Chapter 1: Preparations Dear Journal, My name is Simon Stephenson and I’m 13 years old. Grandpa Abrams gave this journal to me for Christmas and he said that I should write about all of my exciting adventures on Mars. He doesn’t plan to go to Mars so he thinks that reading about it will be like …

Chapter 7: Gifts from Home I didn’t even know it was possible to receive personal packages on Mars, Grandpa! Imagine my surprise when I got the gifts from you all: a child-sized djembe drum, diminutive hand bells, cymbals, a recorder, and a small keyboard. Real ones, not holographic ones! Mom says …

Chapter 5: The Little Ones “One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them.” Luke 18:15a Dear Journal, Something kind of bitter has happened and something kind of sweet has happened. But if I understand the word “bittersweet” correctly it’s not really …

Chapter 4: Shadowing Dear Journal, Something interesting happened this morning. When I glanced in the mirror I saw something . The mirror here is more clear than the one in our old 2003 home on earth. It could be the lighting. Anyway, there was my pale, freckled, longish face with large hazel eyes, …

Chapter 3: Silent at School “But I desire to have you wise in that which is good, but innocent in that which is evil.” Romans 16:9 Dear Journal, Let me quickly wrap up that last entry. The girl’s name was Zoe, which means “life” in Greek. Pretty cool. Her parents threw a party on board to honor my …

Chapter 2: A Bumpy Beginning   “And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders…” John 15:5 WEB Dear Journal, So much has happened and we haven’t even arrived on Mars yet! Let’s see, where should I start? Well, one thing is that I’ve been thinking of Psalm 8 where it says, “When I …

Dear Journal, My name is Simon Stephenson and I’m 11 years old. Grandpa Abrams gave this journal to me for Christmas and he said that I should write about all of my exciting adventures on Mars. He doesn’t plan to go to Mars so he thinks that reading about it will be like enjoying it vicariously. …

It is rare that I get contacted by someone who has written something that, in many ways, is similar to a project that I myself am working on. Here's a quick link. Here are some highlights: -I appreciate that the death of Jesus is mentioned but not pictured. -The pictures are bright. -Stories are …

Bring your kids to experience 30 or so live stations to help them enjoy gospel truth, education, and entertainment. For example, see three wooden crosses in the sheep pen, write a prayer request in the little Garden of Gethsemane in the 1888 barn, interact with numerous live animals, and more while …

Have you heard of this non-profit organization? It was founded by former Boston Red Sox relief pitcher John Trautwein and his wife. Tragically they lost their teenage son, Will, to suicide. This organization raises awareness about mental health before it's too late. People I know have been affected …

So many wonderful resources abound! After combing the web for good finds for quite some time, I’m going to share with you some of my very best recent finds. First I want to tell you about Christian early chapter books- because, of course, there aren’t any really solidly Christian ones- or are …

These products are not in competition with each other; each has unique contributions. Secondly, the prices of each product are relatively similar. Finally, the content of Evangel Lamb and My Little Lamb are not the same. So, let’s spend time discussing some of the best stuffed animal audio players. …

“Your kid will be begging you for baths and Bible stories.” Recently a unique product launched an Easter sale. The discount is substantial: $19.99 (vs $39.99) and free shipping. And so, just in time for someone’s birthday, I purchased “ Bubbee's Bible and Bath Bombs.” I told my husband, “You know, …

Recently Tiffany Obeng, the author of " I Have Ten Toes," recommended two books to me. One of them is a fun book called, " Kai, The Missionary Sea Turtle." My go-to children’s missions book is still " Hudson on A Mission" which follows the journey of a family who shares the message of Jesus Christ, …

This is a recommendation of a helpful Scripture + landscapes resource for your family. Esdras Pierre Etrenne has compiled a volume of approximately 1600 Bible verses with landscape photos. My thought is that one could print these and post them around the house or otherwise find relevant uses for …

Christian parents are often looking for quality early reading materials. Here are some suggestions regarding specific books and sources of quality Christian books. 1. A Reason For Reading Early Bible Readers 2. Generations Homeschool Curriculum Christian Books 3. Lamplighter Books 4. Christian Book …

LIGHT SHINES IN THE DARKNESS By a Friend of Theotots, Betty Rotiche It is that favorite time of the year for those people who love Christmas. Years ago, I was visiting with a friend’s family in Marion, Indiana. One night, she took me to a park where the nativity scene was recreated using Christmas …

How did the TheoTunes!/Evangel Lamb project come into being, what is it actually, and why is it important? In this blog post I will try to address these questions and more. Basically though, the idea is to tell kids about Jesus using a musical stuffed lamb audio player that has more than an hour of …

I didn’t grow up with the word “Catechism” though of course many Baptists (eg the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary that my dad graduated from in my hometown) care deeply about doctrines and passing on the truths of the faith. I thought that it was a kind of Catholic word. Well, in this blog …

