How to tell children about God: advice from priests on what parents should do

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

If a child grows up in an Orthodox family, then religion naturally enters his life. He sees how his parents pray, goes to church with them, examines the Bible. Quite early on, such a child has questions about faith. Answering them is sometimes more difficult than explaining where babies come from. How to tell a child about God and educate in Orthodoxy from an early age? Let's listen to the opinion of the priests.

Basic mistakes

Archpriest A. Bliznyuk, a teacher at St. Peter's School in Moscow, knows from his own experience how to tell a child about God. He is also familiar with the main mistakes of parents. There are five in total:

1. Lack of time for adults to talk. In this case, the child is simply brushed aside, showing that matters of faith are not so important.
2. Indignation at the "impious" thoughts that the baby expresses. If the desire to baptize a beloved cat is met with reproaches from adults, the child may become withdrawn andstop sharing your opinion.
3. Refuse to answer "stupid" questions. Behind them may be something really important for the baby, so it is more appropriate to be patient.
4. One-time conversation. In order for children to form a three-dimensional idea of God, the same topics should be discussed repeatedly and preferably with different people.
5. Reassessment of one's own knowledge. Not all questions can be answered immediately by a parent, and then it is more correct to admit their ignorance, seek help from a priest or other knowledgeable people.

About God the smallest

Young parents are concerned about when and how to tell their children about God. Toddlers begin to listen to interesting stories around the age of two. At this time, the first conversations on the topics of faith should begin.

The icons and beautiful pictures in the children's Bible are of great interest to the crumbs. Consider them, give short and clear explanations. The text is too early to read. But it is appropriate to show your respectful attitude towards these objects, special love. If the child wants, let him stroke or kiss his favorite character. At this age, children are very emotional. They cannot realize some truths with their minds, but they feel them with their hearts.

Let's play a game

How to tell children about God if they still do not understand the words well? The game is the best way out. After looking at the children's Bible, act out the story with the toys. Build an ark out of boxes and place animal figurines in it. Take the dolls and play birthbaby Jesus.

Remember God while role-playing. Let the bunny and the bear thank the Creator before eating the imaginary porridge. When putting the doll to bed, pray briefly. It's good if you find children's religious songs accompanied by movements.

First prayers

Not all adults understand how to tell a child about God at the age of 3. At this age, kids understand all the words literally, so the Creator will be a kind grandfather from the icon for them. That's enough for now.

At this age, all kids tend to imitate their parents. Teach them to pray like mom and dad. Just don't cram "Our Father". The first prayers should be simple, understandable and extremely short. These can be requests ("God, make Anechka stop coughing. Amen") or gratitude ("God, thank you for the delicious soup. Amen").

Teach your child to stand or sit with a straight back during prayer, not to play around and not to spin. When God grants a simple childish request, focus on it and thank the Creator.

Visiting God

Priests advise as often as possible to come to the temple with the baby. Until the age of 7, children do not need to be specially prepared for communion, to deprive them of breakfast. Children do not yet understand what is happening, but their souls absorb God's grace. It is not necessary to stand the whole service. Show your child beautiful icons, admire the burning candles. You can grab a children's Bible and leaf through it, sitting on a bench. When the baby is tired, go tooutside and let him run.

Closer to 3 years, children begin to wonder who this bearded uncle in a cassock is and why babies are dipped in water. How to teach a child about God and baptism so that he understands you? Avoid complex words and unnecessary details. Explain that the Church is the house of God. The ringing of bells means that the Lord is calling to visit all those who love Him. In the Church, we can talk with God, and the priests help us in this.

There is a cross on the dome of the temple that protects people from everything bad. Everyone who loves God wears the same cross on his chest. It is hung during a special ceremony. That's what it's called - baptism. Babies are dipped in water and prayed for. This helps them grow up to be good. And to make them even kinder and stronger, a rite of communion is held.

Who is God?

Children grow up fast. How to tell a child about God at 4 years old? Psychologists and priests are sure that it is at this age that serious conversations can be held with kids. They are already able to understand that God is invisible, that he is everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Of course, words should be chosen as simple as possible.

Explain that God is the great power that created our entire world, heaven and earth, seas and plants, animals and man. He is invisible, but in our hearts we can feel His love. If we feel bad, we ask God for help, because He is very kind and sympathetic. When we feel good, we thank Him, and He rejoices for us. God wants all people to do good deeds and be happy. As a sign that you areunder the protection of God, you have a cross hanging on your chest.

When they put it on a baby, the Lord gives him one angel. Angels are his helpers. They are also invisible, but they are always next to a person, protect him from illness and danger. If a child obeys, helps adults, shares toys, his angel rejoices. And if the baby behaves badly, the invisible protector gets very upset and cries.

