Teach Your Children Well

Three friends. One “career choices” magazine. And a conversation that goes way deeper than job plans.

Teach Your Children Well starts in everyday teen/young adult territory—future plans, job fairs, and a little joking around—then turns toward something many families quietly struggle with: making time for faith conversations at home. Jackie shares what it looks like when parents prioritize daily talks, questions, prayer, and devotion time—while Tony realizes what he’s been missing, and Ryan pushes back hard.

This is a warm, relatable skit for youth groups or intergenerational services that opens the door to a bigger message: kids don’t grow into faith by accident. They’re shaped by presence, priorities, and consistent spiritual guidance—starting early, and happening often.

• Run-Time: 8 minutes
• Cast Number: 3 (m or f; appear late teen to early 20’s)
• Biblical Reference: 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26; Psalm 148; Colossians 3:12-17; Luke 2:41-52
• Setting: Contemporary, flexible “standard” set (youth room / hallway / anywhere friends can talk)
• Props: Magazine with “CARER CHOICES” on the cover
• Category: Youth / Family / Discipleship / Parenting & Faith-at-Home
• Tech Notes: Set, lighting, sound, costumes listed as standard

Sample of script:      

(Tony comes on stage reading magazine, after a few seconds Ryan enters) 

Ryan:

Hey Tony, what’s up with you?

Tony:

Not so much. You?

Ryan:

Same. Just hangin’. . Whatcha readin’?

Tony:

Oh, nothing really. A magazine I picked up.

Ryan, reads: Career choices. . Wow, heavy!  Anythin’ in there about bein’ a rocket scientist?

Tony, smile: Haven’t run across it yet, but likely it's in here somewhere.

Ryan:

Made any decisions on what job you’re gonna get?

Tony:

Not yet, just checking into it, what’s best, training needed, the whole enchilada.

(Jackie comes on stage)

Jackie:

Hey Tony, Ryan. . How are things?

Ryan:

Hey Jackie. Tony here is planning his future, it seems.

Jackie:

A good thing to do, planning is really important at our age.

Ryan:

My Pop always says plannin’ is overrated, gotta go with the flow. . The right

Things will come along when they’re supposed to.

Jackie:

I’m not so sure that’s a great plan in today’s job market, Ryan.

Tony:

I’m with you on that, Jackie, that’s why I picked up this magazine.

Jackie:

Anything caught your eye, Tony?

Tony:

I’ve always had an interest in engineering.

Ryan:

Drivin’ a train would be way cool!

Tony:

I was thinking more of chemical or mechanical engineering.

Ryan:

Or that.

Jackie:

Have you gone out to any Job Fairs, Ryan?

Ryan:

Actually, I did. Lots of good ideas, but hard to decide.

Jackie:

I went to a Job Fair, and my head was spinning with all the information. But I sat
down with my parents, we talked it over, I asked their advice, they asked
questions, I asked their opinion, we prayed about it. . .It was good.

Ryan:

You prayed about job choices?

Jackie:

Yes, we did, Ryan, after all, this decision will affect my entire future.

Ryan:

My family only prays for the important stuff, like winning the lottery and stuff.

Tony:

You are lucky your parents are there for you, Jackie, to discuss things.

Jackie:

My parents have always been there for me, always seemed to make time to discuss things, every day, since I was a kid. . But your parents are very successful in their careers, Tony. I am sure they have lots of advice for you.

Tony:

My parents are too busy being successful to be available to discuss anything.

Ryan:

I don’t need any parent telling me what to do with my future; that's my business.

Jackie:

I disagree, Ryan. I don’t think there is anything more important than parents being there for their children. . My Mom calls it . . . .“growing her children” . and I am proud Mom and Dad have raising children as a priority.

Tony:

Wow! Think your parents could adopt me?   It would be so cool to be able

to talk and ask questions.

Want to see how the story unfolds? Get the complete script and bring this powerful moment to your stage.