 – missing parts will harm or lack the depth of the Bible in our kids. As you go on, you’ll choose Bibles appropriate for your children’s age and learning ability. By this, they will get more and more out of the Bible as they grow and will start to ask more questions. This then opens it up for you to read out of The Holy Bible to them or with them.
  • #2 – the Bible is a dry, dull, boring and hard to understand book. The Bible should not be introduced to your kids as such; it should be viewed and taught as fun, full of action and life!

Bibles Appropriate for Toddlers:

Teaching your kids the Bible at a young age is important. Find out how to start teaching your toddler the Bible and develop a love for it.

Step 2: Start Reading The Bible To Your Toddler

You may be asking yourself where to start with the toddler Bible.

The best place to start reading at the beginning. There is no need to have all kinds of materials either to create this special time with your toddler. In fact, follow these points below, and you’ll experience a beautiful time together:

  • Read one story a day!
  • Interact with your toddler about the story. You can do this easily by pointing at the pictures in the story talking about what they see. (ie. Is the coat red? Is he happy or sad? Where do you think she’s going to go?)
  • No need to ask your toddler questions about the Bible stories. Toddlers are too young for question and answer at this point, as it relates to the story itself. Though, their age is wonderful for sharing information and age-appropriate questions, like those listed in the example above.
  • Create a routine, if you can. If you’re able to, read the Bible at the same time every day to create a routine. If not, that’s okay, too. It’s not necessary, but it’s nice to add-on if you can as routines help children anticipate what time it is and what’s next, which is the advantage of routines.
  • Give yourself grace. Toddlers are also learning and exploring a lot, among finding boundaries, and feeling a wide array of emotions. If you have littles at home, don’t push things. Often we are too hard on ourselves, especially in the season of having young kids. Do the best you can and God will fill any gap because He cares for you and your precious children.

Adding Bible Learning Components For Toddlers

If you’ve wondered how to start teaching your toddler the Bible, it really doesn’t need to be complicated or filled with lots of things. That said, maybe over time, as you develop a routine of reading the Bible with your toddler, you may want to add a few more Bible learning components.

Below are some great add-ons to your toddler Bible reading time:

  • Prayer – say the simplest prayer out loud together with your toddler. It can be the same prayer every day. Toddlers are really great at catching onto things very quickly.
    • Before you pray ask your toddler to:
      • Clasp their hands – so they don’t touch other things (you must also do this so your toddler will follow what you model)
      • Close their eyes – so they don’t look around (and yet they probably will)
      • And say, “Thank You Lord for the Bible which helps me know You more. In Jesus Name, Amen!”
  • Bible songs for kids – they are a great way for kids to remember Bible stories. If the Bible songs have actions, that’s a bonus! Here’s a link to YouTube for free Bible songs for kids.
  • Bible colouring pages – toddlers can add a colour sheet, which also helps them build motor skills. Consider colouring books to go with the toddler Bible of your choice, like:
  • Memorize scriptures – kids can memorize things easily. What they need though to succeed in this, is repetition; it’s that easy!

If you’re looking raise kids who put their trust in the Lord; who depend on Him; who hear from Him; and who live their life by faith doing all that God has called them to do, the place to start with the Bible.

Nuture what you do with your kids in your own prayer time with the Lord and see what God will do and how He’ll lead and guide you in your efforts to share the Bible with your kids.

Enjoy this precious Bible reading time together with your toddler.

Anchored in Christ,
Melanie