Reading the Bible

The best answer to the question of how to tell a child about God and Jesus Christ is to read the Holy Scriptures. For preschoolers, children's publications with beautiful illustrations, geographical maps and photographs of various biblical places are more suitable. Choose a book approved by the Orthodox Church.

Students and families with children of different ages will need an unadapted Bible. It is better to read it regularly, observing a few rules:

• Get together for reading daily with the whole family.
• Create a festive atmosphere, turn off the lights, light candles.
• Don't delay the event. Ten minutes is enough.
• It is better for adults to prepare in advance for reading, to study the patristic interpretations of the passage. Their lively descriptions can make the episode more vivid and understandable for children.
• Pay the children's attention to the moral aspect of what they read and connect it with ordinary life. Just avoid notations. You want your child to want to be better, not feel like the worst kid ever.
• Allow children to ask anyquestions. If you do not know how to answer them correctly, reason together. As a last resort, consult a priest or other reliable sources, but never leave questions unanswered.

What to watch out for

We found out how to tell a child about God when he is small. Now let's talk about the problems that parents may face:

1. If you raise a child in Orthodoxy, then you yourself will have to deal with issues of faith and build your life in accordance with the commandments. And this requires serious efforts from parents.
2. Kids, like adults, do not always want to work on themselves. It is easier for them to turn the icon to the wall and steal the candy than to cope with their desire. It takes a lot of patience and tact from parents to induce the child to obedience and teach them to fight evil thoughts with the help of prayers.
3. Sometimes children are coerced into good behavior by fearing the wrath of God or talking about demons. As a result, the kid not only loves, but fears the Creator, and at night he has terrible nightmares with the devil in the title role. Protecting your child from bullying is an important task for loving parents.
4. Attempts to instruct comrades on the right path can lead to conflicts in kindergarten and school. Therefore, it is necessary to talk with children about tolerance. The cross must not be shown to anyone. Faith is a very intimate matter, it is wrong to flaunt it in front of other people, to flaunt it, to boast.

We introduce the child to rituals and traditions

Parents often ask how to tell their child about God andOrthodoxy. But deeds are just as important as words. At the age of 7, the child goes to confession for the first time. It is believed that from this age he is able to take a critical look at himself. His conscious spiritual struggle with the evil one begins. Do not dictate to the child what sins he should confess. Let him decide for himself what offenses he is ashamed of. Teach him to notice his evil thoughts and defend himself against them with prayer or the sign of the cross.

From this time on, you can tell children about the deep implications of religious rites. Long services are much easier to bear if the child understands their meaning. Show by your example that going to the temple is a great joy, not a tedious duty. It's good if this is followed by a nice gift or a fun outing for the whole family.

Many questions related to the post. Scientists are sure that periodic abstinence from fast food cannot harm a he althy child. However, fasting is not a diet, but a conscious imposition of certain restrictions on oneself in the name of God. Wrong are those parents who voluntarily deprive their children of sweets, cartoons and computer games. It is better to ask the child himself whether he will fast and what he is ready to give up in the name of God. Only by making independent decisions will he learn to conquer his desires.

Sunday school

How to talk about God and the creation of the earth to a 10-year-old child who is studying the theory of the Universal Explosion at school? How to prove that man was created by the Lord, and not descended from a monkey? Fortunately, most churches have Sundayschools. Classes are taught by priests or pious lay people who know the answers to such tricky questions. Here you can get to know the Bible and the lives of saints, revered icons and religious hymns.

It is highly recommended to send the child to such lessons so that he finds himself among Orthodox children. The child needs to have his own circle of friends connected with Orthodoxy and not directly connected with his parents. This is especially important for teenagers who want to become independent. The restoration of the temple, a pilgrimage trip with peers, an Orthodox camp - all this can be a decisive impetus for a personal meeting with God.

Self choice

Orthodox parents think a lot about how to tell their children about God. They themselves have come to him a difficult path. They want the child to have faith by default and be accepted with gratitude. But this is not always the case. Rebellion often begins in adolescence. The kid who put the icon under his pillow and played father suddenly refuses to go to church.

According to the priests, this is natural. If earlier the child obeyed his parents, now he moves away from them in order to start an independent life. He needs to build his own relationship with God. Any pressure on him is unacceptable. The best thing a parent can do is stop controlling a teenager's religious life.

How to help a rebellious child

How to tell kids about God when they refuse to listenparents? In adolescence, it is easier for them to hear other people: a priest whom the child trusts, peers from an Orthodox club. If a child tells his secrets not to you, but to a confessor, rejoice. So he has his own space in the Church.

Unobtrusively suggest to a teenager that you can come to God with any problem and find support. A dangerous mistake is made by parents who tell their children not to enter church with a Mohawk or after using drugs. On the contrary, it is here that a confused person can receive help and will always be accepted.

How to tell children about God? The main thing in such conversations is your sincerity. Children are keenly aware of falsehood. Avoid her and trust the Lord for everything else.