Understand Your Child’s Spiritual Development
their teenage years and emerging into adulthood. How can we as parents meaningfully guide and mentor them spiritually through these developmental stages?
Every child is unique with different personalities and developments. Not to mention the different challenges and needs they encounter as they progress from preschool, to primary school, to
In Creative Bible Teaching, Lawrence O. Richards and Gary J. Bredfeldt propose several “spiritual development tasks” that can be addressed as our children mature in age.
1.
Preschool Years • • • •
Experiencing love, security, discipline, joy and worship. Beginning to develop awareness and concept of God, Jesus, and other basic Christian realities. Developing attitudes toward God, Jesus, church, self, and the Bible. Beginning to develop concepts of right and wrong.
Primary School Years • • • •
Receiving and acknowledging Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Growing awareness of Christian love and responsibility in relationships with others. Continuing to build concepts of basic Christian realities. Learning basic Bible teachings adequate for personal faith and everyday living. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
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Praying in daily life. The Bible in daily life. Christian friendships. Group worship. Responsibility for serving God. Basic knowledge of God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, creation, angelic beings, heaven, hell, sin, salvation, Bible history and literature.
Developing healthy attitudes toward self.