I am a huge fan of YouVersion’s Bible App and did a raving review of it in February this year. But now they are taking it to a new audience, our children! For someone that has their own one-year-old, this is something exciting.
At this point, the details are light with a release date of late 2013 and their Bible.com/kids page as a signup page for you to get a text message when the application is available to download. Below is a list of things that we can gather from the application as well as some things we would love to see from it as well.
What It Has
- It’s Interactive
The best part about this is that it is not solely for entertainment purposes, which I was worried about. You can interact with the material and therefore retention and understanding will surely increase greatly for our children. - It’s Beautiful And Engaging
The drawings are amazing and animated so that children do watch and hopefully learn some great Bible stories. - It Has Games
This looks to be more than just reading the Bible with games, activities, and touch reactive animation that will give life to the stories for the children.
Our Wish List
- Sunday School & Parent Mode
The idea behind these two modes would allow for a version that parents could do with their child that simply allows the child to learn on their own while the parent is in the room or the ability to pause it and ask questions. Sunday School mode would have questions for the leader to ask to their group with a next button to go to the next section or question after the group fully addressed it. - Not Be Just Entertaining
In some ways, I hope that they go beyond Veggie Tales and simply tell the Biblical stories as they are. Music with the animation is find, cute little songs are okay too, but we hope the focus is on the full and true accounts of the Bible that is appropriate for children. - Checklists For Families
It would be great if what was wonderful with YouVersion with the Bible App of having a reading list and even having the discussion points is amazing. How great would it be to have the Bible for Kids as categories for reading lists and simply going through the whole Bible too.
Jesse Gruber says
This definitely looks promising. As a new dad, I think this could be a great resource, but I’m always skeptical when it comes to other people and services handing my kids theology. I’ll need to make sure I do a once through to make sure I can parent through any errors, if any. Looking forward to it!
(Also, +1 for only one iDevice! I spied a Nexus 7, Nexus 10, and Galaxy tab!)
seventy8Productions says
I think it is definitely a must get, but I completely agree that sound theology is needed.
kolby milton says
I am really excited for this. It is a whole new way kids can engage with God through the scriptures. It is brutal trying to find great resources for kids.
seventy8Productions says
Unfortunately, you are right and I do not think it will be perfect or even perfect for me, but I want something great, not perfect.