As you may know, I launched Theotots originally as a website to review quality Christian products that are engagingly age-appropriate and focus on Jesus, risen Lord and Savior, and the gospel of forgiveness of sin through His atonement on The Cross. Also, I wrote books like “The Movie And The …

          Theotots is committed to highlighting and creating quality gospel resources that focus on introducing children to Jesus in clear, engagingly age-appropriate ways. We take our cue from Deuteronomy 6 and think that an immersive, Montessori type of atmosphere is conducive to passing on the …

Christian Organizations, Ministries, Products, And More   In this post I will share a number of resources to be aware of. This doesn’t exactly mean that I’m endorsing them unless I do so directly (but, of course, if I strongly objected to them they wouldn’t be included). This list is not …

GOD’S UNSEEN PROTECTION GUEST POST BY BETTY ROTICHE Growing up in my parents’ house entailed rules and more rules. The rules became flexible as we children grew older.  My parents insisted that, as long as we lived under their roof, we had to follow the rules. They subscribed to the school of …

MY GOD SEES ME Have you ever been in a situation where you felt alone and forgotten? It is normal to have those feelings of isolation at some point. In Genesis 16 and 21, we encounter a character whose circumstances changed quickly on two different occasions. She was an Egyptian woman called Hagar. …

My good friend is pregnant; praise God! This post is dedicated to their family and hopefully it will be helpful as I share about Christian products and other resources that I have found useful. Theotots does not, generally, endorse non-Christian products and companies. These are personal …

Theotots values clarity over creativity. Toddlers need clarity (not confusion). When I was in seminary I was sometimes subjected to confused creativity. I could give examples, but they wouldn’t really be helpful. And so I like to focus on very direct presentations of the gospel. But what about …

Happy Fathers’ Day to all the dads out there! Let's consider how Jesus taught his disciples to pray in Mathew 6:9-13 and Luke 11: 2-4. He said that when you pray, say “Our Father who is in heaven” The Bible refers to God as a father. The trinity is composed of God the Father, God the Son and God …

Scripture tells us, repeatedly, that God knows our hearts. He knows how many hairs are on our head, He knows what we need, He knows the number of our days, He knows. He knows our children. He knows what are children will be like in the age to come. He knows about the hard times, the sweet times, …

“ All things are lawful for me," but not all things are profitable.” 1 Corinthians 10:23 As an 18-year-old first semester freshman at my Christian college I attended a required health course taught by Dr. Rita Pritchett. I remember that she shared this bit of wisdom: "In life, our choices are often …

PARENTING PERFECTION IS UNATTAINABLE Have you ever shared a story with friends then regretted it because of the level of varied judgement you received? I once told some friends about the onset of my parenting paranoia. It was the time when my son was three years old and he would get impatient …

" 24 Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:24-25 Traditionally believers in the resurrection of Jesus …

I'd like to encourage you with one of my favorite Psalms. So many of the Psalms focus on God’s goodness and, as we meditate on God’s character, we’re conformed more into the image of His Son, Jesus. Specifically, I’d like to highlight that God is gracious and God is Lord. We can dwell securely in …

Singing to the Lord is encouraged and is in fact commanded in Scripture. A new song is a fresh song signifying a dynamic, living walk with the Lord. Let’s consider three reasons to sing to the Lord habitually in our homes. First, singing is part of our relationship with God. This is part of our …

Theotots is focused on highlighting and creating resources for toddlers, but toddlers grow into big kids and so here's a blog post to help direct you toward good choices for post- toddlers. What's included here: A book about prayer An impressive Bible A rhyming Scripture book that is focused on …

What makes a good VBS? Psalm 127:1 says that, "Unless the Lord builds the house,  those who build it labor in vain." Of course, we can be resource rich in terms of volunteers, activities, etc. and yet, well, what we need is to do what Jesus did. He said that He always did what He saw The Father …

I want to begin this by bringing up nutrition (Don’t worry; it’s relevant.). In Guatemala, the diet mainly consists of corn tortillas so, in order to increase protein consumption, helpful folks tried to change the diet. But it didn’t work. People like to eat what they like to eat. Remember when the …

In the West parents often have access to an abundance of Christian resources  The question is “What are the most meaningful, quality resources?” Otherwise one could spend thousands of dollars (I have.). Jesus is our Lord and Savior and, in our own discipleship, we have tasted the goodness of …

“God Said, ‘Go!’” The True Story of a Chinese Missionary to Muslims is a picture book biography that includes follow up action steps for children to move forward in their own faith and obedience. Endorsements: In this inspiring book the author highlights the faithful life of a non-western believing …

“God Said, ‘Go!’” This is a picture book biography of a Chinese missionary to Muslims. It’s available in English and Chinese. Endorsements: In this inspiring book the author highlights the faithful life of a non-western believing family and the stages their son goes through to follow the call of …

