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Is the Spiritual Growth of Children Important?
‘If we can guide them from an early age
Then they won’t need to be middle age to know…
Many of the answers come from within’ (Pick-a-WooWoo)
Before you think that this article is about Religion, please stop. Spirituality is considered to be a ‘part of a genre of talking about meaning, and talking about what's sacred in life but not necessarily being part of a specific religious tradition.’ Many people these days say they are spiritual but not religious. So what does it mean and why is it important for our children?
As the wonderful Shirley MacLaine states “We care for our body, we educate our mind, but all too often we ignore the most vital part of ourselves. Imagine what the world could be if each of us were more cognizant and nurturing of our spirit”.
Put simply, ‘Spirituality is a state of connectedness to all life, honouring diversity in unity. It is about a deeper sense of purpose and place. It is an experience of being, belonging and caring. It is sensitivity and compassion, joy and hope. It is the harmony between the inner life and the outer life. It is the sense of wonder and reverence for the mysteries of the universe and a feeling of the purposefulness of life. It is about connectedness and the highest aspirations of the human spirit’.
To grow spiritually in a world defined by power, money, and influence is a mammoth task not only for us adults, but for our children too. Modern conveniences for the adult and child such as electronic equipments, gadgets and tools as well as entertainment through television and the web have predisposed us to confine our attention mostly to physical needs and wants.
As a result, our perception of self-worth and self-meaning are often muddled. Many of us have sought to strike the balance between the material and spiritual aspects of our lives. As parents we also have the responsibility to keep our children engaged with their spirit (their compass within) so that they too can use this to journey through their lives.
A ‘Spiritual Parent’ honours the inner life of their children rather than just paying attention to their behaviour. They set out to nurture and to ignite that connection that our children come to us with.
Or would you prefer your child to be spiritually illiterate? Meaning, the child does not see the web which connects us with other people and the natural world. They do not have access to open doors of information and inspiration that leads to more fulfilling lives. Like other illiteracies it is possible your child could live in a shallower world with fewer opportunities, limited meaning and a reduced capacity to create preferred futures.
In ‘Care of the Soul’ by T.Moores he states “Some might go further to say that being spiritually illiterate can lead to increased feelings of purposelessness, disconnection, isolation and loneliness in the world.”
Spirituality and morality are a celebration of the human spirit and therefore an essential part of all life. The teaching of values that encourage caring and loving people and a compassionate and loving society should not be left to chance.
Parents can help children express and experience their spirituality in whatever way works for them. An excellent starting point can be for us to see things through the child’s eyes. Essentially, this helps us see the individuality of every child; whatever makes them happy, what captivates them and what questions they seek answers for. This course of action will in turn enhance our own spirituality.
It is scientifically proven that happy children have happy parents and interesting parents create interesting children. Therefore it goes without saying that we have to ‘walk-our-talk’ when it comes to our spiritual growth, in order for it to be seen in our children.
Help children to see what their real values are in life and what is innate within themselves and how they treat others and not in what they possess. . Show them there is no value in things, the constant need for more, as it is only temporary and you are never fulfilled.
As adults, parents, grandparents or caregivers, you can offer spiritual nurturing throughout the day in a number of very simple ways. It can be done through a reply to a child’s conversation, or listening to words of an enchanting song; delighting in the clouds in the sky and the wonders and beauty of nature or simply resting in the quietness of the moment. Even our pets can be the best model to show what unconditional love looks like.
Spiritual nurturing can occur when you carefully select stories that are about reading the sacred in everyday life, in nature, at home or even in the classroom. Stories that embrace love, touch the heart, kindle the spirit and enlighten the mind.
Equally, you can be models of acceptance and show respect for all life...plants, animals, Mother Earth and humans. As an adult or parent you can help a child to see that everyone has something special to offer, that life is not about winning or losing but love, compassion and understanding. You can help a child practise conflict resolution or not to develop envy for example, if someone has something bigger or better be genuinely pleased for them.
It is important that you help your children to develop a sense of their own self-direction, confidence, independence and inter-dependence . Before they can understand how outside energies work human’s need to comprehend how they themselves work. When your child is ready you can also teach them how to sit down quietly and look deeply within to see what is happening within (which is important for us to do as well).
