How to Teach the 10 Commandments to Kids

Teaching the 10 commandments to your kids can be a real challenge. The concepts and the number of things to remember make this especially hard. By using your fingers, this easy- to- remember way of teaching children the 10 Commandments will put this list at the 'tip of your fingers'. Kids and parents will find it easy to memorize all 10 commandments in order.

Things You'll Need

  • Your fingers!

Instructions

    • 1

      "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Hold up one finger, pointing toward the sky. Explain that God wants us to worship only Him, the ONE God.

    • 2

      "Thou shalt not create false idols." Hold index and tall finger of the right hand together; pound them against your clenched left fist. Explain that people used to carve false gods out of stone, but God tells us not to make any false gods.

    • 3

      "Do not take the Lord's name in vain." Hold three fingers up of right hand in the shape of a "W". Explain that God wants us to only use good words, not bad ones, so we should Watch every Word that comes out of our mouths.

    • 4

      "Honor the Sabbath and keep it holy." Hold right hand with four fingers downward. Wiggle the fingers and move the hand to simulate a car moving. Explain that God wants us to go to church every Sunday and keep the Sabbath holy.

    • 5

      "Honor thy father and thy mother." Hold five fingers against your forehead in a salute. Explain that God wants us to respect and honor our parents.

    • 6

      "Do not murder." Hold up five fingers of left hand; point right index finger at left hand like a gun. Explain that God tells us not to kill anyone.

    • 7

      "Do not commit adultery." Hold up five fingers of left hand. Hold up index and tall finger of right hand in a 'V'. Explain that husbands and wives (show the 'V') should only date each other, and not the other pretty people (wiggle fingers on the other hand); that is why they are separate.

    • 8

      "Thou shalt not steal". Hold both hand palms up with eight fingers extended with the thumbs tucked in side. Explain that in old days, a thief' s thumbs were broken so he couldn't hold onto things that weren't his.

    • 9

      "Thou shalt not lie". Hold hands up with nine fingers extended and one thumb 'hidden'. Explain that God doesn't want us to withhold the truth by telling lies and hiding things.

    • 10

      "Do not covet thy neighbor's goods." Hold hands palms up and make a grabbing motion with all ten fingers. Explain that God doesn't want us to want the things our neighbors have and be greedy, but to just be happy with what we have.

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