As a Christian parent, your most important role is to encourage your child?s walk with Christ. There are innumerable ways to do this, but one important way is to ensure your child reads the Bible.

Not so long ago, there were only one or two children?s Bibles to choose from, but today the options seem endless! Which Bible should you choose for your child? Which children?s Bibles are most accurate? Most appropriate for your child?s age? Most readable? Have the most attractive illustrations? This article will guide you through these and other considerations.

Babies and Toddlers

Although many parents put off reading a Bible to their child, it?s never too early to introduce your child to the word of God. In fact, the earlier you start, the more likely your child is to take an interest in spiritual matters. And why should it seem strange to read a Bible to a baby? We introduce our babies to many concepts?from nursery rhymes to the alphabet?before they are ever able to talk. Why not begin introducing them to the most important book of all?

Bibles for babies and toddlers should have colorful, interesting pictures of children and animals, since this will be your child?s primary draw to the book. Smaller books?designed for little hands?are often preferred by very young children. Bible storybooks for children of this age should introduce well known stories of the Bible, as well as actual Bible verses.

Preschoolers

At this age, excellent illustrations are still a must. Look for Bible storybooks with interesting and colorful pictures on every page. Stories should be relatively short?no more than four pages or so, depending upon your child?s ability to sit through longer books. Also consider a Bible that provides simple questions for you to ask your child as you read; this helps engage young minds to think about what?s being read to them. (Of course, if your child?s Bible doesn?t include questions, you can create your own.) The storybook should also have at least some quotations from the Bible.

Preschoolers will enjoy helping to pick out their Bible. If the Bible has a look or theme to it that?s attractive to your child, he or she is that much more likely to take an eager interest in it. Too many choices, however, will overwhelm your child, so carefully select two or three Bibles for your child to choose from, and be willing to let his or her decision be final.

Gradeschoolers

As your child?s abilities increase, select a Bible they can begin to read on their own. Many Bibles for this age group have activities to help bring home the message of the Word. Bibles for this age group should still have interesting pictures (though not necessarily on every page), and you should allow your child to help choose his Bible.

When your child is ready for a picture-free (or nearly picture-free) Bible, choose a volume with modern language. Choosing a Bible with unfamiliar language just makes it that much more difficult to understand and find interesting.

Tweens and Teens

It is essential to let your tween or teen help choose his or her own Bible. If you want some control over what your child chooses, present your son or daughter with a selection of about five different Bibles of which you approve, then let your child make the final choice.

Bibles for tweens and teens should be ?study Bibles,? or Bibles with sidebars of useful information that will help your child better understand the Bible. These sidebars might include notes about translation, historical notes, or biblical interpretations.

General Notes

As your child matures, be quick to buy him or her a new Bible. Children soon loose interest in Bibles that are ?too babyish.? Each of your children should also have their own Bible. This ensures they can read it whenever the mood strikes them; besides, children like the feeling of having their own Bible to carry to church.

Also be sure you understand the difference between a translation and a paraphrase. A translation looks at the original languages of the Bible and tries to choose English words with the same literal meaning. A paraphrase attempts to look at the meaning behind the original words. Most experts agree a translation is most accurate, although a paraphrase may be fine for supplementation. Popular paraphrased Bibles include The Message and The Living Bible.

In order to choose a Bible with easy to understand, but also accurate, language, it?s an excellent idea to compare a number of verses in various versions. The easiest way to do this is with a web site like www.BibleGateway.com. Type in a Bible citation, and then select different translations to view.

And don?t neglect letting your child see you read the Bible. Children are keen observers, and if they never see you read the Bible, they are unlikely to think it an important activity. By the time your child is a preschooler, you can begin reading your own Bible out loud to them. At this age, they won?t be able to sit through such readings patiently, so allow them to color or do some other quiet activity while you read a short chapter or so from your Bible. Offer a brief explanation of what you?re reading. For example, if you?re reading the book of Revelation, say something like: ?This is what God says it will be like when Jesus comes back to earth someday.?

As your child grows older, you can offer a little more in the way of explanation, and you can engage in deeper discussions about the Bible. However, if your child loses interest at any time, don?t push him or her. Adult Bibles are, after all, designed for adults.

For more information and reviews about great children?s Bibles, check out Christian Children?s Book Review. To read the full text of “Choosing Children’s Bibles,” download Christian Children’s Book Review’s free ebook.