Bible Apps & Games for Kids: Enhancing Learning and Faith Development
6/4/2024
The digital age has entered its maturity, and with it, we know one thing is for sure: electronics and screen time for kids are here to stay. These technologies have become essentials that everyone needs to know how to navigate if they want to be successful in the modern world. Online games, smartphone apps, mobile devices, laptops… such technology is deeply woven into our daily lives.
Unfortunately, much of what is available online is not appropriate for children. Even those that are designed especially for younger audiences don't take faith-based needs into account. Our children need guidance on how to participate in the digital world. We must provide a way for them to engage with technology that aligns with the faith and morals that we are instilling in other areas of their upbringing.
Until recently, there hasn’t been much to bridge the two worlds: gaming and faith. While Bible apps for adults made their appearance years ago, it’s only now that parents are wondering: how can we ensure that our kids’ screen time is appropriate and actually provides value? Online Bible games for kids help address just these issues, meeting a critical need in faith-based education today.
Bible apps for kids are fun, interactive, and character-driven, giving children a reason to engage with the age-old stories that comprise God’s Word. To children, playing such games just seems like fun, but what they’re really doing is absorbing biblical truths and lessons through a new platform.
Why Bible Apps are Essential for Kids' Spiritual Growth
Many of the Bible’s truths seem obvious. For example, love thy neighbor, be charitable, and don’t judge others. However, these truths only become evident as we mature. When we are children, we must be taught such lessons repeatedly before we truly understand them. This is why Sunday schools across the world use games to help children learn Bible stories and principles.
But what about outside of Sunday school? Many parents have concerns when their children want to engage online with friends who may not share the same faith and morals. There are worries about the role video games and other digital activities may play in their spiritual and moral development. These concerns are reasonable given the potential impact on a child’s development.
The Benefits of Online Games
It helps to know that there are many benefits to video gaming. While gaming often gets a bad rap for making children hardhearted shut-ins, the BBC has reported that science has actually shown that “playing video games can support young people when it comes to their literacy skills, creativity and empathy.”
The article adds that engaging with video games makes players want to know more about the world inside the game even when they’re not playing: “79% of the children who took part in the survey said they read lots of content about video games including books, reviews, blogs, in-game communications and fan fiction.” What better way to bring children to the Bible naturally?
And as an added bonus, “35% also felt playing video games made them better readers” and “65% saying that gaming helped them imagine being someone else,” the key component of empathy.
Bible Apps for Life Lessons
Most parents hope to give their children lively, loving, and lesson-filled childhoods, and Bible game apps can help do just that. Presenting biblical teachings in engaging, age-appropriate ways imprints moral lessons from Bible stories on children’s development effortlessly.
That’s not to say that Bible games online should replace one-on-one conversations or teacher instruction. Rather, through video games, children can experience another aspect of glory, defeat, and humanity that they don’t typically encounter. These experiences can then enrich their academic and spiritual learning by providing new perspectives to discuss and apply biblical principles to.
Key Features to Look for in a Bible App for Kids
There is a dizzying amount of kids game options on the market. Even Bible games have become more common online, but that doesn’t mean every game using biblical stories is a good one for your child. Which ones are worth it, and how can you tell?
To ensure a Bible app is valuable and engaging for children, look for features such as:
- Interactive story modes
- Age-appropriate animations
- Child-friendly navigation
- Audio narrations
- Quizzes that reinforce learning
The stories and values in Bible apps should arise naturally from gameplay. For instance, in the game "Maple and the Forest of Words," the biblical values and truths are embedded in the story. The characters seek strength from God and learn to trust Him more as they go along. Similarly, in "Stained Glass" the player uncovers images and stories of Bible Characters as they advance.
Choosing the Right Bible App for Your Child: A Parent's Guide
So you found a few online Bible games that seem to meet the above requirements. How do you decide between them? There are a few additional characteristics to look for.
First, check the game’s rating and make sure it is appropriate for your child’s age. Even games that have strong biblical messages can be scary for children who are too young. Plus, be aware that ratings aren’t comprehensive, as they don't account for communication features, so a game with a low age rating may still allow children to speak to strangers.
For that reason, your next step is to check the in-app communication features. You either need to set and monitor them, or choose games like the ones from TruPlay that don’t have in-game ads or chat rooms (e.g. no random creep will talk with your child). Most parents find that it’s easiest to select Bible games that simply don’t allow chatting at all.
Lastly, double-check that your child can’t make in-app purchases without your approval – or ideally at all – and that Bible apps don’t feature ads, as if they do they might be inappropriate, scary, or off-messaging for faith-based households.
Types of Bible Games for Children
There are a number of ways children can interact with game content. Gameplay formats include:
- Action RPG (Role-Playing Games): Role-playing games put the player in the shoes of the character they’re playing, such as in TruPlay’s game “King David” where children become the storied leader of Israel, or “Benjamin and the Armor of Logos.”
- Side Scrolling Games: These games follow the character as they move left or right across a screen, such as in “Little Light.”
- Match Games: Match games require the player to identify and match up like elements, such as “Stained Glass,” where they hear Bible stories as they finish up each level. This helps with pattern recognition skills while instilling familiarity with biblical narratives in an engaging way.
