I just read your post on the Nancy Ganz books and was wondering how exactly your family uses the books. My two and six year old would be overwhelmed to sit and listen to all the passages listed and the whole chapter but breaking it up seems like it would destroy the flow. I love the ideas presented and the language used and want to make it work now–not in three years when they are “older”…

Thank you,
Karen

Karen is referring to a commentary series for children written by Nancy Ganz that I mentioned in passing on an earlier post. So far, commentaries on Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus are in print, and more books in sequence are due in the fall I hear.

Now, by answering her question online here, I don’t want to give the impression that the way we “do” family devotions is the only way or even the “right” way. It’s just our way. Each family is unique and each father’s gifting in how he teaches his children is different. To women, I say, do what you can to make him succeed.

To say why we choose to use the Ganz books, I have to back up and mention our earlier beginnings. When we married, Greg decided that family worship would be one of the rituals that we developed into our family culture. As a married couple, this was pretty easy as there were only two people to coordinate, and for the most part, we were able to sit still through the ordeal.

We had some fits and starts. I remember sitting at the table in our rental house on the lake and wanting to love what we were doing but being totally bored out of my mind with a very old and dry commentary on Revelation. I hope that the first time he knows of my boredom is when he reads this post later today. I’ve always tried to encourage and appreciate any effort –whether it succeeds or not—that my husband extends in moving our family toward godliness.

Later on, we got into a good routine of reading John Piper’s series titled, A Godward Life. They are short Scripture-saturated essays that stimulated much discussion (and prayer) late into the night.

When the children began arriving, we used a children’s bible, prayer, and singing as our nightly routine. Over time, however, we began questioning the use of a children’s Bible storybook as the best use of time. Since faith comes by hearing the Word, using a children’s book can not be a substitute for the Bible. Yes, our children liked the pictures and (very) loose paraphrase, but our goals for that time at night could only be met by reading real Scripture.

This is where Karen’s question comes in. How do you get them to listen?

I remember a dilemma I encountered teaching first grade in the public school system before I had my first son. After lunch and playground time when all the kindergarteners usually took their naps, I had the kids find a quiet spot on the floor while I read for fifteen minutes from a chapter book. I chose The Boxcar Children for its ease of reading, simple vocabulary, and interesting story line. As many techniques as I employed, the children just wouldn’t listen. I’d tried everything. The bottom line was that they were simply bored and uninterested in such a thing.

As parents, however, I’m convinced that a child’s interest in reading is in direct proportion to how much they read themselves and/or are read to. This is especially true in the young years, as you are establishing habits (or a culture, if you will). Sesame Street will not establish a love of reading in children.

Now, I remember a few years back that my husband would read aloud a chapter book that was above their ability. This was after devotions but before bedtime. The “rule” was: if you could listen quietly –hanging off the side of the couch or playing Legos on the floor—then you could stay up late instead of going to bed. Everyone always chose to stay up. I think this was a key part in creating an atmosphere of listening to read alouds, while expanding their vocabulary and propensity for such things.

To be more specific, we break up some of the chapters in the Ganz books, as they are too much for all of us to digest. Some of them would take an hour just to read the text, leaving no time for Scripture and prayer. Over time, we’ve learned to ad lib, adjust, and use the book as a tool instead of a program.

Now, our preschooler has never experienced the kiddie bible storybooks; she has just grown up with our present routine. Additionally, Baby Energizer will never know any different, and she does well too. I want to say here that nobody sits in hardback chairs with their hands folded and a stern look on their face. It’s just a natural part of family life that our kids protest if we happen to miss.