10 Teachable Moment Triggers

We hear a lot about teachable moments, those moments when we integrate spiritual nurturing in our everyday get-breakfast-on-the-table, kids-to-school, do-your-homework lives.

But the thing is teachable moments aren’t really teachable, unless we take a moment to teach. (Got that?)

Many parents are great at doing this, but others may want to take advantage of those moments but aren’t quite sure how to identify those conversation triggers. Here are some thoughts to get you started. Of course, we don’t want you to wait for these exact triggers or to say the exact thing we suggest, but these might get you started.

ONE

Child – Do I have to get up? I’m too sleepy to go to school. Can’t I stay home?

Parent – I know it’s kind of a dreary day today and my morning got off to a bad start, too. The electricity went off in the storm last night and Dad had to go to work early – which meant he had to shower without hot water!  You know what? I think  we both need to talk to God about the day. (Follow this up with a brief prayer and you could also read Psalm 143:8.)

TWO

Child – Mom/Dad, could you check my homework?

Parent – Looks like you did a great job. I do have some questions about this part where it says that life has evolved over millions of years. Tell you what. Why don’t you write down some of the things your teacher is telling you about evolution.  Or, you can write down any questions you might have. Then together we’ll do some research and get some solid answers. If we can’t find what we need to know, we can talk to Mr. _________. He teaches science at the university. Maybe we could have him and his wife over for supper some night.

THREE

(Child feeding the cat.)

Parent – I’m sure Buttons appreciates you taking good care of her every morning. Did you know there’s a verse in the Bible about taking care of your animals? A lot of people don’t even know God talks about that.  (Proverbs 12:10)

FOUR

Child – Mom/Dad, I heard on the news that a lot of people are dying because of a horrible disease (or flood or earthquake). Will that happen to me/us?

Parent – I can’t promise that nothing will happen to our family, though the people who are getting sick live in another part of the world. But Dad/Mom and I will do everything we can to protect you because we love you very much. See, when Adam and Eve sinned, the whole world got messed up. People get sick, earthquakes and floods happen, etc.  But God has promised that He is always with us and will give us courage and strength to get through the tough times. (This should be a continuing conversation. Verses that can be shared are: Psalm 119:76; John 14:1; 2 Corinthians 2:3-4; Hebrews 13:5-6 and many others.)

FIVE

Child in the grocery story – Mom, look, can we get some of this soup? It’s my favorite!

Parent – Sure, that’s a good price. You know what, let’s buy some extra cans for the food drive at church. Did you know when they give away food from the food bank, they also give people a little book that tells them about Christ?

SIX

Parent – We have a few minutes before we need to leave for Grandma’s house. Come out to the table and you can have a couple cookies and we can work on your sections together that you’re doing for Awana.

SEVEN

Parent – What did you learn in Sunday school (children’s church, Awana, etc.)? Can you tell me about it?

EIGHT

Child – You know Johnny, that kid in my class? He’s really sick. Our teacher said he might have to go to the hospital.

Parent – That’s sad. Let’s pray for Johnny and his family. (Do so right away.) I need to go to the store later. You could come with me and we could buy a few puzzles and things for a care package for him.

NINE

Child – Our teacher said that he doesn’t want to hear anyone talk about the Bible in class. He said all religions are the same and one is not better than the other and that all of them are silly and only silly people believe in a higher being.

Parent – You know what? God is not surprised that people say things like that. He even tells us in the Bible that the fool says there is no God. (Psalm14:1). We also know that the Lord Jesus said that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

TEN

Child – Why did Uncle Oscar get so mean at the family reunion? He used words and said things that no one else in our family says.

Parent – Uncle Oscar does not know the Lord. He doesn’t care what God says and he doesn’t care if he does things that God clearly tells us not to do. Sadly, he sometimes says things and uses inappropriate words because he knows they bother the rest of us. But we can’t expect him to think the same way we do, because he doesn’t know Christ. We can pray for him, however. Let’s do that right now.