10 Ways to Nurture Your Child's Spiritual Development

10 Ways to Nurture Your Child's Spiritual DevelopmentSue Frederick, author of A Mother's Guide to Raising Healthy Children
When my daughter was born, I felt a great responsibility to nurture and strengthen her connection to God as she made her way through the challenges of growing up. Over the years, I've gathered a few ideas (from talking to moms and spiritual teachers) about how to keep that divine connection intact.The violence in our schools - caused by children against children - is deeply disturbing. I believe there are many causes, especially that we have lost our connections to one another and to God. Our communities have broken down. Children often grow up without any sense of connection to adults other than their parents. If that bond grows weak, the children are basically set astray with no one to turn to for help. If our children don't grow up with a strong sense of higher purpose, a strong connection to people and to God, they are easy prey for the darkness of our world. As parents, it is our job to connect them, first to ourselves, then to God and community.Many parents today say they don't want indoctrinate their children into a particular religion or form of spirituality. I disagree. Our culture indoctrinates children to focus on material possessions and to doubt the existence of anything beyond what they can see. The early years provide an opening for a child's natural spirituality to blossom. Their belief in God is so honest that it has helped many a parent reconnect with God. It is essential to nurture the awareness that we are sacred and that God exists; if you never believed as a child, it's a long, difficult road to finding God when you're older.Share your beliefs with your child about why we are here and who we really are. If you don't believe in God, discuss that as well. Open the doors for their own explorations into spirit. You may learn something from them. Children are very much in touch with the divine. They can heal your spiritual pain by sharing their insights with you.Here are some ideas that may help:1. Get outside. Enjoy nature with your child. Sleep under the stars. Get simple. Let nature imprint a feeling of sacredness, spirituality and a sense of wonder.2. Respect and value your child's spirit. Listen to their innermost thoughts and insights and let them know you value those insights. Help them learn to listen to their own inner voice.3. Create a bedtime spiritual ritual. It can be talking to God about your day, saying prayers, meditating or chanting together. Let your child see that this routine, which is part of everyday life, is enjoyable and inspiring.4. Be an example. A saint from India, Shree Ma, says the mother is the child's first Guru. Let your child see you practicing devotion to God in whatever form you choose from Christianity to Buddhism. You are the best example to your child of how to relate to God and make God a part of everyday life.5. Read spiritual stories to children including the lives of the saints - from Christian to Hindu. These stories show people living their lives with love, kindness, compassion and devotion to God.6. Emphasize compassion and tolerance. Show your child that everyone has good things and bad things about them. When you child points out something bad about a friend. You can listen and then say, "That's true. But you know Sophie also makes you laugh a lot and is very fun to be with."7. Visit spiritual places - from ashrams to churches. Foster a sense of wonder for these divine and sacred places. Learn to cherish prayer in all its forms and in many different places.8. 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.9. Remember you are awakening your child's divinity not creating it. She has come to you as a gift from God and is already very connected to God. You needn't impose your ideas as much as nurture her relationship with God.10. Teach her the power of prayer. When you see an accident and someone is hurt, rather than becoming afraid, pray with your child. Ask God to send love and light to the injured person and relieve their suffering.