It’s that time of year again.

The evenings are getting cooler. The days are getting shorter. And millions of kids across the country are facing another school year and feeling a whole range of emotions.

For some kids, school is an exciting place to meet new friends, learn new things, and spend time doing their favorite activities. But for others, school means stress, boredom, frustration, and loneliness.

The Bible has something to offer every child as they return to school this fall. God’s Word tell us that our heavenly Father understands us deeply—even the difficult emotions we can face during a school year:

LORD, you have examined me and you know me.
You know everything I do;
from far away you understand all my thoughts.

Psalm 139:1-2 GNT

By taking the Bible—and God’s promises—back to school this year, children can find comfort, confidence, and peace in God’s love for them.

Here are three creative ways that you can encourage the children in your life with Scripture as they return to school.

Start each day with God’s Word.

The first few weeks of a new school year might feel like the most hectic of the year. Backpacks are forgotten; breakfasts are half-eaten; shoes are mismatched; hair is uncombed. If you’re a parent, you probably feel like you’re running a marathon each morning.

One way to ensure that your kids are remembering God’s promises this school year is to start each day with God’s Word. While this might seem impossible in the daily rush, it’s a good way to focus your children’s hearts—and your heart—on God’s love. Even five minutes spent reading, watching, or listening to Scripture can help set a habit that your children will remember for the rest of their lives.

Today, there are many options for Scripture engagement for children. Try one of these fun resources to help children of all ages begin their school days with Scripture.

• Make time to read a short passage from the Bible with your children before heading out the door for school. You can even choose a YouVersion Bible reading plan for the whole family to read together.
• Encourage younger kids to engage with the truths of God’s Word by using the Bible App for Kids from YouVersion.
• Help older kids start their own journey through God’s Word with this free daily Bible reading guide.
• Try listening to the Daily Audio Bible or a similar resource during breakfast or in the car on the way to school.
• If you want to try something new, watch a video series about the books of the Old Testament or the books of the New Testament from BibleProject.

Accessorize your school supplies with reminders of God’s love.

Sometimes, you need visual reminders of God’s love for you throughout the day. Decorating school supplies with Scripture can be a great way to help your children remember and meditate on God’s promises, especially during difficult moments.

You can find many great Scripture-themed accessories online. And, with a few art supplies, you can also help your kids add their own Scripture reminders to their school supplies.

• Help your children choose favorite Scripture verses to write on the covers of notebooks and binders. Use fabric paint to decorate cloth pencil cases, lunch boxes, and backpacks with verses. If your child struggles with a certain school subject or class, suggest that they choose a specific verse from Scripture and use it to decorate a notebook, pencil case, or other school supply to encourage them. Don’t forget to see what creative ideas your kids have for accessorizing their supplies with Scripture!
• Kids of all ages can enjoy coloring these Scripture coloring pages, which can be used to decorate binders, notebooks, and lockers.
• If your children have smartphones, they can choose a Scripture-themed phone wallpaper to help remind them of a favorite verse or promise in the Bible.

Practice using God’s perspective as you learn and grow.

When your children face tough situations at school, they can use the Bible to put things in God’s perspective. Sometimes, this could look like a conversation after a difficult day, when you use God’s Word help your children process their emotions. Other times, your children can use specific Scripture verses in the moment to help them see their circumstances with God’s eyes.

When your children feel worried, angry, or afraid, encourage them to recall Bible verses that put their emotions and situation in God’s perspective. You can help your children memorize these verses, write notes in their lunch boxes, or decorate their school supplies with these timely reminders.

Here are a few themes and verses that could help your children begin this school year looking at their lives with God’s perspective:

• Fear: “Remember that I have commanded you to be determined and confident! Do not be afraid or discouraged, for I, the LORD your God, am with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9 GNT)
• Diligence: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people.” (Colossians 3:23 GNT)
• Anger: “Don’t give in to worry or anger; it only leads to trouble.” (Psalm 37:8 GNT)
• Forgiveness: “Be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ.” (Ephesians 4:32 GNT)
• Worry: “Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 GNT)
• Heavenly perspective: “You have been raised to life with Christ, so set your hearts on the things that are in heaven, where Christ sits on his throne at the right side of God. Keep your minds fixed on things there, not on things here on earth.” (Colossians 3:1-2 GNT)
• Witnessing: “In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16 GNT)
• Trust: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know.” (Proverbs 3:5 GNT)