The Heart of Toddler Discipleship

We all want to be good moms. We want to be patient, wise, and gentle yet firm. We yearn to laugh with our kids, to have close relationships with them, and to help them succeed in every area of life.

And we want to lead them to Jesus.

As Mamas who love God and treasure Him above all else, who’ve “taste[d] and see[n] that the LORD is good” (Ps. 34:8), we long to point them to Him. We want them to have soft hearts towards God and come to know Him, and we want to do everything in our power to encourage that.

But this feels challenging.

We look around and see others doing it so well. They’re discipling their kids, and we see the fruit it produces.

But when we look at our own efforts, we see so much failure.

We didn’t read that Bible story to our kids. We didn’t have that spiritual conversation, and we lost our temper instead. We were anxious. We were angry. And we fear we’re messing things up.

Sweet Mama, I understand this struggle.

But I want to offer you some encouragement too.

When I think about the people that have had the biggest impact on my spiritual journey, it was people who were imperfect (I mean…duh…we all are). But these people people showed it. I saw them struggle, and yet I also saw something much greater.

I saw them go to Jesus.

I could cry thinking about it.

Your kids need to see you go to Jesus.

God sees your heart’s desire to disciple your kids and to be the best Mom you can be. And he sees your brokenness too.

And while we should never excuse sin, and while we need to get serious help for serious issues, we’re also never going to be perfect parents. While we should seek to grow and BE steady for our kids, perhaps what they most need to see is our dependence on Christ.

When you come to the end of yourself, realizing that you don’t have what it takes to lead these precious children to Christ on your own, the Holy Spirit remains mighty in you. He does the work, and He equips you for the role He’s given.

We need saving. Our kids do too.

And what a joy it is to tell them about the Rescuer.

And now in dependence on Christ, I want to share with you 8 Practical Resources for Toddler Discipleship.

8 Discipleship Resources

1. Reading the Bible Together

Nothing beats reading the actual Bible together as a family. Even if your child doesn’t understand much of what’s being read, the Word is going out. Habits are being formed. Seeds are being planted, and conversations may be sparked.

Parents and children alike will benefit from hearing God’s Word and being together as a family.

2. Worship Music

Listening to worship music in your home is a wonderful way to set the tone in your space. Praising Jesus will not only influence your child, but it will lift your heart to Christ and encourage you to trust Him more deeply. Looking to Christ and staying connected to Him is how we see fruit produced in our lives.

3. Christ-Centered Books

Toddlers love to read books! And if you can curate your collection to have some solid, Gospel-focused books in your rotation, your kids can learn without even realizing it!

Here are a few of my favorite Gospel-focused kids’ books:

• The Jesus Storybook Bible
• It Is Well with My Soul
• Easter Is Coming!
• The Fruit of the Spirit Board Book

4. Your Church Family

Make church a positive thing. Be excited about meeting with fellow believers, and show your kids that eagerness!

You may be tempted to skip. You may wonder what is even the point of going. After all, you may spend most of your time in nursery or walking the halls with your babies.

But go anyway.

It is of great value. For you and for your kids.

5. Repentance

Be quick to own your mistakes and turn from them. Apologize to your kids and your husband when you sin. If you lose your temper or speak unkindly, say your sorry.

Your kids don’t need a perfect Mom. They need a Mom who is humble enough to admit when she’s wrong and seek to make it right. This will teach them to do the same. This will point them to the Savior.

6. Do Your Own Work

Seek Jesus for yourself. Pursue health in every area of your life.

We can’t expect our kids to do the hard work if we are unwilling to do it ourselves.

Perhaps this means more physical activity. Perhaps it means implementing a regular quiet time if you haven’t yet. Maybe it could be meeting a counselor on a regular basis. Whatever it looks like, do it.

7. Teach Bite-Size Truth

At teachable moments, impart bite-size truth. This may be in the form of a song, a verse, or simply explaining a truth to them. Ask them a question and teach the response (i.e. Who made the world? God did!).

Breaking down big concepts into small words not only helps your child understand, but it was also help you internalize and process that truth. When you can’t rely on cliche phrases, you are forced to really understand it in a new way.

8. Remember Discipleship is a Lifestyle

Deuteronomy 11:19 says, “Teach them to your children, speaking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

Discipleship is a lifestyle. Teaching our kids about God is less about big moments and long Bible lessons and more about everyday interactions. Don’t worry if you can’t spend 30 minutes doing focused Bible teaching. Maybe when your kids are older, that could work! Rather, take advantage of everyday moments (i.e. driving in the car, while reading books, during meals). Use these as moments for discipleship. Answer questions as they arise, and follow the Spirit’s lead as you talk with your child.

Discipleship is not about perfection. Thank goodness! It’s about God’s power at work in you to point your child to Christ. Admit your need. Ask for God’s help. And watch Him use you.

FAQ about Toddler Discipleship

What if your toddler doesn’t seem interested in learning about Jesus?

First, remember that he or she is a toddler. Their attention and interest will ebb and flow, and that’s not necessarily a reason for concern. Be faithful in using teachable moments and creating rhythms, but if they’re not interested or are just being silly, keep it short and move on.

Second, pray that your children will have soft hearts towards Jesus and come to know Him. Only He can draw a person to Himself.