Spiritual development is about expanding your experience of self and life---learning about who you are and your connection to God. In can include individual religious teachings as you desire. A child's spiritual development depends a great deal on his parents. While children have their own minds and know love when they experience it, consciously guiding your children in spirituality will help them create a life that is connected, content and happy.
Talk to Your Children
Spiritual growth and expansion naturally occurs through our conversations and relationships. Create a safe place for your child to ask questions. You are your child's first spiritual teacher. If spiritual development is important to you, find ways to bring this conversation to your family. Sue Frederick, author of A Mothers Guide To Raising Healthy Children," says, "Allow your child to be your spiritual teacher. Ask him questions about the big issues of life and listen to his answers. Develop a thoughtful and respectful dialogue with him."
Teach Them About Love
Teaching children that they are connected to God, Source, All That Is--is of utmost importance, no matter your religion. Help them understand that they themselves are of that same love. Allowing them to know they are SO very good because of this connection can be life changing. It's a powerful beginning to learn as a child that you are love, and of the love that created all things.
Help Them to Understand Unity
Unity or Oneness is a hard concept for most adults to experience, much less teach it to their children. The earlier you begin articulating this and identifying proof in your child's life that we indeed are all ONE, the better. Unity Church.org says, "God is all good and active in everything, everywhere." This is a powerful message and the foundation of many religions. To experience Oneness with your child, eat together, pray together or meditate together. Teach her that every moment is a spiritual moment.
Respect Life, Self and Others
Respect, in the broadest sense of the term, is an intelligent life force. Teach your children to respect life, down to the smallest bug. Talk to them about respecting themselves in this same way and they will develop a strong sense of self-esteem and self-love. They will simultaneously extend this respect to others and begin to learn that what you put out comes back to you. Although this concept is simple, there are deep spiritual lessons here.
Kindness
Dalai Lama said, "My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness." Kindness is the greatest thing that you can teach your child. Children develop who they are through kindness, and they come to understand that the door through which you give and receive is the same door. Any question can be solved by asking the question, "What is the greatest kindness?"
You and Your Child--Creators
You and your child are powerful creators of your lives.Teach your child about who she is as a co-creator with God. Full responsibility is a gift, as is her ability to choose how she thinks, feels and experiences. Children respond to empowerment. Talk to your children about their intuition. What they know to be truth is a part of the creation process of life.
Answer Difficult Questions
At a very young age children start wondering, "Why am I here? Why am I me?" Teach children that they came to this life to experience love and challenges---and to grow and expand and a spiritual being. As you expand, God expands. Your beliefs may vary from this, and that's OK. Teach your children what is in alignment for you, and never shy away from the opportunity to answer a life-changing inquiry.
