SanTan
“An award-winning publication” A publication of the
FAMILY FUN
PAGES 2-3
SanTan Family Fun Calendar
PAGE 5 Splash into spring
PAGE 6 Little Gym
PAGE 8 Just 4 Kids Sponsored by
City of Chandler Recreation Division
Resources
“Making a Home for Faith: Nurturing the Spiritual Life of Your Children,” by Elizabeth F. Caldwell
“Unitarian Universalism Is a Really Long Name,” by Jennifer Dant, illustrated by Anne Carter
“Give Your Kids the Keys: Navigating Your Child to a Personal and Sustainable Faith,” by Adam and Katie Stadmiller
“Raising Faith-Filled Kids: Ordinary Opportunities to Nurture Spirituality at Home,” by Tom McGrath
“To Dance with God: Family Ritual and Community Celebration,” by Gertrud Mueller Nelson
“The Kids Book of World Religions,” by Jennifer Glossop
“Children Finding Faith,” by Francis Bridger
“Teaching Kids Authentic Worship: How to Keep Them Close to God for Life,” by Kathleen Chapman
For a list of area places of worship, please consult the Spirituality section on Page 71.
For many parents, teaching children about religion can seem a daunting task. It’s a subject that involves complex theological ideas, family traditions, rules of behavior and sometimes conflicting concepts and beliefs, all with implications that extend to eternity. So how can parents help kids build a foundation of faith that will be effective and lasting?
“Make it natural, the same way you teach your children about good eating habits or basic manners,” advises Lisa Spidle, pastor of early childhood ministries at Chandler Christian Church. “Each person has his own faith walk, and it’s up to parents to help guide their children along this important journey.”
Spidle suggests parents begin with the basics and tailor the conversation to the child’s age and level of awareness.
“Talking to a 4-year-old is quite different than talking to an 8-year- old,” notes Spidle. “With a 4-year- old, you want to convey that ‘God loves you and wants to be part of your life,’ whereas an 8-year- old is ready for the suggestion to ‘invite God into your heart.’” The most effective way to make these lessons about faith stick is for parents to lead by example and incorporate religious guidance into the child’s daily routine.
April 2011
“It’s more important to model moral behavior than to just ‘talk religion’ to children,” explains interim minister of Valley Unitarian Universalist Congregation Rev. Gary Gallun. “Parents can use everyday events in kids’ lives to demonstrate how ethics and values come into play,
teaching things like sharing, being kind, not taking things that don’t belong to you. Children need to understand that these are the rules not ‘because mommy and daddy say so,’ but because these are basic values shared by people who want to live good lives.” As children grow and become more inquisitive, Gallun also recommends allowing them to explore various faiths and ask questions about different belief systems and practices. “Teach children to be ethical and give them a basic structure,” says Gallun, “then let them investigate other religions and encourage curiosity about how different faiths see and understand the world. They can learn the specifics of the parents’ particular faith and still see that all religions have value, they just answer the questions differently. It’s not necessary to think of them as in ‘opposition,’ but rather just different.”
Interfaith families
Raising faith-guided children can be especially challenging for interfaith families in which parents believe in separate religions. Having a healthy respect for various beliefs is crucial in navigating these issues, but parents will still need to agree on “ground rules” regarding how and what to teach the kids. “The best way to handle this is for parents to have a serious conversation before they talk to the children and decide exactly what they’re both comfortable with, whether it’s teaching both religions, focusing on one or some compromise,” says Spidle. “Then each parent has to stick to that and not waver. The last thing
you want to do is to make your children feel like they’re being put in a position where they have to decide who is right, Mom or Dad?”
Spidle suggests whatever approach parents take, they make religious training a joyful and rewarding experience. “It’s very important to make this fun rather than drudgery,” she notes. “We use everything from games to songs to science experiments to encourage children to learn about faith. It’s something they should want to be involved in and be happy to be part of, and families have to set that tone.”
By starting young and staying consistent, parents can help give their children the many benefits of being rooted in faith. These include feeling valued as an individual, belonging to a community of believers and having a framework for facing challenges and obstacles as they grow into adulthood. “Teaching religion is an excellent way for parents to give their children the tools they’ll need to navigate the struggles and hardships of life, and to appreciate the many joys along the way,” says Spidle. “It’s important for children to know that God loves them and always will, and it reinforces the belief that we should show others love and treat them with kindness and respect. That’s a foundation children can rely on throughout their lives.”
Miriam Van Scott of Kerby Estates is a freelance writer and Chandler transplant from the Washington, D.C. area. She can be reached at
Miriam@SanTanSun.com.
Guiding children on own spiritual path
by Miriam Van Scott
What’s Inside
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