Intuitively Raising Spiritual Kids

by Cynthia Sue Larson 

Quick! Without taking time to figure out the “best” answer, finish the following sentence: “If there was just one thing I could teach my child today, it would be about ______.”

Did your answer surprise you? You’ve just identified a quality you intuitively know to be somewhat lacking in your family and have opened the door of opportunity for change. This “quick check” to find out what to best focus on can now be your guide when you next spend time with your children. 

When I first did this exercise I heard my intuition whisper “compassion.” Yes, I thought to myself, compassion is definitely a quality I would dearly love to impart to my daughters, but how? No sooner had I asked myself this question than I saw the answer in my mind’s eye. I would need to become more compassionate, even (perhaps especially) when tempers flared and my patience grew short. 

Ask yourself now, “How can I share this lesson with my child?” and listen for an answer. Note any symbols, words, images or feelings you receive. These are your clues to finding the best way to share this information with your child. If you feel like you did not receive any answer, then ask yourself this question again as you go to sleep tonight, with the intention that you will have a dream that gives you the answer. 

Don’t be alarmed if you receive an answer that indicates you need to make some changes in yourself in order to better demonstrate the quality you wish for your child. Our children are our spiritual teachers and one of their most impressive ways of teaching is by helping us realize that when we change our thoughts and feelings, everyone and everything around us reflects those changes. 

Now that you have some specific intuitive insights into how you can help your child, here are four more general spiritual parenting ideas for you to consider as well.

Spend Quality Time with Your Kids

There’s very good news for those of us who’re concerned that the material world might be unduly influencing our youth. A recent nationwide poll commissioned by the non-profit Center for a New American Dream reported that American kids want more time with friends and family – not more things that money can buy. A whopping 90 percent of kids aged 9-14 told pollsters that their friends and family were “way more important” than buying new stuff; 57 percent of these youngsters said they’d rather have fun with their parents than go shopping at the mall. Sixty-three percent of the children surveyed said they wished their parents had more free time to do things together, while only 13 percent wished their parents made more money. Interestingly, 58 percent of the children surveyed said they felt pressure to buy stuff in order to fit in, but 81 percent mentioned they felt that lots of kids place way too much importance on buying things. 

Find Special Times to Talk

Have you ever noticed that when you want to talk to your child about something spiritual, they seem distracted or uneasy? You might find that by raising these subjects in ways that make your child feel more comfortable, you’ll have better discussions. Recent research shows that children are most open to discussing things when they aren’t required to make eye contact. This means that your child’s favorite times to delve into deep conversation will likely be when you are: driving together in the car, going on a walk together, or tucking your child in at bedtime. Since children are most likely to approach parents in times of crisis when they frequently talk with their parents, there’s added incentive to find the best times to talk to your child. 

Keep Your Comments Positive 

Have you ever noticed how sometimes you find yourself hearing a phrase your mom or dad frequently said to you, even if it was something you wish you could forget? Do you recall ever feeling devastated by something someone said to you when you were growing up? One of the single best things you can do for your child is to watch your tongue and make sure that what you are saying is something you want your child to be mentally repeating over and over inside their head for the rest of their life. One of the biggest hurdles that most people have to overcome is facing down their negative self-talk, things like, “You shouldn’t sing, because you have a voice like a frog.” You have greater power than you may realize to influence children with your words, so please choose your comments with care. 

Share Spiritually-Oriented Books and Films

One of my favorite ways to open a dialogue with my daughters about spirituality is to watch a movie or read a book together. Subjects like death, God or angels that can seem difficult to bring up out of the blue can arise very naturally in the contexts of stories. Since more spiritually-oriented books and films are available now than ever before, there is much to choose from. I carefully read book and movie reviews, so I have an idea of what sort of issues might be raised before we see the movie or read the book and then enjoy letting the subsequent conversation go wherever it may lead. You can establish a family movie night or reading time and begin your own family book or film club, creating a lifetime of wonderful memories for you and your child to enjoy.

Cynthia Sue Larson is the author of Karen Kimball & the Dream Weaver’s Web, a lively spiritual adventure about a young girl who masters her unique psychic skills in order to solve a dangerous mystery at swim camp. To order this book or subscribe to Cynthia’s free RealityShifters News ezine, visit Cynthia’s web site at http://realityshifters.com/ or write to her at P.O. Box 7393, Berkeley, CA 94707-7393