I’m a very spiritual person and I sometimes get mixed reactions when I tell people this. Some people don’t really understand what it means to be spiritual. Being spiritual means that I believe there is something greater at work in the world—a higher power.
Believing in a higher power allows me to feel connected to something bigger. This has helped me to grow as a person by discovering and trusting my true purpose, and I think it’s important to help our kids learn about spirituality too.
Why teach your kids about spirituality?
Teaching your children about spirituality can help set them up with tools for coping with life’s difficulties. Children that are exposed to spirituality are typically more self-confident, less anxious, and happier overall than kids who aren’t spiritual.
Spiritual lessons you can teach your kids
You don’t have to give your kids formal lessons to teach them about spirituality. In fact, spirituality is best learned by watching and doing, so modelling your beliefs and encouraging your child to join you in spiritual activities is the best way to teach them.
Value people over things
Society has gotten far too materialistic and it shows when our kids are asking for the latest and greatest toy that they’ll soon break or forget about. Show them the value of having experiences with you and the other people in your life.
Celebrate differences
Differences should be embraced. It’s what makes the world such an interesting place. Imagine how boring it would be if we all liked the same things, acted the same way, or had the same abilities. Give your child the opportunity to take turns choosing family activities they enjoy that show off their unique personality and abilities.
Be grateful
When we are grateful for what we have, we attract more of the things we like. Practice being grateful with your child by asking them what they are thankful for and writing it on a sticky note. If your child is older, show them how to start a gratitude journal and spend time writing in your journal while they write in theirs.
Talk about what’s bothering you
Feelings should not be shoved down deep inside. When we do this, it causes us to feel worse. This is the same for children. When a child is upset, it’s important for them to talk about it. Maybe not while they are at their most upset, but you can always wait for them to calm down and then have a discussion.
It’s important for you to share your feelings too so they can see a healthy way of dealing with things that are bothering them.
Give lots of hugs
Physical contact with other people can be extremely healing. Have you ever noticed how much better you feel after getting a hug? You may not have realized you needed one, but there’s something about a hug that makes us feel good inside. Remember to hug your kids whenever you can.
If your child doesn’t seem to like hugs, you might want to ask first or find an alternative like a high five or fist bump. This also works great for kids you don’t know very well.
For more ideas for incorporating spirituality into your children’s lives, check out this post on 11 Stress Relief Techniques for You and Your Kids. Many of these everyday activities probably don’t seem very spiritual, but that’s the beauty of spirituality—it doesn’t have to look a certain way. Just connecting with your kids every day can be a spiritual activity.
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