Where do you even start? What is age-appropriate? What if you get it wrong? How do you teach your kids to hear Him when you’re still wrestling with doubt yourself?

The truth is: listening to God isn’t a perfectly linear, doubt-free experience. It’s not like tuning a radio and instantly getting the right frequency. Most of the time, we recognise His voice in hindsight—when we look back and realise, Oh, that was Him all along.

When I was 13, my mother attended a women’s retreat. The gifts of the Spirit were very new to us, coming from a traditional church background. At that retreat, she saw someone prophesying for the first time. Something clicked in her heart.

She came home, gathered us around, and with childlike faith said, “We can all hear God. I’ve seen it—let’s try.”We didn’t have Bible college training or prophetic courses to guide us. It was messy and awkward at times. Sometimes we prayed and heard nothing. But we leaned in together. We learned, stumbled, tried again—and slowly began to recognise His whispers.

Years later, it has become one of my greatest joys to teach others how to hear God’s voice—first for themselves, then for others. But when my own children started asking me how I listen to God, I was suddenly stumped.

How do I explain a journey that has taken decades—full of wrong turns, doubts, surprises, and gentle confirmations? How do I share the foundational lessons I’ve learned—not from perfect instruction, but from real-life encounters with God?

I’ve realized the best gift we can give our kids isn’t a flawless formula or guaranteed method. It’s an invitation: to join us on the journey, to watch us lean in, to see us be honest about our doubts, and to discover with us that God is faithful to speak.

Hearing Him isn’t about perfection or having all the answers. It’s about relationship. It’s about leaning in, trying, sometimes missing it, and always discovering more of who He is.

Teaching our kids to hear God is less about knowing everything and more about modelling what it looks like to trust, to listen, and to follow—even when it’s messy. Because in the end, that’s exactly what we’re all learning to do.

Gentle Ways to Help Your Kids Hear God

Here are a few simple ideas we’ve found helpful:

Make it a family conversation – Share experiences, questions, and reflections together—it normalises learning.

Model listening – Let your kids see you pray, wait, and reflect, even when it’s messy or slow.

Talk about your doubts – Share that you don’t always hear perfectly, and that God is patient with us.

Create small spaces for practice – Short times of listening, drawing, or journaling can help them tune in.

Celebrate small discoveries – Even noticing God’s gentle nudges or answers in hindsight builds confidence.

If you’d like a guided way to practice with your kids, check out our Family Devotional: Learning to Hear God’s Voice. I created the Learning to Hear God’s Voice Family Devotional because I needed it myself. As a parent, I often wrestled with how to guide my kids in listening to God in a simple and life-giving way. This devotional is designed to make that journey simple, practical, and encouraging—helping families discover together how God speaks, building confidence, and creating space for everyday moments of wonder and connection with Him. Pre-Order today!