When they become parents, many people wonder how to impart spiritual values to their children. The traditional model of sending them to Sunday school is one alternative. But as more people turn away from organized religion to carve their own path, many parents choose to draw the entire family into the personal spirituality of the parents. Children grow up to reflect how they are raised, which makes this an important issue.
To begin with, a child’s spiritual life should be age appropriate. A very young child’s brain hasn’t matured enough to absorb adult beliefs, and the overall development of every child is unique. Before age 10 or so, I feel that spiritual parenting will have the most lasting effect if it builds a foundation in the self rather than focusing on principles. As a practical matter, every young child should feel that:
The next phase of spiritual parenting is about values. Child psychology studies have shown that babies as early as 6 months old want to help their mothers, and even infants react positively when they see good behavior and shy away from bad behavior in others. So there is reason to feel that children have a moral nature.
With that in mind, parents should develop a child’s inner values, while keeping in mind that grasping these values mentally, in terms of abstract ideas, isn’t going to happen early on. Instead, children internalize what they see and how they are treated. Saying “Be nice to your little brother” makes an impression the first time, with decreasing meaning as it gets repeated. But seeing parents who are fair and kind trains a child’s brain in that direction.
Lifelong values are not instilled through negative lessons and punishment. What a child takes away from these experiences is guilt, shame, and resentment. The same is true if parents instill fear and doubt by telling children, “Life is unfair,” “If you don’t look out for number one, no one else will,” and “If you want anything in this world, you have to fight for it.” Remember, what we all grow up remembering most vividly from our childhood is the emotional tone of family life. Children raised in a tense, stressful, or difficult home environment will adapt to it because it’s in their nature, but that doesn’t mean that they will emerge undamaged.
Starting at age six or seven—each parent will have to play this by ear—the parents can sit down to meditate with a child using a simple technique. Sit quietly with eyes closed and follow the breath. Don’t ask the child to meditate for more than 5 to 10 minutes. Make it clear that if they stop enjoying it, they are free to get up and go play. But the parents should continue their own meditation for the usual time.
By being invited in and yet given the freedom to choose, a child will associate meditation with something they have control over. The worst lesson is to feel that meditation is a way for them to be controlled, forced to settle down, and “be good.” In other words, don’t make meditation the equivalent of sitting in the corner or taking a time out. A child who is running around or acting out needs a nap, a talking to, or some other corrective. Meditation isn’t one of them.
The greatest benefit of meditation comes when a child is able to notice actual changes themselves. They feel calmer, more centered, less troubled, less tempted to act out. A parent can coax these realizations, but gently, by pointing out a positive change. But be careful not to intrude. Everyone’s inner life is private, no matter how young they are. Taking note of inner changes probably won’t happen consistently until age 12 or later, and the attraction of major changes probably won’t happen until mid to late adolescence, a time when discovering who they are comes naturally to teenagers.
Find courage and calm for the school day with Reset the School Day, a new series for teachers and students with Mallika Chopra and Tali Arielle, available now in the Presence App.
To begin with, a child’s spiritual life should be age appropriate. A very young child’s brain hasn’t matured enough to absorb adult beliefs, and the overall development of every child is unique. Before age 10 or so, I feel that spiritual parenting will have the most lasting effect if it builds a foundation in the self rather than focusing on principles. As a practical matter, every young child should feel that:
- They are loved and lovable.
- They are worthwhile in their parents’ eyes.
- Being a good person comes from within.
- Happiness and fulfillment are natural.
The next phase of spiritual parenting is about values. Child psychology studies have shown that babies as early as 6 months old want to help their mothers, and even infants react positively when they see good behavior and shy away from bad behavior in others. So there is reason to feel that children have a moral nature.
With that in mind, parents should develop a child’s inner values, while keeping in mind that grasping these values mentally, in terms of abstract ideas, isn’t going to happen early on. Instead, children internalize what they see and how they are treated. Saying “Be nice to your little brother” makes an impression the first time, with decreasing meaning as it gets repeated. But seeing parents who are fair and kind trains a child’s brain in that direction.
Lifelong values are not instilled through negative lessons and punishment. What a child takes away from these experiences is guilt, shame, and resentment. The same is true if parents instill fear and doubt by telling children, “Life is unfair,” “If you don’t look out for number one, no one else will,” and “If you want anything in this world, you have to fight for it.” Remember, what we all grow up remembering most vividly from our childhood is the emotional tone of family life. Children raised in a tense, stressful, or difficult home environment will adapt to it because it’s in their nature, but that doesn’t mean that they will emerge undamaged.
Meditation and the Inner Life
Meditation can add to a sense of a child’s self-worth, and even power, because it’s an activity that belongs just to them. The childhood brain is a factor here. It has been shown that introducing meditation in schools leads to behavioral improvements in older ages (middle school and later). It benefits younger ages, I feel, when meditation fulfills the following criteria:- It feels like fun.
- The child expresses enjoyment.
- Nothing is forced or turned into a chore.
- The whole family participates.
Starting at age six or seven—each parent will have to play this by ear—the parents can sit down to meditate with a child using a simple technique. Sit quietly with eyes closed and follow the breath. Don’t ask the child to meditate for more than 5 to 10 minutes. Make it clear that if they stop enjoying it, they are free to get up and go play. But the parents should continue their own meditation for the usual time.
By being invited in and yet given the freedom to choose, a child will associate meditation with something they have control over. The worst lesson is to feel that meditation is a way for them to be controlled, forced to settle down, and “be good.” In other words, don’t make meditation the equivalent of sitting in the corner or taking a time out. A child who is running around or acting out needs a nap, a talking to, or some other corrective. Meditation isn’t one of them.
The greatest benefit of meditation comes when a child is able to notice actual changes themselves. They feel calmer, more centered, less troubled, less tempted to act out. A parent can coax these realizations, but gently, by pointing out a positive change. But be careful not to intrude. Everyone’s inner life is private, no matter how young they are. Taking note of inner changes probably won’t happen consistently until age 12 or later, and the attraction of major changes probably won’t happen until mid to late adolescence, a time when discovering who they are comes naturally to teenagers.
Find courage and calm for the school day with Reset the School Day, a new series for teachers and students with Mallika Chopra and Tali Arielle, available now in the Presence App.