Teaching small children about God

[julie*mango]

How do you do so?

I know as children we were taught to pray. We prayed before meals, after meals, before school, after school, and before going to sleep. But that does not mean we understood the true meaning of having a relationship with God.

We went to Sunday School, were taught stories from the Bible, sang songs like Father Abraham and Jesus Loves Me. But that does not mean that we understood. We just did it because we had to.


Your thoughts?

[Peasie]

Re: Teaching small children about God

Sunday School, pray before meals and at bedtime, church camp, etc. were just part of our lives. I guess my mother never fretted - as much as I did with my own children! - about whether or not we understood any this. It was just what we did. As she did as a child, and her parents before her, etc.

So then, did I continue the tradition with my own children? Yes, I did. While, as a child, I never knew the 'true meaning of having a relationship with God' I never forgot the principles my mother (my father shunned all organized religion ) taught us. Those songs, prayers, etc. have stayed with me and comfort me to this day. They also helped form the basis of my own personal spiritual development.

[Compry]

Re: Teaching small children about God

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: _____</div><div class="ubbcode-body">How do you do so?

</div></div>

All the above that you mentioned. Even for those who continued beyond childhood in the faith, we are constantly growing and getting into that closer relationship with God. There is a huge difference in how I related to God when I got baptized at age 16 and now.

Just continue to teach them; thereby planting a seed and hopefully it remains and grows as they grow.

[julie*mango]

Re: Teaching small children about God

believe it or not i got baptized at age 14 and had no clue what i was doing..i just did it because the elders said i should...i do not want my children to do go down the same path...

[DC]

Re: Teaching small children about God

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i just did it because the elders said i should</div></div>

....and, imo, this is what should be avoided. Even children should make up their minds in this area. A little personal background: Like peasie, it was a part of our lives, so it was something that was normal for us. But we enjoyed the church activities as young kids. That is all we cared about as kids-having fun! I do not recall my parents talking to us about being ‘saved’. Maybe they wanted us to enjoy being children, or maybe they felt were still too young to understand (early teens). However, as we got older, I recall my sisters and I sat down one day and talked about the 'whole Christian thing' and being baptized, and that was when we went to our parents and announced we wanted to be baptized. They discussed the concept with us to ensure we understood the basics, and then they did not hinder us, but allowed us to make that ultimate individual choice. My brother did not follow suit. He was raised in the same household and participated in all the traditions and rituals, but he chose to do his own thing, his own way. I did not feel forced to make up my mind about Christianity, but our parents raised us in a Christian household, because they felt it was right for their family.
I would say, if you feel that the Christian principles are right for your household, then by all means, expose them to those principles, and train them from that basis. They may not fully understand what a ‘relationship with God’ mean, as small children, but there are great human lessons, disciplines etc. that they can learn from the bible stories. But I would encourage parents to allow their children to make their own decisions on their growth in God. Encourage honest questioning of the mind in the home, so that they won’t feel afraid to ask their parents questions on God that is not necessarily taught from the pulpit. IMHO, that is how they will an informed decision when it comes to God.

[Wahalla]

Re: Teaching small children about God

one time I was tell my son off.. He had done something.. I asked why he did it..his reply &quot;god made him do it&quot;.. To which I replied &quot;there is no god&quot;

I dont pray, I dont make them pray. When the subject comes up I tell them I dont beleive in god.. but it is alright for them to believe if they want.. I take them to church at christmas and easter.. they attend christian func5tions ie guides, boys brigades.. I explain to them other peoples beleifs system.. I have told them it is up to them to decide what they beleive...

and I gave them the ultimate moral tool... When they are about to do anything would their mother approve of it..

case closed...

[Compry]

Re: Teaching small children about God

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: _____</div><div class="ubbcode-body">believe it or not i got baptized at age 14 and had no clue what i was doing..i just did it because the elders said i should...i do not want my children to do go down the same path... </div></div>

Same here...my children are not baptized as yet because I refuse to force them. I don't even force them to go to church any longer. I've laid the foundation, now it's their choice. &quot;Train up a child.&quot; Granted, no one forced me to be baptized. That's the life I wanted to live and even though mistakes were made along the way, I wouldn't change that decision at all.

