Photo by Helena Jankovičová Kováčová
Julius Mosley II was a curious child before he became a tool to spread God’s word. Children’s impressionable minds can get them interested in learning about God at a young age, and parents are the most crucial tool for this development.
Children are the most skeptical and questioning about the things they see. In between asking where they come from or why they exist, they are naturally inquisitive. Their impressionable minds often lead children to ask questions about anything and everything under the sun, reflecting on the most random things. However, while this is true, children also openly believe in Santa Claus and concepts related to the magical Christmas.
Why?
Children don’t readily believe in anything. But they do believe and are trusting of what others tell them. Almost anyone around them repeatedly tells children that Santa is real, and because of this testimony, they give credence to the idea of a white-bearded man giving children gifts. Perhaps, it’s to cultivate their imagination or encourage them to be good all year long to receive Santa’s gifts. Either way, children believe in Santa, and it’s because parents endorse this idea.
The Big Conversation
As Christians, parents should use children’s impressionable minds to instill in them the belief in God. Childhood can be the perfect time to slowly teach them religion, as they are still open-minded and accepting of anything taught to them. This can be the opportune time to introduce them to different religious materials and teach them the wonderful routine of praying.
Others might disagree and believe this can encourage religious moralism. The belief that God will only love them if they behave well can allude that God and His words are mere manuals or standards to ensure everyone acts morally right. Religious moralism can inculcate that children don’t have to believe and have faith in God genuinely, and as long as they behave well, God will love them.
While this moralism isn’t religiously virtuous, it can be a starting point for children who have yet to develop the capacity to understand complex concepts. At this point, parents should aim to ease their kids into religion. If teaching them about the righteousness of God and faith can help children understand God’s message, it should be considered a proper initial step to religion.
From a Child’s Perspective
To facilitate children’s comprehension of religious ideology, parents must teach them from their perspective. They must meet their eyes and see how they process and understand things.
For instance, author Dr. Julius Mosley II started learning about religion when he was a fourth-grader, curious about the reason for his existence. This interest carved his path toward evangelism and discipleship. Of course, introducing children to religion isn’t going to lead them in the same direction automatically. But what’s going to be a shared experience is children understanding their faith better and realizing that they’ve been given life for a purpose.
Sparking This Curiosity
Though with impressionable minds, children are curious. They will question things’ origin, and parents can use this to insert God into the conversation. This way, parents can teach them about God’s creativity, humility, and the gift of life.
In fact, they can start the questions. By asking thought-provoking questions related to religious concepts, parents engage and encourage a healthy and fun conversation with their children. Throughout the dialogue, parents can guide children’s answers and shape them to how they want them to perceive Him. Various materials list out questions, and conversation-starters children can engage with about God. Parents can use these to motivate learning in children.
Parents can use these for loving reproof when children have a stable perception and imagery of God, His kindness, and the meaning behind His word.
“Remember how you said God is kind for giving people food? Don’t you want to be like him?”
Exemplifying Spiritual Qualities
Aside from inquiring for answers, children actively seek joy. They play games to entertain and amuse themselves. They may prefer to eat chocolates more than vegetables because the former are more satisfying and happiness-inducing. Similar to curiosity, this joy-seeking habit can also encourage and introduce God to children.
Parents can help children see happiness in doing kind deeds, being respectful, or generally being similar to God’s image by associating them with the joy others feel when receiving these. Once they master kindness, parents can introduce to them verses or stories in the Bible that can be related to these.
Sharing the Happiness in Reading the Bible
The Bible is the primary source of information related to religion. Hence, if there’s anything children should be reading or learning, it should be from this material. However, with their comprehension still weaker at this age, it can be challenging and draining for them. They might not even be interested in opening the Bible to read it.
Fortunately, they don’t have to do so alone. Parents can read for them and WITH them. This can become a fun bonding time as a family. This way, children can associate the Bible with a loving bonding memory, encouraging them to be interested in its context once they grow older.
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