Here are top picks for preschoolers (Continue reading for reviews and scroll to the bottom for cover photos.): 1. I Can Follow Jesus 2. The Bible App for Kids' Bible Storybook 3. I Love My Bible 4. What Happens When I Talk to God: The Power of Prayer for Boys and Girls 5. Big Thoughts for Little …

The Best Christian Books for Toddlers (Ages 1-3) Enjoy my reviews! Jesus Saves: The Gospel for Toddlers by Sarah Reju Ideas in this book include: God made you, loves you, and sees you. God is your king but you want to be king and you sin. You need to be saved. God sent Jesus who obeyed and died to …

Why I founded theotots.com:   I want to help you find the best gospel resources for your kids. In this post I will list five reasons why I feel so deeply about this and how the Lord has prepared me for this. 1.       My own childhood was shaped by truths like that Jesus died for my sin. I still …

A family friend, Pat Jenkins, has graciously shared for this guest post. Enjoy!   Our actions and words can have great influence on our children, even if we don’t think they are paying any attention.  Do we encourage them?  Do we ask for their forgiveness when we have hurt them?  Do we ask for …

Here are my reviews of the best Christian children’s books for the youngest people on earth.  Three are “must-haves,” especially “’ J' Is for ‘Jesus'" by Twin Sisters, and three are Honorable Mentions, including two created by Theotots. “ God Made You” by Lori Froeb The front has a mirror, the back …

Preparing Children Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." In this post we’ll briefly consider 3 areas of preparedness: 1. “ Self-care” - Ephesians 5:29 "his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it..." 2. Relationship with the Lord …

Best Christian Children’s Media Besides pointing you to the best Christian children’s books, Theotots also wants to help you find the top Christian children’s videos, YouTube channels, apps, etc. Here are some to consider: Bible Adventures (on YouTube), a companion to The Bible App for Kids …

Baptist Sunday School, Baptist Daycare, Baptist Vacation Bible School, and a Baptist School helped me immensely. God used these to teach me truths like that He is good and loving and powerful and I am a sinner who's saved through Jesus’ (atoning- I may not have understood this so well as a child.) …

Core Doctrines This post is an encouragement to focus on the main points of the faith with your children instead of spending a great deal of effort in teaching kids the less essential truths. I once heard of an exercise with a room full of missionaries. Someone asked them, “What are the key …

May the truths of the gospel be in our hearts and may we often speak of them with our children. Here’s a list of verses on which you could meditate if you like. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. John …

What do a flood in Indonesia, an old friend from a distant land, a believer named “Jesus" in South America, and a busy mom have in common? “ You Heard My Prayer.” I will try to summarize the main points here. You see, I wanted to update a book called, “ God’s Very Gracious Gift" to become “ Jesus …

(This is my husband’s story.) W hen can faith begin in a child's life? I believe very early on. In June of 1984 I was just 4 years and a month old. My mom took me to see The Gremlins at the theater, which, retrospectively, we should have skipped. As we were leaving, I sprinted far ahead in the …

Celebrate Christ on October 31st We must guard our children’s hearts. Proverbs 4:23 warns: “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.” Some call it a Harvest Party, Costume Day, Fall Festival, Trunk or Treat or something with Candy in its name. Others commemorate …

Scripture Memorization Psalm 119:11 declares: “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”   We must be intentional. Certain tools can aid our efforts, including music, art and books. Scripture Songs have been enormously helpful in my own practice of memorizing Bible …

Early Literacy- So Children Can Read The Bible Our 18-month-old knows some letters. Our 5-year-old is reading at a second grade level. Am I bragging? I’m aiming at credibility. So, here’s the main idea: intentionality. The way to teach children to read is to be intentional about it. This requires …

How To Pick The Best Christian Children’s Books We are blessed to live in a time during which a number of Christian resources are available to English speakers. How can one find the most quality books for discipling children? Here are some questions to consider: Is the content clear, direct, and …

Bible: The Bible App for Kids Storybook Bible Gospel Pick: God’s Big Story for You About the Bible: I Love My Bible For Listening: The Rhyme Bible Storybook For Babies: JESUS For Toddlers: I AM: The Names of God for Little Ones For Preschoolers: The Bible App for Kids Bible Storybook For Big Kids: …

Call it children's ministry, evangelizing kids, discipling your little ones, introducing infants to Jesus, teaching doctrines to toddlers, or whatever you like, passing faith to the next generation is essential. May these resources serve to direct children to the salvation we have in Jesus. Select …

We would like to help our children to love God and the things of God, cultivating godly attitudes and appetites, so let’s consider some practical ways to serve that purpose. Three key areas can aid in this: personal modeling, church support, and environmental messaging. Let’s explore these three by …

When introducing infants to Jesus it's helpful to consider saturation, clarity and trust. First, saturation refers to frequent exposure.  Deuteronomy 6 tells us: These words, which I command you today, shall be on your heart; 7 and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of …