In the Neighborhood children’s devotional review

As we disciple our kids at home, it can be tricky to find ways to teach them that aren’t too surface-level. All too many Bible lessons for kids devolve into simple recall of knowledge. “How many disciples did Jesus have? That’s right Jesus had 12 disciples!” Or they get way too deep too fast and leave kids wondering just what happened. In the Neighborhood, the second book in the Papa’s Knee children’s devotional series looks at how to interact with people… wait for it… in your neighborhood.

(there are affiliate links in here, and I was given a copy of this devotional)

Cue “Who are the people in your neighborhood?” song playing in the head of every 80s kid.

At Papa’s Knee Devotional Series

I talked in great depth about this series when I reviewed the first book, Around Home, so I’ll sum it up here. If you want a whole lot more detail then I recommend you head over there and read the full details, but I’ll sum it up here.

• This is designed for young families, from preschool to early elementary
• It takes about 10-15 minutes
• multi-generational and different families (small and large, including adopted kids)
• includes homeschool families

I flesh that out a lot more in the original post, but that gives you the TLDR version.

What do we learn in “In the Neighborhood Children’s devotional“?

I simplified the topic to friendships, but really it’s about relationships and how to interact with people, and brought in some topics I don’t think are usually handled in children’s devotions, or if they are, it’s poorly handled.

People who disagree with you

This is going to sound strange, but one of my favorite lessons in this devotional wasn’t even the main point of the devotional.

I think it’s the first one in the book, goes back and checks, yes, it is. The family is out at a park for Independence Day. Before eating their picnic they pray, and one of the kids notices someone didn’t like them praying.

First, this devotional acknowledges not everyone agrees with the family. Too many children’s devotionals don’t acknowledge that, or if they do, it’s brushed under the table, or the unbeliever is turned into a mustache-twirling villain who comes to Christ in some dramatic way.

Instead, it’s acknowledged the person disagrees, and talks about people in China who are not allowed to pray in public. They then focus on being thankful they are allowed to pray in public (the actual focus of the lesson, thankfulness).

(Shhhh! I stole a picture from the first devotional because I’m too lazy to get up and take a new picture.)

I appreciate that small moment. It’s what discipling our kids looks like. Our kids ask questions and we get an opportunity to answer them.

Different choices

A lot of the stories in this elementary devotional focus around choices. The Meade children don’t cuss, or they go to church on Sunday rather than going to a party.

It’s small choices. Each time a story is told and it’s explained this is why our family makes these choices. I appreciate the phrasing of the story. It’s not presented as “that family is evil because they chose to go skating instead of church,” no it’s presented as, “this is what our family values and why we do this.”

It’s a subtle thing, but an important way to phrase it. I like reading those subtle differences in word choice.

But the family and the kids are not perfect

Yes, the parents and grandparents teach from interactions with friends and neighbors, but it’s also from the family.

Sometimes the kids disobey, or misunderstand. Yes, misunderstand, because sometimes the problem is not a sin issue, but a miscommunication or lack of knowledge issue.

I like that this elementary devotional does that. We get to see many different lessons applied, and each one is taken back to the Bible with discussion questions and application suggestions.

Get your copies of In the Neighborhood Children’s Devotional

In the Neighborhood Children’s Devotional is on Amazon.

You can also buy it on the publisher’s website.