Children's Spiritual Intelligence

Why do we need to teach our children about spirituality? Children often ask questions such as "Where did I come from?" and "What happens to Grandma when she dies?" All the answers are tied up in our personal spiritual beliefs. What do we tell our children?

Of course, it depends on your particular beliefs; the purpose of this article is to explore why spirituality is important for children. Why do our children need to have a spiritual framework?

The root of the answer lies in a child's self-esteem. At some point in a child's life, they will realize that their parents won't live forever. Knowing that there is a supreme being who never dies allows the child a sense of security and peace in a world that often proves to be unstable.

Also, a child's spiritual beliefs will often give them a source of comfort. When they find out or are taught there is someone thay can talk to in prayer besides their mom and dad, it provides them a source of stability that is outside and beyond the people within the walls of the home.

Children also need to be spiritually aware as they grow up because it provides stability. Sooner or later, the child becomes a teenager and begins to question if there's something bigger than mommy and daddy. Who really makes the rules anyway? Once they learn that the rules can be broken, mom and dad don't seem quite so big anymore. If the "rules" come from someone bigger and much more powerful than mom and dad it makes it a little easier for the teenager to swallow.

There are more religions in the world than I can even fathom, but from what I've read, nearly all of them contain one element in common: a powerful force in the universe. Whatever that powerful force may be, let's help our children see it and explore it.

It doesn't matter if your ideas are solid. It doesn't matter if you're questioning your beliefs. It's healthy to be actively engaged in seeking out a religion. Probably the worst thing you can do is to pretend that it isn't important, to hide it under the rug. When your child asks, "Where did the kitty go when she died?" you want to be able to discuss it with your child, not tell your child that it isn't an appropriate topic to discuss. Children form concepts about spirituality whether we teach it to them directly or not. Let's open the doors of communication and relish our spiritual insights with our children. Our children will be better for our efforts.

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