8 Tips for Doing Scripture Memory with Preschoolers

Use these tips to help you as you work with preschoolers to memorize Scripture!

1. Divide the verse.

Children usually aren’t able to memorize the whole verse at once, so break it down into words or smaller phrases. Say each word or phrase aloud slowly and distinctly and ask the children to repeat it after you. When the children can say the word or phrase on their own, add the next word or phrase. At this point, you can ask them to recite the two parts together. Keep building like this until each child can say the entire verse independently.

2. Focus on understanding.

When helping preschoolers memorize scripture, make sure to define for the children any difficult words in the verse. Ask the children questions about the verse or let them ask you questions so you can gauge how much they understand. Help them to understand the significance of the passage by explaining how the verse can help them in daily life. For example, when children feel scared of some shadows they see in their room at night, they can remember to trust God and repeat the memory verse from Cubbies AppleSeed Bear Hug 21, “In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Psalm 56:11, NIV)

3. Involve as many senses as possible.

Preschool children, especially, are sensory learners. They like to see, hear, touch and move.

See — Draw pictures or symbols for keywords 
in the verse, make picture flash cards or display colorful and everyday objects to help illustrate a verse. For example, draw a globe for Genesis
1:1: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Hold and open your Bible when you say John 17:17: … Your word is truth (NIV).

Hear — Say the verse in different tones of voice or different volumes and speeds of voice, set the verse to a rhythm or familiar tune.

Touch and Move — As you say the verse with the children, you can try any of these active options: clap your hands and stomp your feet to a made-up beat, color or paint, toss a beanbag back and forth, rock back and forth, walk heel to toe around the room, use sign language or hand and body motions that fit the meaning of the words.

4. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

Preschoolers learn through repetition, so the same applies when having your preschooler memorize scripture, have them say the verse many times. They also can repeat the verse reference at the beginning and end each time they recite the verse. This will make sure they know where in the Bible the verse is found. Encourage parents to say the verse in the car, at a meal or at bedtime, and work the verse into their conversations as much as possible. They can also look for teachable moments when you can relate the verse to something happening in their child’s life.

5. Make it fun.

Use some memory games to help your child remember a verse. As much
as possible, you want to make the Bible memorizing process enjoyable for your child, and this can easily be done through play.

6. Keep it positive.

At this young age, it’s important for children to build positive feelings
and experiences related to God, church and the Bible. Do not push your child beyond his ability. For example, do not rush him into saying the long version of the verse before he is ready. The last thing you want to do is have your child associate Bible memory with feelings of frustration and failure.

7. Give perspective.

Encourage right motives for Scripture memory: it is a way to show love to God and get to know God better. However, at the same time, it is just one way to show love to God. Encourage Scripture memory in the context of also encouraging them to love God in other ways, as well, such as prayer and serving others. All of us are made so uniquely, and God has gifted us with strengths in particular areas. Help kids to recognize things they are especially able to do as well as ones that may take extra practice.

8. Celebrate victories.

When a preschooler memorizes a verse, make a big deal about it. Celebrate with the child about the work it took to memorize it. Talk about the ways that specific verse will be helpful to know. Then, follow up with the child later asking them to say it again, even for an audience of kids or parents, so that the learning that has been done can be recognized. When a child receives an award for a verse or section of verses, point to their accomplishment and the ways it is worth it to have done this work.

What are your favorite strategies to encourage preschoolers in their Scripture memory? Write a comment and let us know!