How to Teach Children About God’s Love

Here are some helpful tips on how to teach children about the love of God. It’s one of the foundational and most important themes we find in Scripture!

Imagine Mateo, a 7-year-old boy who was afraid to sleep alone. Every night, he asked someone to stay with him—until his grandmother told him that God watches over him even when no one else is in the room.

“How can He be with me if I can’t see Him?” Mateo asked.

His grandmother replied, “God is like the sun behind the clouds. Even if you don’t see Him, He’s always there, giving you warmth and light.”

That night, Mateo fell asleep hugging a note that said, “God loves you more than anyone.” From then on, he began talking to God as if He were his invisible, ever-present Father.

This is an extra-biblical story, but it expresses what the Word of God teaches: He is our Father and loves us deeply. It’s just one idea of how you can tell your child that God loves them! Of course, it’s always important to teach them the Bible.

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” — 1 John 3:1a

This verse tenderly affirms that we are part of God’s family—something children can understand as having a heavenly Father who never abandons them.

3 Strategies to Teach Children About God’s Love

We won’t include what we believe is the best strategy just yet—we’ll leave it as an introduction: read our book A Day In the Garden of Love. Now, let’s dive into the rest of the strategies!

1. Use comparisons with family love

Scripture teaches that we cannot love the God we don’t see if we don’t love the brother we do see. In this sense, the people we see are a great example to help explain God’s love.

So, tell young children that God’s love is like a mom or dad’s love—but even greater and more perfect. You can say: “Just like your dad hugs you when you’re sad, God also comforts you, even if you can’t see Him.”

2. Create visual and emotional prayer moments

Creativity is always a great tool for teaching children, even when it comes to God’s love. Encourage them to draw how they imagine God caring for them. You can also use crafts—clay figures, paper art, and more.

And of course, guide them in a simple prayer like: “Thank you, God, for loving me when I’m happy and when I’m sad.”

3. Share Bible stories where God acts as a Father

Let’s keep this short and direct: use the parable of the prodigal son to show how God waits for us with open arms. Let the children act out the story as a play or game so they can experience the message.

This is just one example—you can use any story that reflects God’s love. The key is to present it in a child-friendly way.

Other Ways to Teach About God’s Love

Here are a few more tips:

• Teach by example—live as someone who knows they are loved by God.
• Remind children what God says about them, and help heal any false beliefs they may have about themselves.
• Hug them in God’s name, and tell them that’s how the Father is with them—only much stronger in love.
• If they’re going through a tough time, remind them it doesn’t mean God has abandoned them.
• Invite them to spend daily time with God so they can know His love more deeply.

Once again, we invite you to read our book A Day In the Garden of Love. It’s a wonderful resource to help teach young children about God’s love as a good Father. And don’t forget to put every tip we’ve shared into practice!