Do you make your kids have quiet times?

[tbarr12]

I am trying to figure out what to do with dd 11 and ds 9 in regard to daily times in the Word. I know they are having it through the Bible Study times in Preparing and Bigger, respectively, but that is mainly just working on their memory verses. DD used to read her Bible every day, but she has misplaced it (we're going to make her buy a new one with her own money), and right now I know she's not in the habit. At first I was reluctant to MAKE them have a daily quiet time, but now I'm feeling like perhaps this is something I should require of them.

Just wondering what some of you out there do about this. If you do require them to have a daily devotional time, how do you do it, and how do keep them accountable, to make sure they're doing it and actually learning something? I know at least one of my kids might just do a quick cursory job of it, just to say that he/she has done it. Bottom-line question - how do we begin to build this habit into their lives? I'd really like to hear your thoughts!!! Thanks!!

[psreit]

When our grown children were young, I would read a short devotional (with Scripture) to them before they went to sleep. There are many good devotionals for young people to choose from. When they got older, they continued to read themselves. I think if they get into a habit of doing it when they are young, they are more likely to do it when they are older.

[doubleportion]

We have used the Keys for Kids printed devotions for about two years now. You can get them free by mail from http://www.cbhministries.org/kfk/keys_mail.php My dd does that along with reading a chapter daily in her old testament, psalms and new testament. She just started that much reading in the past couple of months. She used to read just one chapter going through the bible but she changed to the same way I do my daily bible reading. I read a chapter from OT, NT, Psalms & Proverbs. We saw a big change in how she did with her quiet time when she was 8 after she prayed to receive Jesus as her Savior. Before that time we worked on it together. It also depends on how strong a reader your child is and how self motivated they are. I can always tell in her attitude if she has not been doing her quiet time. (I know my attitude goes down the drain fast if I am not in the Word and spending time in God's Presence too ).

Edie

[countrymom]

We have morning and evening worship time as a family (sometimes morning is just one of dh or I due to work). We are using this to get our boys in the habit of daily devotional time and to model for them and teach them how to have a devotional life. Hopefully when the time comes they have a good idea of how to spend time with God and will be in the habit. We also provide them with good resources. We will always have family worship, but as they get older we will guide them in having their own personal time.

[cirons]

Hi there,

I can respond to your question remembering what it was like as a child/teenager who was made to have quiet times. I can not speak for your kids, or anyone else's, but to me, it felt like punishment to be forced to do something that to me, should be such a personal thing and a choice and a discipline that one should choose to make out of love.

Personally, I think the best thing you can do is role model prayer/quiet times and have discussions about feeding your spirit being as important as feeding your mind and body. The way to do this being spending time with God and giving them the flexibility to decide where and when this can happen....whether it be in the shower, on a walk, at the park, with the bible, with a podcast, with a worship cd etc etc.

The thing I love most about HOD is that is gives kids a passion to explore their own bibles and ask questions and discover more about God. Enjoy this time!

Blessings,

Corrie

[tbarr12]

Thanks for all the input. Your thoughts, Carrie, are what I"m struggling with - should I MAKE them spend time with God? I don't want them to resent it! So I will take all these into account. Thanks.

[Samuel'sMommy]

I tend to agree about not forcing it on them. I know for me, if someone had forced me to have a quiet time I would have resented it. Of course, my little guy isn't to that point yet, but I hope that by spending daily time in the word together ( and HOD sets that up nicely for us ) that he will eventually desire to go off on his own and continue reading. I do know that in the older manuals (CTC and up), there is a quiet time box scheduled for them to do independently as part of their program. In that box, Carrie leads them through reading a passage, a response through prayer, and scripture memorization. I'm hoping that when my son gets there, he will be excited about being in the word, and hope that the step by step help from Carrie will give him confidence to continue to dig in on his own.

[tnahid]

I agree that just allowing your children to see you studying and reading your Bible is the best way for them to learn. Also, reading to them or having them look up a scripture for you during the Bible time is good too. We pray together as a family in the mornings and I pray over each of them individually for the day.

Just some thoughts...

[christina101902]

Even at 4.5 years old my daughter has quiet time , while Mama has her own. I believe we lead by example. Although it is not a scheduled time, it is a time to have every electronic device turned off and just reflect in the bible story of the day.

Christina