In this chapter of 1 Peter, the author challenges his readers to “be serious” about their prayers and “above all, maintain constant love for one another.” He puts forth the idea that if we are going to speak to each other, we should do so as if we were speaking God’s words. Not that we are God or know the mind of God, but knowing that God is loving and gentle, we can be sure that mean or harsh words are not of God, and therefore shouldn’t be spoken. Kids get the idea of “mean talk” from an early age, and know the power mean words can have to hurt people. Have them think about how loving God helps them to recognize mean words before they come out.