Parenting Tips: Teaching Religion to Kids
Labels: Culture and Family
Teach children about church, advice for educating your family on the religious beliefs that you hold, as well as those of world religions.
A young child comes home from a day at elementary school. She seems perplexed, and when her mother finally drags from her what is so troubling, it becomes a lesson in the wonderment of diversity. And it should! Parents and guardians hold the proverbial key to this ages-old form of discrimination.
It seems the little girl's new friend at school this year is Jewish. Jenny doesn't celebrate Christmas. Years ago parents would have touted Jenny and her family as "non-believers" and simply ended it with that. Nowadays parents are more equipped with a better way of handling a situation such as this one.
"Jenny is Jewish?" the mother responds with enthusiasm.
"Yes, and Santa won't come to her house!" the little girl indignantly replies.
"Did Jenny tell you what kind of a celebration her family will have?"
"No. She just said that they don't have Christmas or a Christmas tree in her house, and that Santa Claus doesn't ever come!"
"Well, that must be hard for you to understand," the mother can say. "Let's see what we can find out about Jenny's family's celebration."
Teach your children that Jews and Christians alike believe in the very same God. This will immediately establish a similarity in their young impressionable minds. This element alone can often dispel any myths the child may have heard, and impede any thoughts of prejudice. Go on to explain that while the Jews believed Jesus lived, they don't believe as Christians do that he was the son of God.
Continue with an explanation of the beautiful candle lighting ceremonies that take place on the eight nights of Chanukah. Explain the Jenny's family has probably participated in such rituals for many, many years. Now would be a good time to add that although Jenny's gifts don't come from Santa Claus, she will undoubtedly receive some kind of gift for each of the nights of Chanukah.
Encourage your child to purchase a small gift for his or her Jewish friend. Perhaps a small celebration could be arranged in your home during the daytime in honor of their family's heritage.
These simple tips will enhance the compassion, knowledge, and respect of other ethnicities and religions on behalf of your child. It will further fuse the bonds between children of all religions.
Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate holidays, including Christmas and even birthdays. Many Jehovah's Witnesses keep their children home from school on the day of a holiday party or celebration.
Teach your child to respect these children's religion as well. Their beliefs honor the principals of their religion, and it is only respectful to be considerate of these beliefs. Again, encourage your children to ask questions of their friends, although emphasize using a positive tone.
Rather than, "Why can't you stay for the Christmas party?" teach them to say, "Do you observe any special religious traditions in your faith?" This will foster not only friendship, but acceptance and tolerance. Diversity makes the world what it is today.
And after all, we are all children of the very same God in Heaven!
A young child comes home from a day at elementary school. She seems perplexed, and when her mother finally drags from her what is so troubling, it becomes a lesson in the wonderment of diversity. And it should! Parents and guardians hold the proverbial key to this ages-old form of discrimination.
It seems the little girl's new friend at school this year is Jewish. Jenny doesn't celebrate Christmas. Years ago parents would have touted Jenny and her family as "non-believers" and simply ended it with that. Nowadays parents are more equipped with a better way of handling a situation such as this one.
"Jenny is Jewish?" the mother responds with enthusiasm.
"Yes, and Santa won't come to her house!" the little girl indignantly replies.
"Did Jenny tell you what kind of a celebration her family will have?"
"No. She just said that they don't have Christmas or a Christmas tree in her house, and that Santa Claus doesn't ever come!"
"Well, that must be hard for you to understand," the mother can say. "Let's see what we can find out about Jenny's family's celebration."
Teach your children that Jews and Christians alike believe in the very same God. This will immediately establish a similarity in their young impressionable minds. This element alone can often dispel any myths the child may have heard, and impede any thoughts of prejudice. Go on to explain that while the Jews believed Jesus lived, they don't believe as Christians do that he was the son of God.
Continue with an explanation of the beautiful candle lighting ceremonies that take place on the eight nights of Chanukah. Explain the Jenny's family has probably participated in such rituals for many, many years. Now would be a good time to add that although Jenny's gifts don't come from Santa Claus, she will undoubtedly receive some kind of gift for each of the nights of Chanukah.
Encourage your child to purchase a small gift for his or her Jewish friend. Perhaps a small celebration could be arranged in your home during the daytime in honor of their family's heritage.
These simple tips will enhance the compassion, knowledge, and respect of other ethnicities and religions on behalf of your child. It will further fuse the bonds between children of all religions.
Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate holidays, including Christmas and even birthdays. Many Jehovah's Witnesses keep their children home from school on the day of a holiday party or celebration.
Teach your child to respect these children's religion as well. Their beliefs honor the principals of their religion, and it is only respectful to be considerate of these beliefs. Again, encourage your children to ask questions of their friends, although emphasize using a positive tone.
Rather than, "Why can't you stay for the Christmas party?" teach them to say, "Do you observe any special religious traditions in your faith?" This will foster not only friendship, but acceptance and tolerance. Diversity makes the world what it is today.
And after all, we are all children of the very same God in Heaven!