In what ways can biblical parenting be fun?

Deuteronomy 6:4-9“Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

Job 1:4-5Job’s sons would take turns preparing feasts in their homes, and they would also invite their three sisters to celebrate with them. When these celebrations ended—sometimes after several days—Job would purify his children. He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said to himself, “Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.

Proverbs 22:6Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.

Malachi 4:6His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse.

Since God designed the family to be a healthy environment for growth, children respond to activities that are fun and attitudes that are positive. Remembering the principle of teachable moments, parents can use the regular times of sharing meals, greeting the day, travel, and the bedtime rituals to express tenderness, laughter, truth, and reminders of God’s presence. God’s purpose is not to insist we be child-centered, but child sensitive in our family life.