Religion -When And How To Introduce The Concept?

By jyoti

Do’s to nurture your child's spirituality

• Clarify your own beliefs:
It’s not necessary that you have all the answers. But, whether or not you practice an organized religion, you'll need to decide what you believe in order to foster spirituality in your child. Don’t be confused. Take time to answer.

• Introduce spirituality early on:
By introducing spiritual practices early on — such as lighting candles or singing hymns together — your child will view them as a natural part of life and feel more connected.

• Use daily events to teach spirituality:
It’s not essential to set stage before introducing religion in your child’s life. Big ideas don't always require big actions. You can demonstrate spirituality as a part of everyday life by incorporating it into ordinary actions and words.

• Tell stories:
The world's spiritual traditions are full of stories designed to explain everything from how the world was created to why people sometimes do bad things. Introduce your child to the notion that different people have different ideas about God. Pick up illustrations from The Bible, or a book of Hindu mythology.

• Make it fun:
Religion and spirituality should be more joyful than somber and serious. Encourage your preschooler to paint a picture of God, make up her own story about how the world came to be, or simply imagine what heaven looks like.

• Introduce a simple form of prayer:
Let your child know that a prayer is a tool for communicating with a superior power anytime. A simple prayer of thanks before or after meals can be an easy and effective way to instill appreciation for the basics of life.