Teaching Kids the Ten Commandments

Within a couple different contexts I have had the opportunity to teach children the Ten Commandments using a mnemonic I used to teach myself. I am not sure where I originally saw it, but it has been excellent at helping me remember them and remember them in order.

I have taught my own children, Sunday school classes, and most recently a large group of kids over a long weekend at a Bible conference.
It can be a bit daunting to start teaching children to memorize – in fact, this recent experience with 40-ish kids was especially tough. I wanted to give up after our first practice, and it felt like a massive flop. However, I was amazed and encouraged that just 36 hours later, with two additional practices, the kids could do all ten without any assistance.

I am going to share a number of resources based around this mnemonic for teaching children the ten commandments.

First, the ten commandments.
Second, the finger motion to match the commandment.
Third, a video of me walking through each of them (it was done a number of years ago!)
Fourth, ideas and tips for implementing.
Fifth, a printable of the finger motions.

The Ten Commandments

1. You shall have no other gods before Me
2. You shall have no idols
3. Do not take the Lord’s name in vain
4. Keep the Sabbath day holy
5. Honor your father and mother
6. Do not murder
7. Do not commit adultery
8. Do not steal
9. Do not bear false witness against your neighbor
10. Do not covet

You can print the above image by clicking on it or clicking the link here for a pdf. Additionally, you can write them out on a poster board for the children to see and read.

The Finger Motion to Match

1. One finger held up for one God | You shall have no other gods before Me

2. Two fingers held up and tell the children “Two gods are TOO MANY gods.” | You shall have no idols

3. Three fingers held up in front of your mouth, forming a W shape. Tell the children we are to “Watch our words” while taping your lips with the W on each word. | Do not take the Lord’s name in vain

4. Four fingers held up together, thumb laying down as if resting | Keep the Sabbath day holy

5. Five fingers held up, as if taking an official oath | Honor your father and mother

6. One hand with five fingers up, the second hand forming a gun as if shooting the five fingers | Do not murder

7. Five fingers laying flat and two fingers walking together, as in a husband and wife walking together | Do not commit adultery

8. Four fingers from each hand held up in front of your face like a prison cell | Do not steal (because if you do steal you get put in prison)

9. One hand and also four fingers from the second hand together and the thumb is moving up and down as if telling lies about the other fingers | Do not bear false witness against your neighbor

10. Both hands rubbing together in a greedy sort of way | Do not covet

Video of the 10 Commandments

Here you can see a video of myself explaining each of the Ten Commandments as you laid out above.

Ideas and Tips for Implementing Teaching Children the Ten Commandments

You are going to know your audience best, so be sure to be sensitive to them and the Lord leading as to how to best implement this. Here are some ideas I have found useful:

1. Before beginning any of the motions walk through all ten of the commandments. Explain all of them in terminology the kids will understand.
2. Have the kids say the commandments with you. Ask the kids to define any you think may be confusing to them (“Can anyone tell me what ‘do not take the Lord’s name in vain’ means?'”)
3. Tell them you’re going to teach them a way to help remember the ten commandments by using their fingers to match the command.
4. Be sensitive to your audience – if you can work through all ten in one go that’s great! But if they’re getting a little lost, just do a couple the first time. The next time, review the first ones you learned and add in some more.
5. Make sure they’re saying the commandment along with the patter that might be associated with them (ie “Two gods is TOO MANY gods” needs to be followed up with “You shall have no idols.”)
6. Once the commandments have been memorized, make sure the kids know why it is important to know the ten commandments. A great way to get a feel for where your audience is at is to ask them why they think you’re wanting them to know the ten commandments. Graciously follow up their comments and correct any errors.
7. Make the time to review often, whether at a weekly class or at several points thru the day if at a weekend conference.
8. Give the kids triggers to help review and recall the commandments on their own. It won’t stick in every child’s mind, but it will for some! So for example, I told the kids any time they clenched their hands in anger or frustration they could remember to count through the ten commandments with their fingers and in remembering God’s law and taking that time to pause before responding to the situation that angers them they had a better chance of remember to ask God to help them in that moment and not sinning.

Free Printable of the Ten Commandments

A very talented friend of mine drew these hand symbols in my Bible for me. I took the drawings and turned it into a printable to give out at the completion of the kids having learned the commandments. It can be framed, or tucked in one’s Bible, or stuck in one’s treasure box and used as a reminder to review them when it is seen.
You could also print it larger and display it as a tool for helping learn it, but it definitely needs more dialogue than the illustration on its own. You can click the image below or click here for the ten commandments printable. I printed mine as 4×6 prints at the local print shop, but the file can support an 8×12 if you want one that size (Costco prints that size, not sure about other places.)