By Dorothy Halverson, Director of Acorn Programs
“How can I teach my child the spiritual concepts and moral values I cherish?” is a question often asked by parents.
Another one follows: “Is it possible to teach spiritual concepts to a young child who’s just learning the language and may not be thinking in abstract terms yet?”
Most educators agree that the best way to teach our cherished ideas is through example. As we love and live the spiritual concepts that inspire us, the child is certain to benefit. The infant or young child learns the special relationship of father and mother through experience. Our striving to express the qualities of principle and love in parenting can help his growing understanding of his Father-Mother God.
Studies have shown that a rigid, authoritarian approach to discipline tends to turn offspring from the religion of the parents. A consistent but loving approach gains the respect of children and a desire to learn. As with most education, the learning of spiritual concepts can’t be forced.
There are many ways to share our love of God with our little ones. Tiniest infants are quieted when we sing favorite hymns or voice spiritual truths. Meals can bring spiritual, as well as physical, nourishment, if we share some inspired thoughts that come to us. Bedtime is another special time to share prayers and spiritual thoughts. The joy and spirit with which we share is always as important as what we share.
When a child is two or three, a parent can begin to have a regular assembly or special time for a “spiritual breakfast” to explore spiritual ideas together. It’s important to keep these periods brief and interesting to the child. Look for simple concepts that can be meaningful to a child now, such as “God loves me and takes care of me,” “I can treat others the way I like to be treated,” “I can be cheerfully obedient to God, good,” “I can guard my thinking,” “God gives me courage and strength,” or “I can let my light shine.”
Read or share stories from the Bible to help illustrate a concept. For instance, the story of Daniel in the lions’ den illustrates God’s protection, or moral courage in standing for what’s right. The story of Baby Moses in the bulrushes shows God’s care for His children.
You can also tell present-day parables. My daughter enjoyed hearing stories I made up about children who had experiences remarkably similar to her experiences (though their names were different), and who found spiritual solutions to their problems. Children sometimes suggest solutions for their story friends and so are better prepared for the next perplexing situation that arises in their own experience.
Hand puppets can illustrate successful solutions to moral or social dilemmas. A character might find that when he’s kind, others are kind to him; that when he’s obedient, things work out better; or when he’s honest, he’s trusted. Children love to help reform errant puppets and can try different roles by being one of the puppeteers.
There are activities or games which can teach spiritual or moral concepts. A favorite one is the “knock knock game” which helps children differentiate between useful thoughts and detrimental ones. The child holds up a “door” or book and you knock on it saying, “Knock, knock.”
“Who’s there?” asks the child.
“I’m a little thought that says, “Don’t come when Mommy calls,’ May I come in?”
The child holds the book in place and shakes his head, and you say, “Good. You know not to let that thought in. Here’s another thought…..” If the thought is a helpful one, the child turns or opens the “door.”
You can present several thoughts and then let the child knock on your door of thought. A similar game uses an old or toy telephone and the child can hang up on “error” thoughts.
An activity to teach the concept of “letting your light shine,” is to put a bag over a lighted flashlight to show that when it’s covered up no one can see it. It’s important to carefully relate the illustration to the point you want to make. You might next put the bag on your head so the children can’t see who you are. If they want, they can put it on their heads and you can “wonder” who they are. Then you can say, “If I go around without saying ‘hello’ to people or helping them, it’s just as if I had a bag on my head. No one can see who I really am, God’s loving child.”
There are many such activities that can teach spiritual or moral concepts.
Preaching to a child or correcting him with a truism can backfire — turning him against the idea you wish to teach. It’s better to let him know when he is obeying a cherished precept, so he’ll learn to love it. For instance, “When you gave that toy to your little sister, you were obeying the Golden Rule. You knew that would make her happy, didn’t you?”
The most important thing to remember in teaching spiritual ideas to our children is to share the spirit and not just the letter. If we’re meeting resistance, it’s a signal to try a different time, place, or method.
It’s helpful to know that God is guiding and attracting His children, and we’re not intermediaries; but we can be inspired to share ideas we know are important in the very best way.
“What have I to teach another? Only what I myself have learned. My ability to impart will be in proportion to my own receptivity and utilization of that which is of value in my own experience. Intellectual food can be imparted only by one who has achieved scholarly attainments. Important as this phase of the work is, it is only one phase of education. Spiritual culture is of greater importance and is regarded as first in value.” (Education at The Principia p. 67-68)
