How to Review and Reinforce Bible Lessons with Kids

Teaching kids Bible lessons can be a meaningful way to instill important values and bring stories of faith to life. But how do you make sure they remember and apply these lessons? Reviewing and reinforcing Bible lessons can help kids retain what they’ve learned, but the key is to make the process engaging and relevant to their age. Here are practical and fun ways to help children review and reinforce Bible lessons.

1. Ask Review Questions in a Fun Format

Reviewing through questions doesn’t have to feel like a quiz. Try out different formats that are interactive and playful:

Trivia Games: Turn review time into a game, using cards or a board game format where kids earn points for correct answers.
Jeopardy or Bingo: Create a Jeopardy board or Bingo cards where the questions center around key points, characters, and lessons from recent Bible stories.
Role Reversal: Have the kids ask you questions! Let them pretend to be the teacher and quiz you. This reversal can be hilarious and insightful as they form questions from what they remember best.

2. Make Hands-On Crafts Related to the Lesson

Crafts help cement Bible stories and characters in a tangible way.

Character Puppets: After a story, have the kids make paper bag or sock puppets of the characters. They can use the puppets to retell the story or reenact a scene.
Verse Posters: Choose a verse from the lesson, and let kids create a colorful poster of it. This can be a weekly project, and they’ll have a collection of verses by the end of the study.
Story Dioramas: If you covered a story like Jonah and the Whale or the Good Samaritan, create a diorama using clay, paper, or other household materials to depict the scene.

3. Use Movement and Music

Children often learn best when movement is involved, so bringing in activities that require them to move around can make the lessons stick.

Verse Moves: Assign specific movements to phrases or words in a memory verse. For example, “stand firm” could mean standing up tall, or “heart” could mean placing their hand over their heart.
Action Songs: Many classic Bible songs incorporate hand motions. You can even make up a song based on the main points of the Bible story, using a familiar tune.
Act It Out: Turn the story into a short skit. Kids can take turns playing different characters and acting out key parts of the story. This is especially helpful for group settings where kids can work together.

4. Incorporate Visual and Sensory Reminders

Help kids connect Bible truths to everyday life by using visual and sensory tools.

Memory Cards: Create cards with words, characters, and images from the lesson. Use these cards for memory matching games or flashcards.
Nature Connection: If the lesson involves something in nature (like creation or parables involving seeds), go outside to find something similar. For example, if you studied the “Parable of the Mustard Seed,” find a plant or a tree and discuss growth.
Story Stones: Paint rocks with symbols or characters related to a recent lesson. Kids can collect these over time and arrange the rocks in the order of the stories they tell.

5. Practice Application in Real-Life Scenarios

To help children see how Bible lessons apply to their everyday lives, create opportunities to apply what they learned in different scenarios.

Role-Play Scenarios: After learning about kindness, for example, present different scenarios and ask, “How would Jesus want us to respond here?” Practice with things they might face, like sharing, taking turns, or showing kindness to others.
Acts of Service: If a lesson was about helping others, plan a small service activity, like making cards for people in your community, or baking treats for neighbors. Experiencing the lesson’s message can make it more memorable.
Weekly Reflection: Ask them questions like, “What did you do this week that showed (specific value, like kindness, faith, or honesty)?” Keeping the question simple but relevant helps kids reflect on how they applied what they learned.

6. Involve the Whole Family

Make Bible review a family event so the kids see its importance beyond “lesson time.”

Dinner Table Discussions: Summarize the week’s story at dinner, and let each family member share what they liked most or something they learned.
Family Verse: Pick a verse related to the lesson and display it somewhere visible. Practice it together a few times each day.
Family Challenge: If you studied generosity, create a family goal to share kindness every day for a week. Then, share stories of your experiences together.

7. Create a Memory Journal or Scrapbook

A journal or scrapbook helps kids keep a record of what they’ve learned, allowing them to look back on past lessons.

Weekly Journal: After each lesson, kids can draw or write what they remember about the story, adding in any fun fact or main point.
Photo Diary: If they’ve done a craft or activity, take photos and add them to the scrapbook along with their thoughts on the lesson. This builds a visual memory and can be a great review tool later.

Helping kids truly learn and apply God’s Word doesn’t have to be complicated—it just needs a bit of creativity and variety. By incorporating games, crafts, movement, real-life application, and family involvement, you’re not only reviewing Bible lessons but building a meaningful, lasting understanding of biblical principles. Make it fun and personal, and watch as these stories and values come to life in their everyday actions.