Teaching Kids Spiritual Discernment in a Digital World Filled With Distractions
Can I tell you something I wish someone had told me years ago? Teaching kids spiritual discernment is more than a rule or a Sunday school lesson. It’s a living, breathing conversation in our homes. How many of us have caught ourselves saying, "Just don’t play that game," or "That show is off limits," but wondered if our kids really know the why behind it?
I remember when my kids first started exploring online games. It looked innocent. We set all the timers, all the filters. We even checked in on their screens. But digital distractions are sneaky. What starts as a cute animation or fun quest can open up to something that unsettles us. That’s what happened in our house with a so-called “harmless” game. One minute it was silly forest animals, and the next, there was dark imagery I never would have expected. And I missed it, friend. Even your careful can miss it. We’re not called to shame or guilt, though. We are called to walk every single day clinging to Jesus, to keep learning and teaching kids spiritual discernment together.
Why Does Teaching Kids Spiritual Discernment Matter for Christian Families?
Here's the thing. Our kids are growing up in a world full of entertainment and information that moves fast. It pulls for their attention every single day. As parents, teaching kids spiritual discernment feels a little like riding a bike with them for the first time. At first, we run beside them. Eventually, they ride on their own. But the one lesson I have to teach them, again and again, is how to stop before they run into trouble. Teaching kids spiritual discernment means making "stop and listen to the Holy Spirit" part of our normal, everyday life.
My friend Emily (you may have heard her on the podcast) shared her story with me about Roblox and how subtle those distractions can sneak up on us. Even games with safe ratings can morph right before our eyes. It isn’t about removing all risk. It’s about making the conversation ongoing. When we talk about the difference between what honors God and what doesn’t, it gives them something way deeper than a yes-no list. It gives them a guide for their hearts.
How Is Spiritual Discernment Different Than Just Saying No?
Sometimes, it seems easier to just remove a game or block a website. But teaching kids spiritual discernment goes further. It teaches our kids how to pause and ask the right questions: Does this honor God? Is it bringing light or shadow into my heart? Even when I’m not in the room, will I choose Jesus in this moment? When my son told me about the deer that didn’t walk the way God designed, something unsettled in my spirit. I almost ignored it, thinking it was innocent. But the Holy Spirit kept nudging. It matters that we model that same pause for our kids.
What Does Teaching Kids Spiritual Discernment Look Like Day to Day?
In real life, teaching kids spiritual discernment means making faith woven into our daily talk. Not just at bedtime prayers or church, but in real moments. In our family, we ask a few simple questions throughout the day: Did that choice honor Jesus? Can you feel peace about it, or is there something unsettled? What does God’s Word say about it?
These conversations don’t have to be formal. Sometimes they happen in the car or around the dinner table. Sometimes it’s stopping a show and asking, “Why do you think this character did that? Would you have done the same?” And when something wrong slips in (because it inevitably will), we use it as a gentle opportunity to talk about stopping, praying, and listening. We keep it rooted in love – not in fear, shame, or condemnation. The enemy wants us stuck in guilt, but God presses us onward in grace.
Practical Ways You Can Start Teaching Spiritual Discernment
- Make spiritual conversations normal (ask about God in daily situations, not just at church)
- Show your own wrestling. Let kids see you praying or turning off a movie when it doesn’t honor Jesus
- Teach the STOP principle - If something feels off, stop and pray before moving forward
- Ask, "Does this bring me closer to Jesus or distract my heart?"
- Point out God’s truth in Scripture. Even short verses can make a big impact
I like to use James 4:7 (CSB) as a reminder: "Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." The first part is the most important – submit to God. Discernment comes alive when we put Him first. That’s the heart we want to nurture as we are teaching kids spiritual discernment, whether it’s about a Roblox game or a song on the radio.
How Do We Overcome Guilt If We Miss Something as Parents?
Let me speak to you as a friend. You’re going to miss things. I have, more than once. And that is okay. The enemy loves to heap guilt on mamas and dads. He wants you stuck and silent. But that’s not what God calls you to. Our job is to take even the moments we miss, bring them to God, and ask Him to teach us and our families through them. Healing and grace grow best in soil watered with honesty. Naming our mistakes tells our kids: giving up is never required in the Kingdom of God.
When my youngest started having nightmares from a game I thought I had vetted, I felt that guilt land hard. But instead of letting it stay, I turned it over to God, invited my kids into the process, and we learned together. That’s the beauty of teaching kids spiritual discernment – it’s never about being perfect. It’s about being present, honest, and teachable.
Encouraging Kids to Be Lights Among Their Friends
Can I tell you what’s been surprising and wonderful? The more we talk about these things at home, the more my kids are beginning to help their friends, too. When my son had to walk away from a popular game, he lost a little “coolness” with his friends for a time. But as he understood why we chose faithfulness over popularity, he began to speak up - not with judgment, but with hope. He talked to his friends about choosing things that honor God. That sort of ripple effect is something we can’t predict or control, but the Holy Spirit can.
Teaching kids spiritual discernment isn’t just about what happens in our home. It’s about raising up a generation that can lovingly point their friends back to Jesus, too. We aren’t just protecting. We are equipping them for community impact with every decision they make.
What If I Don’t Know How to Start Teaching Kids Spiritual Discernment?
If you’re reading this and thinking, “I haven’t started yet,” or “I don’t know where to begin,” friend, you are not behind. Every parent starts somewhere. Here are a few first steps you can take:
- Pray for God to give you wisdom, patience, and clear words for your family
- Ask your kids what they think about some of their favorite games, shows, or songs. Listen without interruption
- Share your own story. Even if it feels small, your honesty invites big heart conversations
- Open the Bible together – start with James or a Psalm about wisdom
- Remember, every small step counts. You don’t have to figure it all out today
Teaching kids spiritual discernment happens in the small, everyday moments. It’s built with lots of conversations, questions, hugs, and humble admissions that we’re learning, too. And in all that, Jesus is present. You are never alone parenting your kids in a digital world.
God’s Protection and Presence in Our Parenting
I believe that God is the gatekeeper of our homes when we yield to Him. Sometimes we get distracted or overwhelmed. The enemy tries to use that. But here’s what I know - our prayers matter. Our presence matters. Teaching kids spiritual discernment starts with submitting to God’s authority and inviting His Spirit to guide our family choices – not just big stuff, but little daily decisions too.
If you haven’t listened yet, our podcast episode on teaching kids spiritual discernment is a great place to start. It’s filled with real stories, confessions, and hope for mamas and dads just like you. Let it remind you – mistakes don’t disqualify you. They point you straight back to grace.
What’s Your Next Step for Teaching Kids Spiritual Discernment?
As you go about the rest of your day, remember this. The best gift we give our kids is not perfect boundaries or endless supervision. It’s a living example of what it looks like to seek God in the middle of a noisy, complicated world. Ask the questions. Have the conversations. When you mess up, talk about it and keep going. Every step you take in teaching kids spiritual discernment shapes their resilience and faith for the challenges ahead.
Friend, you are equipped for this. Not because you have it all together but because you walk with a God who sees, loves, and leads your family every step. Let’s keep having these faith-filled conversations. And if you need encouragement or want to hear more stories, check out other blog posts like "Walking Faith in a World That Rejects Truth." Or catch our latest episode of Perspectives Into Practice. Together, we can encourage each other as we put our perspectives into practice for His glory and our kids’ flourishing.
