This is period where kids transition from learning to read to reading to learn and a world of fantasy and play opens to them. They also transition from their parent’s faith, to launching their personal faith journey. During this silly stage, kids love making strange noises with their body and laughing hysterically until they cry. Their sweet innocence gives them the freedom to still have fun playing stuffed animals with preschool siblings, but make no mistake, they are grown up enough to play a ruthless game of cards with parents. 

Kids this age recognize the Bible is a book with a common thread throughout. Your kids are remembering stories, beginning to have favorite characters and beginning to connect the dots and trace the common thread of salvation throughout this sacred book. For the first time they begin to grasp that the same God that created the universe and everything in it also created them, loves them deeply and has a plan for them. Many children this age have a full understanding of salvation through grace and choose to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior with baptism to follow. As children are faced with issues and difficulties, remind them of their identity in Christ. Begin making connections from scripture to life practices by asking open-ended and fact-finding questions – Why do you think that character made that choice? What choice would you make if it were you? How would the outcome be different? Help your child understand that they are an active member of the family church. Make church attendance a priority over birthday parties, sleeping in, sports or school activities. Teach them how to listen to the main campus sermon, take notes and ask questions when they don’t understand. They may begin to ask questions about communion at this age. Help them understand this act of reverence is for believers and to be taken in remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. If your child has not made a profession of faith, they are not ready to partake in communion. Create an environment in your home where you are an approachable parent! Continue fostering mentor relationships with adults outside your home that will walk with your children through the years.

Kids are so sweet and compassionate at this age and prayer usually covers their grandmother’s neighbor’s sister’s dog. Go with it! Encourage them to pray out loud about what burdens them. Their capacity to memorize scripture is much greater at this age than as an adult. Help them by memorizing the verse with them, putting the verse to an easy tune or saying it in a silly voice. Help your child begin to recognize their spiritual gifts by exploring their unique God-given talents. Spiritual disciplines begin to take root as kids intentionally grow to become more like God through prayer journaling, age appropriate Bible study and steps to obedience such as baptism. Ask your child when they feel close to God and encourage them to grow through this avenue. If the answer is worship, encourage them to host family worship nights. If it’s when journaling, invest in a nice journal and colorful pens. If your child loves to serve, sign up to take care of the toddlers in your church.

Sharing the Gospel at the lunch table, asking for donations for Safe Haven or Mission Arlington in lieu of birthday gifts, serving at local compassion agencies – these are all ways for children to participate in going beyond in their world. Invite your child’s involvement in family giving meetings and allow them to speak into the selection of which agencies or missionaries your family supports. It’s likely they are beginning to notice and care for the marginalized. Help them practice social justice even though it might be out of your comfort zone. Always allow room for friends to join your child at church, be it Sunday or midweek programming. 

Your kids are growing up, but they aren’t ready to launch yet. Continue giving them increased independence and show unlimited grace when they fail, because they definitely will fail. Now is the time to teach your kids to come to you when they make mistakes. Love them deeply and share times when God offered you undeserved grace and mercy. Teach them success isn’t being the overall best, but rather, being the very best they can possibly be to honor God. Read the Bible to your kids; characters such as Ehud, Moses and Deborah are actively being imagined and acted out in their mind. Rather than firing off interview questions, talk about Bible stories and characters with open-ended questions to encourage open dialogue with your kids. Give kids this age plenty of space to ask questions about God, the Bible, and how to live out their faith.

Using a story from the Bible like Noah’s Ark, your child will begin to make connections between your love for them, as well as God’s love for them.

Mix kids just want to know where Noah and his family went to the bathroom. They’re curious about the inner workings of the ark and wonder what they would do if they were there. They put themselves in Noah’s place and imagine building and living on the ark with all the animals. They recognize the rainbow as God’s promise to never again flood the earth. 

This stage is typically when the lightbulb goes off and kids make the decision to trust Christ. This is quickly followed by a desire to step out in obedience with a public profession of faith through baptism. Lifelong habits through spiritual disciplines take root as children begin to revere the Bible as God’s true Word, a love letter written specifically to them. Capitalize on kids’ willingness to show compassion by serving the Lord as a family and through church. 

"Our job as parents throughout this process is twofold: First, we help our kids learn to trust God and create the kind of environment where they are able to explore faith and trust while practicing their freedom to respond in love. Second, we model an unconditional, nonjudgmental, and ever-embracing love in which our kids can do nothing that jeopardizes or even lessens that love."

-Sticky Faith p 37 – Kara E. Powell, Chap Clark