OK, I’ll admit it. When my wife asked our then four-year-old son what he liked best about dad (me!), I half-hoped he’d shout, "He’s the smartest dad in the world!" Or, even better, "He’s the strongest dad alive!"

Instead, Tony gave a greater compliment. "What I like best about my dad," he said after a moment’s thought, "is that he plays with me."

Up to then, I thought kneeling among his collection of toys was just another "dad duty." Now I realize it’s a privilege. And I’ve discovered when you take advantage of Christian-themed toys, play also becomes an open door for impacting faith development.

So how can parents make the most of Christian toys to impact our children’s spiritual growth? Here are a few suggestions:

•Ignite the imagination, using Scripture as the spark. David and Goliath is Tony’s favorite Bible story, so for a birthday party we used homemade toys and played games with that story’s theme. A dozen little ones were thrilled to be flinging toy slings toward a menacing "Goliath" target.

On other occasions, we’ve used Bible action figures to play "what if..." For example, what if Peter had faced Goliath instead of David? What if it were really you and me threatened by the fiery furnace instead of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? Of course, we add silly voices to portray good guys and bad guys alike, and throw in a few unexpected obstacles like the Couch Cliff and Piano Bench Cave as well.

•Keep it simple. You don’t have to cover The Four Spiritual Laws each time you pull out a Christian toy, and you needn’t feel compelled to discuss theology over your Mary and Esther dolls. Avoid using Christian toys to create games overly preachy or complicated or inflexible. Stick to toys that naturally spark your preschooler’s interests without a lot of excess baggage. By doing so, you can focus first on the relationship and let "rules" be secondary. After all, it’s that relationship that earns your child’s trust, which in turn allows you to speak with authority about faith in Jesus.

•Demonstrate enthusiasm. Whether it’s playing a new CD-ROM game on the computer or dressing up in sheets to play "Joseph and Mary Go to Bethlehem," show by your example that it’s OK to have fun with Christian-themed toys. When you do that, you communicate more than just the content of the game. Your actions tell your child that faith in Jesus is accompanied by joy. Your enthusiastic participation also says that you value time with your child, and that he or she is an equal partner in your play together.

•Make play a priority. A Christian toy can’t make an impact if it’s never used. In our house, after dinner is typically "family time." That’s when everyone—parent and child alike—puts aside the demands of the day and focuses simply on playing and hanging out together. Sometimes we’ll play board games like Pilgrim’s Progress, other times we’ll play with action figures, or in the backyard. It really doesn’t matter what we do, just that we’ve committed to doing it.

And it’s during those after-dinner times that I remember what I like best about my son.

It’s that he plays with me too.

Note: An adaptation of this article—along with many other inspirational readings—is now available in the book, Legacy of Joy: A Devotional for Fathers by Mike Nappa and Dr. Norm Wakefield (Promise Press).