How Do You Spiritually Guide Your Kids?

I try to teach my kids about all aspects of spirituality and religion. Hubby and I are not of a determined faith or anything and have different views and believe in all sorts of possibilities. I teach my children to have an open mind and find their own path.

By taking them to church, praying with them, teaching them to pray, modelling moral behavior and making our close friendships with like-minded people.
We have always told our sons they must make the belief their own. Our youngest son is really questioning his beliefs right now. We don't make him go to church with us. That would only turn him off more.

I grew up in a home where my father was a minister. I went to private school at the same place I went to church. My dad was a wonderful man and a fabulous father, but I spent 6 days a week at church and that was overkill.

Still, our faith is the basis for a lot of what we think, how we feel, the values that we set, and why we do what we do. It's just more informal. We talk about what we do, think and feel and why. We talk about faith, God, Christ, death, Heaven, sin, forgiveness, unconditional love. It's just more about conversation and less about instruction.

I know each of my children will have to make their own journey and decided what they believe all on their own. I would love if they followed what we have taught them and I would hate for them to walk away from it, but I have to respect their right to decide for themselves and let my life be the story more than my words.

Yes, we have a very strong preference. We are fully convinced that our faith is well placed, and believing thus, how would we want anything other than that same faith for our children? We want the same blessings and grace for our children... who wouldn't? Yes it would bother us if they rejected what they have learned. We would be deeply saddened. We would pray constantly that they would return to faith.

What do we do to help them learn and grow in their faith? How hands on are we? We had them baptized. We take them to church and Sunday School weekly (which they love). Our son went through Confirmation classes and was formally catechized and was confirmed. Our daughter is going through those classes now (and our son enjoyed it so much that he is going through it again with her just to take part in the discussions). Our son has participated in the summer week long camp (trip to NC to Camp LinnHaven, where they have multiple Bible studies each day, begin each day with an a cappella Matins service, take hikes and do other adventurous stuff, have campfires and play games, have opportunities for private confession, a cappella Divine Service with Holy Communion mid-week, and all classes are taught by Pastors) twice and can't wait to go again. Daughter will be confirmed this spring and will also go (to Confirmation Camp at LinnHaven) next summer. Our son serves as acolyte for services at church. Our daughter plays the liturgy on the piano for services (she loves it, we do not "make" her).
We began teaching them to pray as toddlers before meals and at bedtime. We still say mealtime prayers (common table prayer), and bedtime prayers. A few times a week we also confess The Apostle's Creed along with bedtime prayers. Husband does a short liturgy/evening prayers with them a couple times a week. And we openly discuss theology with them and in front of them all the time. Not mushy gushy emotional stuff, but actual "theology".... discussions about differences in denominational practice, belief and traditions, the basis for those practices and points of faith and arguments for and against, discussions about important points of the sermon or another angle that was not preached on, the latest WorldView Everlasting video blog (which our kids also watch sometimes, b/c they think Pastor Fisk is cool), an interesting article or comment from The Blog of Veith, etc etc etc...
Basically, since our faith touches every aspect of our lives and our understanding of our vocations (very valuable word that), we discuss how that faith and vocation work themselves out in everyday things as we come across them. It isn't just "morals" teaching.
Our kids are 13 and 10.
Is this what you mean?

I have a very strong faith (we're Catholic). I find comfort in prayer, and hope my children do, too. We pray openly together as a family, and go to church together on Saturday nights. My boys go to CCD classes on Wednesday evenings, and I go to mass while they are in class. We talk about our beliefs, and why we believe what we do. Both of my boys (7 and 13) enjoy church and like being Catholic.

However, I encourage them to visit other churches with friends whenever they have the opportunity. We often discuss the beliefs of other religions and answer questions the boys have. I want them to feel free to make informed decisions about their faith on their own as they get older. My parents did the same for me.