- Tower Defense Games: A tower defense game is one in which the player defends their property or resources (not just towers), like “Heroes of Rhym: Battle for Eldavar.”
- Platformer Games: A platformer game is one in which the player’s goal is to move from one place on the screen to another, such as “Maple and the Forest of Words,” where Maple seeks to save a friend while drawing courage through prayer and trusting in God. This type of gameplay promotes perseverance and highlights the role of faith when facing challenges.
- Coloring Games: For children who love the satisfaction of filling in the lines with rich hues, coloring games such as “Book of Imagination” are a win.
- Word Games: As the title suggests, word-centered Bible game apps rely on playing with and learning Bible-related words, like in “Lumi’s Words of Light,” where the words are linked to Bible verses which are shared throughout the game. This approach reinforces biblical literacy while making connections between vocabulary and scriptural teachings.
There are, of course, endless other gameplay formats. These include trivia games, endless jumpers such as “Isabella’s Leap of Faith,” and runner games like “Oliver and the Vindictive Vines.”
Top Bible Games for Different Age Groups
Not only are there tons of Bible games and content from TruPlay, they span the ages as well. We offer fun and engaging ways to study the Word of God by age group:
- Toddlers: Your little ones will enjoy games such as “Little Light” and “Noah’s Elephant in the Room.”
- Preschoolers: Slightly older children are ready for matching games such as “Stained Glass,” color games like “Book of Imagination,” or “Isabella’s Leap of Faith.”
- School-Age Children: Happy news – every single TruPlay game is perfect for children of elementary school age and older.
Integrating Bible Apps into Daily Learning Routines
Bible app games are best when they are part of a healthy routine of daily faith and learning. A few ways to make sure children spend the right amount of time on games and ingest biblical messages include:
- Setting aside regular time for games
- Set clear rules about when and how much time children can spend on Bible apps
- Discussing learning after gameplay
- Matching games to what you’re currently reading in the Bible
- Making games a reward for other healthy behaviors, such as schooling and chores
- Playing games together during R&R
TruPlay Games' Bible Learning App for Kids
One of the best things about the TruPlay games platform is that it includes so many different games under one low-cost subscription. Each of these games makes learning about the Bible fun and engaging for kids, and with so many choices about types of gameplay, there’s certain to be something for everyone.
Take the time to explore our biblical, faith-based apps or, if you’ve already decided, feel free to register for a free trial today.
You can also get in touch with us to learn more, or check out our list of frequently asked questions below. It’s never too early – or too late – to get your kids interested in spiritually healthy, mentally challenging, and all-around fun Bible based games … So start today!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the most common questions parents have about using Bible apps for their children’s education:
Q: What makes a Bible app suitable for children?
A: Bible games are suitable for children if they carry a true faith-based message, are age-appropriate, and practice good communication security. That means no chat rooms and, where communication is allowed at all, clear parental controls.
Q: How can Bible apps help in my child's spiritual education?
A: The right Bible app can carry the Word of God while still allowing children to have fun and participate in the digital scene, as their Christian and non-Christian peers do.
Q: Are there any free Bible apps or games recommended for kids?
A: There are a handful of good free Bible apps and faith-based games available for kids. However, the quality of the game or app can vary pretty wildly. The problem isn’t always the content itself, the biggest issue is the dangers that come from chat rooms and ads. As every quality app development requires time and resources, many games opt for in-app advertising or in-app purchases, which many children are not prepared to deal with. For that reason, a reasonably priced Bible game subscription without ads and access to chat rooms, like the TruPlay game app is a better bet.
Q: What age group are children's TruPlay’s Bible games designed for?
A: While TruPlay is geared toward elementary-aged children, our findings show that plenty of adults love playing them as well. TruPlay games are designed to be enjoyed by the whole family, giving everyone an imaginary world that helps create conversation around God’s truth.
Q: How do I monitor what my child is learning from Bible apps and games?
A: You can log into your account at any time and see which games your child is playing and what they’re learning. Our team is always here to help you answer questions as well. Because we work so hard to make parents feel secure about what their children are doing online, we have earned endorsements from some of the leading lights in the Christian community, including Billy Graham Evangelical Association, Promise Keepers, Sam Rodriguez, Pastor Jack Hayford, PluggedIn by Focus on the Family, Candace Cameron Bure, and many others.
Q: Can TruPlay’s Bible games be used in conjunction with traditional Bible study methods for children?
A: Of course! Playing TruPlay’s Bible games is not a substitute for Sunday school, Bible study, faith-based academics, or conversation at home. On average, a child may only be getting 20-40 minutes of scripture a week on Sundays. Bible based games such as TruPlay give kids additional exposure to God’s truths and values. While these games should not replace in-person instruction and discussion, they can be a valuable supplement to a child’s spiritual development.
Q: How can I stay up to date on the world of Bible apps for kids?
A: Feel free to follow TruPlay’s news for information, new games, and updates from our team!
Q: Ok, I want to give TruPlay a try. How do I get started?
A: If you’re interested in giving TruPlay a try, getting started is easy! Sign up for a free trial at truplaygames.com to explore our engaging Bible games and see how they can enrich your child’s faith journey. We’re confident that you’ll find TruPlay to be a valuable addition to your child’s spiritual development.