The Psalms are a blessing to us all. They express human nature, faith, repentance, fear, gratitude, and a wide range of emotions. These Psalms for kids are a great way to get your children in the habit of reading the Bible every day.

Psalms for kids are relatable because, well, they are written with such honesty that it feels as if we wrote them ourselves. With them being relatable, it is more likely your children will want to read them and be able to understand them.

Some Psalms encourage us to stand strong in faith while other Psalms ease our fears. I’ve tried to include both of these categories as I’ve divided them up. I’ve divided them into the following, but like all scripture, it is difficult to put them in just one group. If you don’t see one that fits your need right away, keep reading!

• Psalms to read at night (these bring peace to little hearts and minds)
• Psalms for protection (for those who are afraid of the dark, monsters, or an event going on the next day)
• Psalm 23 (a close look for a simple family study)
• Psalms for families
• Psalms that are easy to memorize

Psalms to Read at Night

Let’s start this round-up of Psalms for kids with those that are good to read at night before bed. I chose these ones with the intent of easing fears and creating feelings of calm.

You can use these Psalms in a couple of different ways. You can use them for family devotions as a group study. You can print them out and put them near your child’s bed to read together every night. They would also be great for reading in unison or in a “repeat after me” style.

Let’s teach our children that we can give all of our fears and anxieties to God. Help them to understand that God is near to us and with us no matter what comes our way. Nothing is too big for God. We can share our feelings with Him because He is listening.

I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8)

Evening and morning and at noon
I will pray, and cry aloud,
And He shall hear my voice. (Psalm 55:17)

For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb. (Psalm 139:13)

Yes, God created you, He hears us, He is with us, now go to sleep in peace 🙂

Also check out “Bedtime Prayers for Kids to Help them Feel Loved, Safe, and Peaceful”.

Psalm for Protection

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear? (Psalm 27:1)

I actually remember the first time I read that Psalm. It was in a book and the main character recited this verse when she was afraid. Reciting scripture when I am afraid is a habit I developed because of those books (it was a series I loved) and has served me well my entire life.

Definitely a habit we want to encourage in our children!

God is our refuge and strength,
Avery present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear. (Psalm 46:1-2)

For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock. (Psalm 27:5)

In the day when I cried out, You answered me,
And made me bold with strength in my soul. (Psalm 138:3)

I love Psalm 138:3 for kids because it is important for them to understand that they are not alone. When they are nervous about an event or afraid to do something, it is God that gives them strength. It is God that makes them bold!

For more on teaching kids courage, check out “Courage for Kids: How to Teach Bravery”

Psalm 23 for Kids

The 23rd Psalm is probably one of the most well-known and beloved portion of scripture and for good reason. Not only does David paint a beautiful picture of his relationship with God, but the truth expressed is easy to understand and hold onto.

I work with my kids to memorize this Psalm when they are five or six. Sometimes we make it through the whole Pslam and others we just go for the first half. Either way, hiding these words in the hearts of your little ones is invaluable.

Usually, I use the New King James Version, but the NIV simplifies this into almost a story making it even more relatable to young readers. I’m going to use that version here.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

What is the best way to discuss Psalm 23 with kids? Here are a few concepts to discuss in your family devotions.

• Capitalize on the imagery. Help your kids imagine the sheep in the pasture and the faithful shepherd.
• God takes care of ALL of our needs. When we follow Him, we lack nothing.
• God leads us to places that are healthy for us (green pastures and quiet waters) as well as leads us in truth.
• Dark valleys will come. Difficult times come on us all. Don’t try to candy coat life, rather teach your children that God helps us through those hard times. We all want to protect our children, but giving them a solid foundation of faith will serve them the rest of their lives. Don’t skip this part.
• We do not need to fear because God is with us.
• Our enemies come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes they are difficult times in life, sometimes they are people who are mean to us. In spite of the bad things in life, God will bless those that follow him with abundance. When you put your trust in God, He blesses you with His spirit and goodness.
• God does not bless us for one day or month, but for the rest of our lives. His promises hold true no matter what path our lives take.
• The house of the Lord is His presence and is the best place for us to be.

Psalms for Families

What other Psalms are good for families?

I have chosen these Psalms for families because they are fairly easy to understand and create a foundation for faith.

Psalm 1 teaches us how we need to not only follow God and seek His truth and righteousness, but we need to surround ourselves with people who do the same. It is also a good time to learn that those who do not follow God are not only punished but do not have a solid foundation on which to build their lives.

1 Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.

3 He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.

4 The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Psalm 11 teaches us that God is always with the righteous, but He punishes the wicked. It is important that our children understand that God sets a standard (especially in today’s day of “anything goes”). There is right and wrong, sin is real and is not tolerated by the holy God we serve.

So often we want our kids to understand that God is love and He most certainly is, but He is also holy and those who rebel against Him and choose to sin are punished. For a great devotional on God’s love check out “Bible Verses about God’s Love for Kids”.

In the Lord I put my trust;
How can you say to my soul,
“Flee as a bird to your mountain”?
² For look! The wicked bend their bow,
They make ready their arrow on the string,
That they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart.
³ If the foundations are destroyed,
What can the righteous do?

⁴ The Lord is in His holy temple,
The Lord’s throne is in heaven;
His eyes behold,
His eyelids test the sons of men.
⁵ The Lord tests the righteous,
But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.
⁶ Upon the wicked He will rain coals;
Fire and brimstone and a burning wind
Shall be the portion of their cup.

⁷ For the Lord is righteous,
He loves righteousness;
His countenance beholds the upright.

Psalm 61 shows David’s prayer for protection and His confidence that God heard him and will grant his request.

Hear my cry, O God;
Attend to my prayer.
² From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

³ For You have been a shelter for me,
A strong tower from the enemy.
⁴ I will abide in Your tabernacle forever;
I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah

⁵ For You, O God, have heard my vows;
You have given me the heritage of those who fear Your name.
⁶ You will prolong the king’s life,
His years as many generations.
⁷ He shall abide before God forever.
Oh, prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him!

⁸ So I will sing praise to Your name forever,
That I may daily perform my vows.

Psalm 100 teaches kids the importance of praise. Why do we praise? Because God is great and worthy to be praised.

Why is it important to praise? Because it brings us closer to God. It teaches us to be thankful at all times and helps us to stay focused on Him. A great activity to teach your kids about being thankful is this Gratitude Journal for Kids! I have one for older kids also!

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
³ Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

⁴ Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
⁵ For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.

Best Psalms to Memorize

These Psalms are easy to memorize and hold foundational truths.

God guides our footsteps.

Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105)

God’s majesty and sovereignty.

The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty;
The Lord is clothed,
He has girded Himself with strength.
Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved.
² Your throne is established from of old;
You are from everlasting. (Psalm 93:1-2)

We can thank God for He is great and He hears our prayers, giving us strength.

I will praise You with my whole heart;
Before the gods I will sing praises to You.
² I will worship toward Your holy temple,
And praise Your name
For Your lovingkindness and Your truth;
For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.
³ In the day when I cried out, You answered me,
And made me bold with strength in my soul. (Psalm 138:1-2)

God blesses those who are faithful to Him.

Blessed is every one who fears the Lord,
Who walks in His ways.

² When you eat the labor of your hands,
You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. (Psalm 128:1-2)

Making a habit of studying Psalms for kids together with your family is something you will never regret! Which Pslams would you add to this list? Share them in the comments below.