How to Help Your Child Reap the Benefits of Faith and Spirituality. It is well known that living a spiritual life provides many benefits for the mental and physical health of Christian adults, but did you know children can be positively impacted by being raised in the faith as well? This is great news for parents who plan to raise their children in the church and teach them essential religious values.
While some people might feel that they need to wait until their child is older to fully understand and benefit from spirituality, helping your child develop a faith in God from a young age is a great way to provide them with a happy childhood and guide them towards a life of faith in the future.
Additionally, a life of guidance and spirituality overseen by the church could offer benefits throughout life. Christian university programs are excellent alternatives to traditional colleges. They offer many leadership and management training courses for the skills you need outside of the classroom.
Teach Them the Importance of Morality
One of the greatest benefits for children who are exposed to religion from an early age is that they can turn to a clear set of morals to live by. The Bible teaches children the importance of loving their neighbors and the consequences of immoral actions like stealing, hurting others, and speaking unkindly.
In a society full of people with varying ethics, it helps children to have fixed rules they can always depend on. Your child will inevitably be exposed to multiple other influences in their life that may try to alter your child’s thinking and pull them towards a lifestyle that is harmful or sinful. This is why you must teach your child that the standard they attempt to live their life by is determined by the Bible, not by other humans.
Show Them That God Is a Source of Love and Comfort
The Bible reveals God to be a kind, parental figure who has unconditional love for his children despite their mistakes. While you will always try your best to love your child and walk with them through their trials in life, you are neither perfect nor all-knowing and cannot shield your child from experiencing hardships.
Children benefit from knowing that they can seek God to wrap them in his divine love and comfort when things are hard. Turning to God will teach your children healthy ways to cope and work through problems rather than relying on harmful or unproductive coping methods. Additionally, through this process, you will help nurture your child’s relationship with God. Your child will certainly encounter conflicting depictions of God as they grow and meet people with differing beliefs, so you must support your child in discovering God for themselves.
Expose Them to a Strong Community of Other Believers
Taking your child to church and spending time with other groups of believers is an effective way to get support in developing your child’s spirituality. While it is very important for you to teach your child how to live out their faith at home, the church will teach them important biblical lessons and expose them to other Christian children their age.
Model for your child the value of community by being involved with activities in church and forming close relationships with others. You can even join other religious communities like faith-based volunteer groups, bible studies, and fellowship ministries like The Way International. If your church has a Sunday school or children’s church, they will be able to learn about God in a fun, engaging way. Over time, they will likely make friends who will continue to be a good influence and source of support as your child grows older.
Prepare Them for Adulthood
Providing your child with spiritual education and religious upbringing will benefit them throughout their childhood and well into their adulthood. Many studies have shown that children who grow up with spiritual beliefs are likely to have better mental health as adults and are less likely to use illicit drugs, smoke, or contract an STD. Don’t hesitate to show your child the love of God from the moment they’re born!