Many well know international authors such as Deepak Chopra are indeed as passionate about children’s spiritual skills.
“A child raised with spiritual skills will be able to answer the most basic questions about how the universe works. They will understand the source of creativity both within and outside themselves. They will be able to practice non-judgment, acceptance and truth….And they will be free from crippling fear and anxiety about the meaning of life that is the secret dry rot inside the hearts of many adults.” Deepak Chopra.
Nurturing your child’s spirituality by sharing spiritual stories, exposing them to nature, listening to them, loving them, helping them expand their imagination, encouraging their dreams and celebrating or creating rituals with them, is a gift you can give them that will last their entire lives. In fact, this could be the most valuable legacy you leave your children.
Rachael Kessler of ‘The Soul of Education’ so eloquently and succinctly put why nurturing our child’s spirituality is so important… “The body of a child will not grow if it is not fed: the mind will not flourish unless it is stimulated and guided. And the spirit will suffer if it is not nurtured”.
Growth is a progression thus to grow in spirit is a day-to-day occurrence. Sometimes it is easy sometimes it is hard, but the most crucial point is that we learn and from this knowledge, further spiritual growth is made possible. This is a spiritual journey for you and your child to enjoy.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Affirmation Child’s Craft
Building Self-Esteem With a Two-Part Craft Project by Author Connie Bowen
One thing I know for sure – it’s never too early to start learning to think positive!
Here is a simple craft that children ages five through seven will enjoy creating. It involves two parts: one is making the three dimensional craft, and the other is writing and repeating an affirmation. Affirmations are positive first-person statements written in the present tense. They are often repeated throughout the day. It’s all a matter of giving our subconscious minds a positive blueprint for a happy, abundant life.
This project is suitable for a small group of children also, for say a classroom or a church group.
Materials needed: (available at your local craft store)
A small mirror, maybe 2-3 inches in diameter. It can be any shape. It needn’t be perfectly round.
A small amount of air-dry nontoxic colored clay. Crayola makes a brand of clay that will work fine. Because it is air-dry clay, the project will not have to be baked in an oven, and it will harden in 24 hours.
Method:
Step 1. Each child chooses a small amount of colored clay. The clay can be squished and blended, streaked or whatever design the children want to do.
Step 2. Mold the clay into a lumpy ball shape. Place one edge of the mirror on the top of the lump and push down, so that the bottom of the lump now makes a flat base, and the mirror is partway stuck into the clay. The lump should now “stand up” by itself, with the mirror placed firmly in the top part of the clay.
Step 3. The lump can be “decorated” by pushing in the blunt end of a pencil to make holes, and/or striations can be created by drawing lines in the clay with an open paper clip. The children can leave their thumb prints in one area, and smear another area so it is smooth. The only limit is the child’s imagination and common tools found around the house. Clay can be placed on the top edge of the mirror also, to hold it in place. Wipe the mirror clean before the clay completely dries.
Set aside this lovely mirror creation.
The second half of the project involves writing an affirmation to go along with the mirror. Some sample affirmations would be “I value myself.” “I honor who I am.” “I am worthy.” “I love myself.” “My life is filled with good things.” “My life is filled with love.” “I appreciate my special skills and talents.”
A good point to remember is to phrase the affirmation so it has meaning to each individual child. Affirmations can be used to change the energy around any situation.
As an example:
If a child is having difficulty in a certain area of their life, or in school, an affirmation can be used to change and heal the energy around that situation. Repeating “I feel loved and protected all day long,” would help a child dealing with fearful thoughts of feeling alone and vulnerable. “I know what is best for me,” for a child dealing with peer pressure. As long as the affirmation feels natural and not forced, it will have a calming, soothing effect.
It’s very important to phrase affirmations in positive terms, not in negative ones.
As an example, saying “I am no longer selfish” is not an affirmation, and would undoubtedly create a situation of more selfishness. Instead, to feel more generous, a person would repeat “I am generous and loving to myself and others.” And if the person were feeling selfish, perhaps because of an underlying fearful thought of never having enough, an affirmation would be “I am always provided for,” or “I always have everything I need,” or “The Universe is a safe and loving place. I am abundantly cared for.”
