5 simple tips on how to approach your kids about spirituality.
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Whether you’re a Christian keen on imparting Christian values to your children or an atheist who hopes to instill your beliefs, approaching your children about spirituality can be challenging. A report by Lifeway Research indicates that most young people stop attending church when they’re between 18 and 22 years old. Perhaps you’re asking yourself these questions: how can you spark the conversation? How do you handle your children’s questions and doubts? Or what exactly will you talk about? Well, read on to discover five simple tips on how to approach your kids about spirituality:
Start as early as when they are little kids
First, you must understand that your children won’t remain young forever. External factors, including social media and school, impact your kids’ beliefs enormously. That’s why you must not wait. You can spark the conversation about spirituality with your kids as soon as they’re old enough to understand. There are activities and programs available that might help you expose your children to spirituality at an appropriate age. Your children may even attend churches that employ kids’ curriculums to make it possible for kids to learn about the Bible and God in an interactive way. Kids ministry curriculum by Grow Curriculum, for instance, may introduce spirituality to your children at a young age, making it easier for them to incorporate it into their daily life.
If you delay until they’re older, you’ll have difficulties as you may find they’ve already developed perceptions. Often, these opinions are based on what they have read on social media and heard from friends. Therefore, they need to get their dad’s and mom’s opinions about spirituality from an early age.
Foster close and friendly family relationships
Apart from sparking the conversation on spirituality with your kids when they’re young, fostering healthy, close, and friendly family relationships is paramount. Studies show that 91% of households with spiritual liveliness admit they have friendly family relationships with their partners, kids, and other spiritual families.
Fellowship is a vital aspect of the spiritual nourishment of your family. Therefore, fostering strong relationships is the best way for your kids to learn about graciousness, kindness, and friendliness. Once you establish strong family relationships, it’ll be much easier to approach your kids about spirituality, and they’ll easily understand you.
Share your beliefs is an honest but respectful way
Often, spirituality is a sensitive topic, and your children can also be sensitive. Therefore, you must consider your approach to sharing your beliefs with your kids. Whatever approach you use, ensure you communicate your opinions honestly but respectfully.
For instance, telling your kids that God doesn’t exist or talking ill about religious leaders is not likely to result in a successful conversation. Instead, let your kids understand that they’re free to decide what path to follow and that you’ll respect their choices in life. More importantly, always make conversations about spirituality an open dialogue with your kids — not a lecture from you to your kids.
Talk about spirituality casually
Have a casual conversation with a smile on your face while communicating to them about spirituality. It would be advantageous if you made your kids feel at ease. You can realize this by avoiding making a big deal from your conversation about spirituality and being pushy. Instead, let your children understand that God exists and can depend on Him when they need Him. Doing so will help instill good morals and a strong spiritual foundation in your kids.
Develop a prayer family culture and pray for your kids’ growth
What other way is as effective in teaching your children about spirituality as practicing the teachings yourself! Lead your kids by example in spiritual matters by being in the forefront to promote a prayerful family culture. Also, while teaching your kids how to pray, ensure you pray to God to help them grow to become adults and guide them to lead a spiritual life.
Praying for your children will help transform them by inviting God’s outstretched hands to touch them in ways you can’t. Also, you can leverage light teachings from Master John to teach your kids about spirituality. Ultimately, by fostering a prayerful family culture and asking God to help your kids grow spiritually, it’ll be easier to bring them up in a spiritual way.
Final word
Overall, bringing up strong-minded and spiritually nourished kids is about teaching them open-mindedness and guiding them to make the right choices in life. Avoid forcing your beliefs on your children; rather, assist them in arriving at an informed judgment based on what you and others have taught them.