How to Nurture Your Child's Spirituality

I'll admit, I didn't give much thought to religion or spiritual beliefs until I had my first child. I find it hard to believe that a parent can gaze on the face of a newborn child and not think of God. And so it was with us. The birth of our oldest child led us to define our spiritual beliefs; which led to defining how we would practice those beliefs; and that in turn led to the question "How do we share our spiritual beliefs with our young children in a natural, loving way?"

This task is made easier by the fact that young children are innately spiritual little creatures. Little children come to us with such a sense of wonder, and a readiness to believe, and a willingness to be loved. Those characteristics make it easier than you would think to share your spiritual and religious beliefs with your children at a very young age.

First, clarify your own beliefs. What about God? The universe? Creation? Loving others? You don't necessarily need to have firm answers right away, but it helps to at least have the questions to consider. Your children are going to learn from you at a very instinctive level.

Second, begin deciding what sort of spiritual upbringing you want your children to have. For those of you already established in a worship routine, that is great. For others, you may want to decide what type of church you want to attend. You may want to discuss if your child will attend a traditional type of Sunday School or Children's Church; or if you want to find a more modern, progressive, family oriented worship service.

Third, introduce spirituality at a very young age. Our family's religious beliefs center around God, and Jesus. So from the time our oldest child was a tiny baby we discuss thanking God for our blessings; praying to God for help; and modeling honoring God by serving others. Little children do not know who God is. They also do not know who Uncle Steve or Grandpa Smith is. We teach them those things by talking about them, showing them pictures, and initiating family visits. The same holds true with the concept of a Deity. A child can build a gradual picture of God by daily life.

Fourth, practice your religion or spirituality in practical ways. Some families light candles; or pray together; worship at a building together; hold hands and have a moment of silence; sing hymns; volunteer for local charities; give money, food, or other goods to local charities. It is important for children to feel involved in your lives, and the same is true for your religious values.

Fifth, keep it simple. A two year old isn't going to have much grasp of theology. That's okay, because I'm forty and I don't either. But by saying things like "Look at the beautiful tree God has given us to look at!" or "God really had a cool idea when he made sunsets, didn't He?" or "God loves you very much, baby", the child can grasp the idea of a Deity larger than us.

Sixth, appreciate nature. Nature is where one can find tangible evidence of the divine. You can help your child respect nature and revere the Creator by your attitude towards the earth. When you go for a hike, or picnic, always leave the area a little cleaner than you found it. Be considerate of other creatures, and their habitats. Plant a garden, and encourage your children to watch it grow with you. Little children learn from all their sense, and nothing offers a greater feast for all the senses than time spent observing Nature.

Seventh, tell stories. Even very young children enjoy story-telling. Tell stories of your own religious tradition, to be sure. But also share stories about yourself learning about God. Let your child know that he or she is carrying on an ancient tradition. Read or tell the same holiday stories that you heard growing up.

Eighth, make it fun! There are lots of Sunday School songs out there complete with hand and body motions. Even if you don't remember any from your childhood, ask a Sunday School teacher, or do research on the Internet. Kids love to sing; and they love to move, so incorporating these into learning values keeps religion and spirituality from being dull.

Ninth, show the spiritual side of holidays. On Thanksgiving Day, for instance, have your child tell why she is thankful and create refrigerator art or placemat based on the answer. At Christmastime, choose a charity to donate toys, food or clothes to, and let your children be involved. Participate in church or spiritual center events based on these holidays.

And tenth, introduce a simple form of prayer. Say a simple prayer of thanks before or after a meal. Say "Thank you, God" when you see something beautiful. Help your child to know that prayer is not saved for special occasions, or Sunday mornings. Teach her that prayer is communicating with the Deity at any time, aloud or silent.

The faith of a child is a beautiful, simple thing. We can teach and model our faith in beautiful and simple ways.