Developing a strong faith begins at birth. As United Methodist author Glenys Nellist says, “[Babies] don’t understand language yet, but they can hear… [blessings] give them that sense of love and peace and calm and being cared for before they’re even able to understand.”
One of the most important moments for intentional faith-building with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers comes as darkness settles and preparations are made for bedtime.
Overcome nighttime anxieties
Tired caregivers and cranky toddlers are not the only aspects of a challenging bedtime routine. Many small children are fearful of the coming darkness, not just because of the proverbial monster in the closet, but as their minds quiet, they have time to closely consider any upsetting incidents of the day.
“When we don’t have the light, fears are bigger. It’s a perfect time to reassure a child that God is bigger than the darkness and God is there in the darkness…there’s some security beyond what they see,” encourages Nellist. “Bedtime is a pivotal time to reassure little ones that they are in God’s presence. God will be with them every minute through the night, and they are held until morning’s light.”
About the book series
The Bedtime Blessings three-book series supports families as the day ends. Parents, grandparents, and other loved ones can lean on the guiding words in the books to help them speak intentional words of blessing over the little ones in their care.
Each book is accompanied by a free, downloadable activity pack, including coloring pages, games, crafts, blessing cards, art prints, and more. These tools reinforce the messages from the books and are perfect for busy little hands.
The series is written for children aged newborn through preschool, with rhyming verse, sturdy pages, and beautiful illustrations of animal families preparing for a good night’s sleep. Published by Paraclete Press, the books are available from a variety of retailers.
A resource for parents
Nellist’s three-book Bedtime Blessings series nurtures faith, fosters security, instills calm before sleep, and fills a child’s heart with the reassurance of God’s endless love. Each book is focused on a key Bible verse:
- God’s Perfect Peace brings comfort from 2 Thessalonians 3:16, “May God fill you with perfect peace.”
- God's Great Love offers reassurance from Ephesians 3:18, “May you know how high and wide and long and deep is God’s love for you.”
- God’s Gentle Care shares hope from 1 Peter 5:7, “May you know how much God cares for you.”
“You’re not just reading and having bonding time. God is there, too,” shares Nellist. “Hopefully the books are like a warm hug that just wrap around the children so they can fall asleep knowing they’re safe and held.”
Blessings build a strong foundation
The books include blessings that can be personalized for the listening child. These can also be used throughout the day. Nellist explains, “The Bible verses that I included as blessings at the end of each book are deliberately short.
“I did this in the hopes that perhaps if a child hears one repeated to them over and over again, then that verse might stay with them throughout their lives, and they’ll be able to recall the words and repeat them in times of need. When they are in an anxious moment, hopefully they’ll remember how the words made them feel, that they’re safe and held, and God is with them no matter what.”
Nellist blesses her grandchildren by saying a blessing over them, making eye contact, and drawing a heart or a cross on their forehead or palm. These are sacred moments and have become expected, even as the children have grown up.
“The idea of blessings is a mysterious, powerful thing,” she observes. “If we go way back to the Old Testament, we see the power of the patriarchs blessing their children… And then we get to the New Testament and what do we see Jesus doing? He takes the children in his arms and he blesses them.
“I think blessings, especially in biblical terms, have power to them. The parents who blessed their children believed that these blessings had the power to shape their children's lives and to shape their identity, and those blessings would be with them their whole lives.
“There's a mysterious power when we bless our children. We don't know what God is doing.”
Laura Buchanan works for UMC.org at United Methodist Communications. Contact her by email.
This story was published on July 16, 2026.