[quodlibet]

Re: Teaching small children about God

Is it possible to teach a child about God without sharing some aspect of a particular doctrine?

[DC]

Re: Teaching small children about God

It depends. But yes, I believe so.

[quodlibet]

Re: Teaching small children about God

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Silent_River</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It depends. But yes, I believe so.

</div></div> thanks for responding, can you give me an example?

[teacha-teacha]

Re: Teaching small children about God

Use a CD of sunday school songs. Me copy ah mean borrow one from the library. Pickney know all the songs by heart.

Pray at nap time and bedtime. Memba tell them prayer is jut talking to God. and God is everyone's daddy. Pray that God bless him/her. Pray that God protect them and give them a good day Pray for granma, granpa etc

Quote bible verse - mine know 'Obey your parents in the Lord and you will have a long life' cause she hear it often from me (sigh)

Make it a point to not only ready the usual pickney books find some religious ones to read together.

Google free bible worksheet/activities for 'appropriate age group'

Go to church

Dem might not understand everything but you have to model how u want to train dem.

[Mutty]

Re: Teaching small children about God

This is something that bugs me. If we have to TEACH our children about god, what does this say about whatever god we are teaching them about? It suggests that we are ALL born unbelievers and have to be <span style="font-style: italic">taught</span> to believe. Believing in 'god' does not appear to come natural such as eating or sleeping yet, depending on which religious environment you happen to be born in, the idea of god still has to be taught to a person.

I would think that if god is who some say he is or who some say he wants us to be, he would do the teaching directly from birth but it seems this is not the case and he prefers to leave up to mere wishy-washy, finite mortals to do do the job.

[DC]

Re: Teaching small children about God

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mutty</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This is something that bugs me. If we have to TEACH our children about god, what does this say about whatever god we are teaching them about? It suggests that we are ALL born unbelievers and have to be <span style="font-style: italic">taught</span> to believe. Believing in 'god' does not appear to come natural such as eating or sleeping yet, depending on which religious environment you happen to be born in, the idea of god still has to be taught to a person.

I would think that if god is who some say he is or who some say he wants us to be, he would do the teaching directly from birth but it seems this is not the case and he prefers to leave up to mere wishy-washy, finite mortals to do do the job. </div></div>

BUt waht's wrong with being taught in the ways of god? Children are trained in other aspects of their development too, and it is the parents'/caregivers' responsiblity, to expose them to whaterver spiritual discipline they deem fit for their household.

<span style="font-style: italic">Anyways, long time no see. Nice to see ya.. </span>

[Dyoll_73]

Re: Teaching small children about God

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Silent_River</div><div class="ubbcode-body">BUt waht's wrong with being taught in the ways of god? </div></div>

What are those ways?

[quodlibet]

Re: Teaching small children about God

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Silent_River</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mutty</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This is something that bugs me. If we have to TEACH our children about god, what does this say about whatever god we are teaching them about? It suggests that we are ALL born unbelievers and have to be <span style="font-style: italic">taught</span> to believe. Believing in 'god' does not appear to come natural such as eating or sleeping yet, depending on which religious environment you happen to be born in, the idea of god still has to be taught to a person.

I would think that if god is who some say he is or who some say he wants us to be, he would do the teaching directly from birth but it seems this is not the case and he prefers to leave up to mere wishy-washy, finite mortals to do do the job. </div></div>

BUt waht's wrong with being taught in the ways of god? Children are trained in other aspects of their development too, and it is the parents'/caregivers' responsiblity, to expose them to whaterver spiritual discipline they deem fit for their household.

<span style="font-style: italic">Anyways, long time no see. Nice to see ya.. </span> </div></div>

I don't think that's what he means, you don't have to teach someone to want, to lust or to laugh, the knowledge of those things are sort of intrinsic to the human being. My understanding of Mutty's criticism is that the statement about 'teaching' the topic of God, suggests that this is not a natural process.