During the school year, when pencils and notebooks are new, I always have great intentions to do a Bible study with my kids. I collect books, journals, and activities to do, but by mid-September we’ve already run out of steam! Soccer, ballet, homework, and All The Things seem to get in our way.

The past few years, though, I have found that summer is an easier time to do a weekly or daily Bible reading and study with my kids. Summer is more laid back. There aren’t any other educational pursuits taking up our brain cells. The kids actually welcome circling up around a book.

Planning and organizing Bible devotions with your kids might seem overwhelming or out of your wheelhouse. I get it! But it can actually be easy and super fun.

Simple Summer Bible Reading Plan for Kids

Here’s my simple suggestion: grab a grade-level appropriate Bible, a cute notebook, and some fun pens or markers. Easy, right?!

In the front of the notebook, have your child write the following words in their favorite color or handwriting:

READ

WRITE

DRAW

SPEAK

PRAY

Now, these words can lead them (and you!) in how to read and meditate on God’s Word. For example,

1st:  Read Genesis 1:1

2nd: Write Genesis 1:1 in your journal. Or at least some of the important words! Or let mom write the verse and the little ones can decorate it.

3rd: Draw a picture of the verse. Maybe what’s actually happening or what it makes you think of or see.

4th: Speak the verse out loud. Say it in a silly voice, a loud voice, a quiet voice, or in your favorite cartoon imitation.

5th: Pray the verse. “God, thank you for creating the heavens and the earth! You are so awesome because You have been here since before the beginning of the world! I love You!”

See how easy it is?

If you have little kids, you could even do each one of these steps per day instead of all at once. Then, you’d spend a whole week on one verse or passage. Think of how much meditation would happen!

Ready to try it this summer? Not sure you want Bathsheba or Jael to be the first thing your kids read as they randomly flip through the Bible? I’ve made an easy summer reading plan for you which is all about, guess what?

God’s Word!

As you and your children read and meditate on these passages, you’ll come to see, know, and love God’s Word more! There are 45 Scriptures verses or passages in this plan. This gives you about four passages per week if you really have three whole months of summer.

God’s Word is Awesome Summer Reading Plan

Week 1:

Psalm 119:9

Psalm 119:10

Psalm 119:11

Psalm 119:12

Week 2:

Psalm 119:13

Psalm 119:14

Psalm 119:15

Psalm 119:16

Week 3:

Psalm 119:33

Psalm 119:34

Psalm 119:35

Psalm 119:36

Week 4:

Psalm 119:37

Psalm 119:97

Psalm 119:98

Psalm 119:99

Week 5:

Psalm 119:100

Psalm 119:101

Psalm 119:102

Psalm 119:103

Week 6:

Psalm 119:104

Psalm 119:105

Psalm 119:129

Psalm 119:130

Week 7:

Psalm 119:131

Psalm 119:132

Psalm 119:133

Week 8:

Psalm 119:134

Psalm 119:135

Psalm 119:136

Week 9:

Mark 4:1-9

Mark 4:13-15

Mark 4:16-17

Week 10:

Mark 4:18-19

Mark 4:20

Isaiah 55:10-11

Isaiah 40:8

Week 11:

Matthew 1:1-4

Matthew 7:24-27

John 1:1-2

John 1:14

Week 12:

Ephesians 6:13-17

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Hebrews 4:12

James 1:22-25

 

The apostle Paul writes to the young pastor, Timothy that “all Scripture is God-breathed.” (2 Timothy 2:16-17) Isn’t that extraordinary?! The ink-and-paper Bible in our hands actually contains God-breathed words! If there is anything I want for my kids, it’s to be surrounded by, familiar and in love with the words from God’s mouth.

This summer, in between s’mores and swimming, open the Bible and help your kids spend time with those God-breathed words!