What kind of Bible should I use with my children?

Choosing a Bible or Bible storybook for our kids used to be a simple thing since choice was limited. Today it's a different story. We can choose from a wide variety of Bible storyboks for younger kids, most of them with colorful illustrations, as well as for many regular Bibles that contain the whole Bible text in language targeted at older children. It's well worth the time to investigate what's available, since not all Bible storybooks and regular Bibles for kids are of the same quality, and some may be better suited to some kids than to others. Here are some general tips:

1. From the time children are old enough to be read to until the time they leave home, they'll probably go through four to six different Bibles. This is in part a practical necessity, since their reading skills, comprehension levels, and interests change, but it also helps kids see that learning about God is progressive (and that they are progressing). Graduating from one Bible to the next can be a real encouragement for our children, propelling them forward with newfound motivation.

2. It's important that each of our children has his or her own Bible. That helps to show our kids how important the Bible is and emphasizes that the Bible always needs to be available as a book for learning and a practical guidebook for life. Of course, Bibles can be passed down to younger brothers and sisters as the older children grow out of them.

3. When it's time to buy a new Bible, try to let your children choose their own. You can point out which Bibles or Bible storybooks are labeled for thier age group, and they can make the final selection. This helps strengthen the ownership factor and increase the interest level.

4. When your children are old enough to want a whole text Bible, be sure to choose a translation that uses modern day language so that your children will be able to understand what they're reading. You'll find the different Bibles labeled clearly as to which translation is used. Some translations are deliberately aimed at a lower reading level for kids. For example, the New International readers version (NIRV) and the International Children's version are both at a third grade reading level, the (NLT) is at a slightly higher level. If you're not familiar with the various modern translations, pick a few verses in different parts of the Bible and look them up in the various translations for comparison.

5. Finally, look for whole text children's and teen Bibles that contain additional materials that will help your children understand and apply what they read. Many Bibles for children and teens contain some or all of the following: a simple concordance, explanation notes in the text, an introduction to each book of the Bible, maps of Bible lands, and cross references to other places in the Bible that talk about the same topic.

Next time I will give hints to choosing the Bible by age group.