1. Practice What You Preach
Raising a child with any values, religious or otherwise, is highly dependent on consistency and reliability. When imparting the morals and values of your religious beliefs to your children, it is important to remember that children learn much more from what they witness and experience than what they are told. While "practice"--setting a strong example--is important, the other part of the equation, "preaching" is equally important. Explain to your children why you behave the way you do, why you make decisions, and how these things relate to your religion's teachings.
2. Know Your Goal
Religion is a very personal aspect of life, and while many parents feel the need to guide children in their beliefs, others believe children should determine their own spiritual and religious paths. No matter which goal fits your family, the decision is up to you. Make this decision as early as possible to allow more consistency throughout your children's lives. As one very inclusive religious group, the Unitarian Universalists, believe, children need to learn right and wrong, moral structure, self-respect and respect for others, compassion and social responsibility. No matter what religious doctrines you do or do not teach your children, these characteristics should be a constant.
3. Make a Connection
Research suggests that families who teach and exhibit qualities often thought of as religious or spiritual, such as tolerance, patience, kindness, sympathy or unconditional love, are likely to have a stronger connection even after the children are grown. These lessons do not come exclusively from any one religion, and no matter the family's spiritual definition, these qualities can provide important tools for communication and interaction as children mature.
4. Reaching Out
Get your children involved in your church activities or spiritual practices so they can learn by watching and doing while they're still young. Share the teaching stories of any religious path with young children, and the significant rituals and symbolism easily grab a child's interest. When celebrating holidays, use age-appropriate activities, items and explanations to help your child understand the purpose and importance of the event. When attending regular services, talk to your child to help him see the personal benefits as well as the social opportunities.
5. Time Enough for Love
Most, if not all, religious beliefs develop around the importance of love: love for oneself, for others, for humanity, for nature and for Deity. As you determine when, how or if you plan to include religion in your parenting, remember love and all it offers. Small expressions of love or acts of kindness, whether directed toward them or just witnessed by them, will influence the way your children think, act and believe. In turn, gratefully receiving their expressions of love and acts of kindness, no matter how small or childish they may be, will teach them that their love has value to others. As the basis of many religions, love may be the most powerful lesson of all.
