Young children and spirituality

[simplemama32]

DH and I don't consider ourselves very religious, but we do feel like we're spiritual. Meaning that we don't go to church, read the Bible regularly, pray at every meal, etc., but we do believe that there is a higher power and we do pray for family and friends in need, and say bedtime prayers...that sort of thing.

We don't really want to start attending church (we both have our own issues with that), but we would like to incorporate more spirituality into our toddler's life. I would like DS to know who God is, but DH and I do not currently discuss Him or really anything spiritual on a regular basis, so this is unfamiliar territory.

What do you do with your children? Other than church-related worship and activities, how do you incorporate spirituality into their lives?

I'd also love to hear book recommendations (for children, not adults) that would help with this. They don't need to be specifically about God, Jesus, the disciples, etc...really just anything spiritual, whether it's more about the miracle of nature, other religions, or something else along those lines.

[javilu]

How about having a morning meditation, where you give thanks, focus on whatever God might be doing in your lives, and your hopes? I think it can help to guide kids, but everyone really needs to come to their own understanding of God in their own lives. I also think the best "evidence" of God is God's creation and work in the world, in our hearts, and our relationships, so meditating on that each day should help.

[simplemama32]

That's a wonderful idea...just the sort of thing I was looking for. Thanks so much! :-)

[Adele_Mommy]

I know you said you didn't want book recommendations for adults, but I am hoping you meant you didn't want books directed at helping adults be more spiritual.

I think this is a very interesting book: Gift of Faith: Tending the Spiritual Lives of Children It talks about how to incorporate spirituality into your home life and how it is important to be intentional in the spiritual message you give your kids.

For adding ritual and ceremony to your life there is How to Bury a Goldfish.

For books to read aloud to very young children that introduce the concept of God, in my house we loved the Berenstain Bears, so I recommend The Berenstain Bears and The Big Question.

[Harmony08]

I am not a true Waldorf person but I like aspects of it. One thing I think they do really well is the emphasis on the spiritual nature of everything. There is ritual and rhythm and reverance. They make nature tables and have celebrations. Might be something to check out.

[claddaghmom]

One thing I have always felt, seeing other kids, and now believe in, raising my DD, is that kids are naturally spiritual. It's as if they have a 6th sense, an eye for the supernatural...

Sometimes just going into the depths of the world can inspire that spirituality. I was talking to my 7yo brother about snowflakes and how each one was different...no two alike. And on his own, he showed so much awe for it. He said God must be amazing, that he wanted to meet a God who would work so hard to make tiny things beautiful. I was struck by his perspective.