Four-year-old Alicia made a slight mistake when she said her Bible verse: "That who so ever believes in him should not perish but have ever laughing life." Grinning, her mother didn’t correct her. That’s exactly how she wants Alicia to feel about Jesus.

From their earliest days, we want our children to know the joy of learning about Jesus. But how much can a child really understand about God? And how does that change as she gets older? To help our children develop a faith that will carry them into adulthood, it’s essential we play off their strengths at each stage of development.

A Solid Start:

Birth to 2

Even these early years are critical to your child’s spiritual development. As a parent, you’re always there, ready to feed your baby when he’s hungry, play with him when he’s awake and rock him when he’s fussy. Through these experiences, your child develops a foundation of love and trust in you that will later lead to trust in God.

Children under ...