New Year with kids: a Bible reading plan that actually survives February
Every January a family Bible reading plan is born, and most die in February. The reason is almost never lack of desire: the plan was designed for the family we wish we were, not the one we actually are at nine o’clock on a Tuesday night.
A kids plan that survives the year has three traits: it takes under five minutes, it happens at the same moment each day, and it tolerates missed days without demanding a restart.
"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation."
2 Corinthians 5:17
The five-minute plan
- Pick the time by the habit that already exists: after brushing teeth, before lights out.
- One short passage per night. An episode, not a chapter.
- One question only, asked by or to the child. No quiz.
- Missed a day? Carry on where you stopped. A plan that demands restarting is a plan that gets abandoned.
The new year conversation worth having
Before talking about what is coming, ask your child what they liked most and least about the year that ended. The answer usually surprises the adult and gives real substance to any prayer about starting over — which works better specific ("help with the math test") than general.
Stories for this date
Printables
Activities
Go deeper
Family devotional in 10 minutes: a weekly script
A realistic family devotional: four steps, ten minutes, no preparation. Including what to do when the children will not cooperate.
Read the guide · 6 min →Frequently asked questions
How long should a kids devotional be?
Three to five minutes for small children, up to ten for over-tens. Consistency matters far more than length.
Where should we start reading the Bible with a child?
With the narrative parts: Genesis, the Gospels and the stories of David, Daniel and Joseph. Leave the letters and the prophets for later.