We (meaning my kids and I) go to weekly Mass. I am Catholic and all of the kids have been baptized and are being raised Catholic. We say prayers before bed every night, do charitable works together, and they all attend weekly religious education classes from grades 1-10. I have taught religious ed for 4 years (starting my 5th year) and used to lead children's liturgy in our church. My kids see that I am an active participant in our church and I try to live my faith and teach them to live theirs.

That said, my husband is Jewish so I don't get all preachy at home or have crucifixes on the walls, etc. I focus more on what our religions have in common, which is our relationship with and belief in God and the ideas of stewardship and charity. If my husband were an observant Jew, we would also go to temple and celebrate Shabbat but he's not. We do go to temple once a year for an annual memorial service and we do celebrate the high holidays, Hanukkah and Passover in addition to Christian holidays.

As you can tell, I have a strong preference. My husband and I talked about this before getting serious in our relationship because I would not have married someone who wasn't comfortable with me raising our children as Catholics. For me it's more than a preference - I believe that my faith is a gift and the essence of who I am. It's my first and last trait. It's my core. My faith ultimately informs all of my decisions and sustains me through hard times. I could not raise my children and not impart this to them and share this with them.

That said, they are always free to find their own path. What I have been taught works *for me* and fulfills *me* but if it doesn't speak to them, I would 100% support their search for whatever speaks to their hearts, lifts them up, sustains them and fulfills them spiritually.

We attend a very family oriented Church as a family and I take the kids with me everytime I volunteer there so they see I enjoy and learn from it! There is so much you can do, we read books from the church library and I try to talk everyday about things from the bible relating it to something that is going on! Be a good example, and encourage your children to be open and care as the Lord would like us to! Good for you for caring so much!

What Tat2d and KIMBERLY F said !!!!!

I was brought up to make my own choice and intend to do the same. I discuss lightly my thoughts with my son when it's appropriate.

My husband and I discussed this before we were married, since I have very strong feelings about spirituality and beliefs. My husband was raised Catholic, and not practicing. I was raised as a reformed Jew, and explored all sorts of Eastern faiths, and nature based religions and spirituality. My husband told me he did not have any desire to take my son to church, or raise him Catholic. I am the one who has passed along Jewish heritage, but not dogma. As a homeschooling parent, we have studied all different religions, so that my son can be well versed in many different theologies. We do connect with spiritual extended families in rituals that are consistent with our beliefs. My teen son has found his path, which closely mirrors our values and beliefs.

My husband and I are atheists. Our children are still very young 2 & in utero so we haven't discussed religion yet. When we do we'll explain how we feel. As our children are older we'll introduce them and expose them to all religions (just as we will cultures, food, philosophies etc..) and let them make their own decision as to whether or not they want to be religious and what faith (if any) they choose. Maybe they'll take a little from here and a little from there and create their own.

We just want to raise them as free thinkers and as long as they look at all the possibilities and choose something that works for them we'll be more than proud! It would sadden us greatly if they followed our beliefs, or anyone else's, blindly and without question. What we're most concerned with is that they are moral, ethical, critical thinkers who live each day in a way they can be proud of. Religion or lack thereof is the least of our concerns. Tolerance in all aspects of life is a more important lesson for them to learn. To each his own. Let's respect that every day with everyone. :)

Im old school, I picked god parents and they are the main spiritual guidance for my kids.

oh, can i answer this one.. the more you push your kids toward anything, be it religion, vegtables, whatever, the more they will reject it, but not without seeing the hypcroisy of the people who supposedly follow that particular religion FIRST. kids are alot more oberverant of adult behavoiur then most people realize, they have to be, they are dependent on the adults around them, especially when they are very young. if you present a religion to a child as a set of ideals and values, and point out to them, that yes, there are going to be people who claim to follow the same religion and or set of values, but actually DONT. then the child is less likely to ultimately reject that religion and set of values all together. with this in mind, the chils is also more likely to come to you or another adult if the child is approached inapporately by an adult.
K. h.