Who doesn’t love summertime? Warmth and sun. Pool with friends. Camping and hiking. Exploring and resting. Summertime is often when amazing family memories are made! We learn and grow as we spend more time together. Take advantage of a different pace to build some new traditions for your family and go deeper with God together!
Try out a new family devotional or Bible study! My family uses the summer months to learn more about the Bible together. Give yourself space to find a time that works best and don’t be afraid to move it around. First thing after breakfast, after lunch, before the pool. During the baby’s naptime. After dinner and baths. There is no set way that works for every family! In the summer, you have flexibility to change it up based on the day or week. We use an all-ages family Bible study like those found at Bible Study Guide. Don’t know where to start with family devotions? Read this.
Learn something new! Do your children have questions about dinosaurs? Want to know more about space? Seem curious about bugs? Love to pretend and create dramas? Set aside time to learn about God’s creation together. Borrow books from the library. Watch an online video about how science affirms the creation story. Read a Bible story and re-enact it. Have fun making your children’s curiosity about God and His world come alive!
Explore new places together! As the world becomes more connected and our societies more diverse, it is easy to encounter new cultures right in your own city. Intentionally go to areas where you can interact with people from different cultures and backgrounds. Use these experiences to talk with your children about how God created, loves, and pursues people from all races and cultures with His gospel. Pray before you go for God-given opportunities. After you return, pray for God’s will to be done, both among the nations and in your own hearts.
Read together! Christian biographies and nonfiction books are great for engaging your children’s imaginations and sparking a love for reading. You never know which stories will inspire their faith and lives for Christ. Our family has read several books from the Christian Heroes: Then and Now series. They tell real-life stories in age-appropriate ways. For older children whose concept of the world is expanding, consider a book about apologetics or real-world situations.
Learn about a new country via the internet or your local library! Learn about the history and culture. Watch videos or look at photos online. Make a common meal or snack. Listen to audio clips of their language. Find out what God is doing through local ministries in the area. Pray for the peoples in that country to know Jesus. Focus on the Family’s World Explorers kit is packed with fun activities that let your family travel the world in 60 days. Our family has enjoyed some ethnically diverse recipes with easy to find ingredients from The Spruce Eats.
Incorporate learning about religious worldviews of people who do not know Jesus. Discuss how their beliefs compare to the truth found in God’s Word. Use resources like Pioneers’ Worldviews Curriculum or Weave’s One Big Vision book.
Don’t be afraid to change your routine and try something new with your children this summer. You can expand their understanding of God and His world and help point them to God’s heart and plan for every tribe, tongue, and nation–all while making beautiful family memories! Share what you are learning and see what others are doing in my Facebook community.
