Teach the Ten Commandments to Kids

Print Friendly and PDF

Children can learn the 10 Commandments. Our free resources will help you explain God’s Law to even the youngest kids.

  • Ten Commandments Song
  • Kids’ Bible Study on the Ten Commandments
  • Compare Translations
  • Ten Commandments Coloring Book
  • Learning Activities on the Ten Commandment
  • Children’s version of the Ten Commandments

Teaching the Ten Commandments with Hand Motions

Teaching the Ten Commandments to Children using Sign Language – this is excellent for preschoolers and younger children.

We absolutely love teaching Bible memorization with ASL sign language for memory cues. There is not better way to help young children, especially preschoolers, learn God’s Word. This video was created by a homeschool mom on YouTube, check out her channel for more great ideas.


Child appropriate paraphrase of the Ten Commandments

What are the 10 Commandments in simple terms?

1. Put God first
2. No fake gods
3. Respect God’s name
4. Respect God’s day of rest
5. Respect your parents
6. Do not kill people
7. Respect marriage
8. Do not steal
9. Do not lie
10. Do not be jealous

Download this free printable - simplified version of the law of Moses

The 10 Commandments for Kids




10 Commandments Printable Kids Version

Black & White Version



Printable paraphrase of the law in child's language

Printable Ten Commandments Poster


Free Coloring Book based on the Ten Commandments

Ten Commandments Coloring Pages

10 Commandments Coloring Book Printable Worksheets
Download our complete coloring book that illustrates the meaning of each of the commandments.

Lesson Plans on the Ten Commandments

Learning Activities based on the Ten Commandments

Why do God’s 10 commandments still matter?

The 10 Commandments (Exodus 20:1–17 (compare 5 translations) and Deuteronomy 5:4–21) are key to understanding the Old Testament and by extension the ministry of Jesus. They show us God’s moral standard for how his people should live. This is a scripture passage that kids need to memorize, but language can get in the way. Here is our way to make them understandable for even preschool aged children. As kids mature they should learn the original Bible verses.

God’s rules protect us from ourselves – they are a guide to living a life of blessing in this fallen world. It’s important for kids and families to learn the God’s rules for life. Like everything in the Bible, the commandments show us how a moral lifestyle will protect us from danger and minimize suffering. We think this is a super important lesson for kids to learn at a very young age.

God’s LAW lead us to Christ because only he was the perfect example of keeping God’s rules. They are a tutor showing children how the life of obedience can be hard and only Jesus can empower us to live in a right relationship to our creator. It’s not about being a good moral person (it’s more important) because the commandments prepare our hearts to repent and accept Christ. This is the hope in teaching children what the Bible says.

Ten Commandments Song & Video for Kids

The Ten Commandment Boogie by Go Fish Guys

Ten Commandments for Kids Paraphrase

Ten Commandments (NIrV) Exodus 20:1-17
(real version)
10 Commandments for Kids
(paraphrase in simple terms)
Here are all the words God spoke. He said, “I am the Lord your God. I brought you out of Egypt. That is the land where you were slaves. I am the God who saves.
1“Do not put any other gods in place of me. Put God first.
2“Do not make for yourself statues of gods that look like anything in the sky. They may not look like anything on the earth or in the waters either. Do not bow down to them or worship them Do not make fake gods.
3Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God Respect God’s name.
4Remember to keep the Sabbath day holy. Respect God’s day of rest.
5Honor your father and mother. Respect your parents.
6Do not murder. Do not kill people.
7Do not commit adultery. Respect marriage promises.
8Do not stealDo not steal.
9Do not be a false witness against your neighbor. Do not lie.
10Do not want to have anything your neighbor owns. Do not be jealous.

This is only a paraphrase of Exodus 20:1–17 and Deuteronomy 5:4–21 to help children understand. We suggest they learn the real version as soon as possible.

You can also compare the 10 Commandments English Standard Version or the International Children’s Bible (ICB). We also think the Message has a good paraphrase. For more background, you can even read about the Ten Commandments on Wikipedia.

The Ten Commandments in KJV

EXODUS 20:1-17 KJV

1 And God spake all these words, saying,
2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
13 Thou shalt not kill.
14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
15 Thou shalt not steal.
16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

New Sunday School Curriculum: Our Bible lessons are designed to keep the kids’ attention and show how God's Word makes a difference. Every series is flexible enough for a wide-age group and affordable enough for small churches. Download a free Bible lesson in pdf or view our latest Sunday School curriculum for small churches.


19 thoughts on “Teach the Ten Commandments to Kids”

    • Thanks for the encouragement. I was trying to get the most basic concept across in the most basic language possible – I’m not usually a fan of paraphrase but I in this case it’s a great way to make God’s commands stick.

      Reply
  1. Just came across your website. Brilliant! Thank you for your ministry to the kids, and their parents. We just went over the ten commandments with our 3 year old. Sign language is always a plus in learning!

    Reply
  2. Thank you for these resources for teaching the 10 commandments. I will begin this series of lessons at our church in February. We are a small church with very limited resources so this is a big help. The girls in my Wednesday night class are aged from first to sixth grade and we normally have 8-10 attending.

    Reply
  3. I have not used your resources but in this enforced isolation am researching to make sure we are ready to return hitting the ground running – I love the programme and I can see it working with our children – thank you so much – Now all I need is a programme for my weekly kids club!!!

    Reply
  4. Thank you very much for taking your time and allowing the Holy Spirit to use you to explain the ten commandments in a digestible manner for the children.

    Reply
  5. Praise GOD The LORD Most High JESUS CHRIST may The LORD Bless you all who are maintaining this site very helpful for The LORD’s work in kids ministry 🙂

    Reply

Leave a Comment