“Why?” It’s a question I hear dozens of times a day from my toddler.
Why does the moon follow us?
Why did Jesus become a baby?
Why can’t I eat all the berries at once? (Because, dear child, you could eat an entire grocery budget’s worth of berries at once.)
His questions are relentless, unpredictable, and sometimes exhausting. But I’ve come to see them as precious gifts—opportunities to glimpse my child’s thoughts and to shape his understanding of the world.
When he was first learning to talk, my husband and I began catechizing him. Catechism has long been used in the church to help even the youngest children hold truth in their hearts. Its question-and-answer style is naturally conversational and easy for little minds to grasp. Sounds intense, right? But catechizing a young child doesn’t mean formal lessons, long lectures, or memorizing thick theology books. It means weaving the repetition of truth into the ordinary rhythms of life.
It means making theology playful.
Play is the Language of Childhood
Toddlers learn through play. To teach them catechism questions, we wove them into daily activities: songs, stories, games, and routines.
It’s pointing out God’s handiwork in a flower garden and repeating: “Who is God? God is the creator of everything.”
It’s singing a simple hymn at bedtime and asking: “What did God do before He created everything? He loved.”
It’s dancing in the kitchen and repeating the phrase: “Where is God? God is everywhere, all the time.”
The Bible itself encourages this kind of teaching. Deuteronomy 6:7 instructs parents to talk about God’s commands “when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Play, in its joyful and repetitive way, is a natural way to obey that command.
Repetition Plants Deep Roots
Toddlers aren’t just playful—they’re astonishing memorizers. Brain science and cognitive development research back this up: even infants can remember events for up to two weeks, according to The Journal of Experimental Child Psychology. By the time children turn one, they can remember things for up to a year.
Think about it: have you ever seen a child who still stumbles when they walk list every character from their favorite dog-themed TV show? If they can remember all the “super pups” and their powers, shouldn’t we use that God-designed memory to teach them truths that last into eternity?
Simple Ways to Make Theology Playful
- Sing the questions: Music sticks in little hearts. Psalm 100:1–2 invites us to “Make a joyful noise to the Lord… Come into his presence with singing!”
- Ask them like a pop quiz: Gentle questions spark wonder. Sometimes I’ll pose a question like a game show host, then celebrate wildly when my son answers (or when I help him answer).
- Tell them in everyday moments: Ordinary things become divine reflections—like noticing a butterfly and whispering about God the Creator (Psalm 104:24).
- Read stories together: Stories plant faith. Incorporate picture books with beautiful illustrations when talking about a particular truth.
Presence Over Perfection
Catechizing toddlers isn’t about being a perfect teacher—it’s about being present. It’s noticing the questions, leaning into wonder, and showing children that God is part of every messy, joyful, and curiosity-filled moment of life.
As we incorporate play, repeat truths to plant deep roots, and practice presence over perfection, we realize that joyful theology isn’t just child’s play—it’s one of the ways God’s Word comes alive in the hearts of the next generation.
One day, I hope my son’s little questions grow into big ones and that he’ll already know where to take them: to the God who made him, loves him, and is with him everywhere, all the time.
How do you make theology playful with the children in your care?
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