Negative statements have a tendency to create more of a situation that is not wanted. As an example, I ran into a friend of mine at the gym. She was upset because she had forgotten her gym bag and now had to skip her workout. She told me she’d been repeating to herself before she left the house, “Don’t forget your gym bag!” Her mind focused on the word “forget,” and sure enough, it created that very fact. If she had been repeating, “Remember your gym bag,” or “I always remember my gym bag,” perhaps she would have been able to work out.
Finishing the children’s craft project:
After the children have written out their affirmation with the help of an adult on a sturdy card or thick paper which when folded can stand up by itself, place the card and the mirror together. The mirror will remind the children of their inner beauty and self-worth as they repeat their affirmation throughout the day.
Anyone of any age can use affirmations to create positive thoughts which in turn will create a wonderful life of beauty, purpose and promise!
Note: Enhancements can also be added to the mirror and affirmation if desired, such as sequins, feathers, paper cut-outs, etc.
© 2010 Connie Bowen ~ All Rights Reserved
http://www.conniebowen.com
Author Bio:
Connie Bowen’s books have sold over 65,000 copies worldwide and still counting! She is the author/illustrator of the beloved children’s affirmation books http://conniebowen.homestead.com/bookgallery.html
I Believe In Me and I Turn to the Light, and illustrator for The Sunbeam and the Wave, and Susan Chernak McElroy’s animal stories of Heart in the Wild and All My Relations.Inside pages of her books can be viewed and enjoyed at http: //www.conniebowen.com. Connie’s story of how I Believe In Me was created originally for her own son is featured in the last chapter of Rosemary Ellen Guiley’s book, Breakthrough Intuition.
One thing I know for sure – it’s never too early to start learning to think positive!
Here is a simple craft that children ages five through seven will enjoy creating. It involves two parts: one is making the three dimensional craft, and the other is writing and repeating an affirmation. Affirmations are positive first-person statements written in the present tense. They are often repeated throughout the day. It’s all a matter of giving our subconscious minds a positive blueprint for a happy, abundant life.
This project is suitable for a small group of children also, for say a classroom or a church group.
Materials needed: (available at your local craft store)
A small mirror, maybe 2-3 inches in diameter. It can be any shape. It needn’t be perfectly round.
A small amount of air-dry nontoxic colored clay. Crayola makes a brand of clay that will work fine. Because it is air-dry clay, the project will not have to be baked in an oven, and it will harden in 24 hours.
Method:
Step 1. Each child chooses a small amount of colored clay. The clay can be squished and blended, streaked or whatever design the children want to do.
Step 2. Mold the clay into a lumpy ball shape. Place one edge of the mirror on the top of the lump and push down, so that the bottom of the lump now makes a flat base, and the mirror is partway stuck into the clay. The lump should now “stand up” by itself, with the mirror placed firmly in the top part of the clay.
Step 3. The lump can be “decorated” by pushing in the blunt end of a pencil to make holes, and/or striations can be created by drawing lines in the clay with an open paper clip. The children can leave their thumb prints in one area, and smear another area so it is smooth. The only limit is the child’s imagination and common tools found around the house. Clay can be placed on the top edge of the mirror also, to hold it in place. Wipe the mirror clean before the clay completely dries.
Set aside this lovely mirror creation.
The second half of the project involves writing an affirmation to go along with the mirror. Some sample affirmations would be “I value myself.” “I honor who I am.” “I am worthy.” “I love myself.” “My life is filled with good things.” “My life is filled with love.” “I appreciate my special skills and talents.”
A good point to remember is to phrase the affirmation so it has meaning to each individual child. Affirmations can be used to change the energy around any situation.
As an example:
If a child is having difficulty in a certain area of their life, or in school, an affirmation can be used to change and heal the energy around that situation. Repeating “I feel loved and protected all day long,” would help a child dealing with fearful thoughts of feeling alone and vulnerable. “I know what is best for me,” for a child dealing with peer pressure. As long as the affirmation feels natural and not forced, it will have a calming, soothing effect.
It’s very important to phrase affirmations in positive terms, not in negative ones.
As an example, saying “I am no longer selfish” is not an affirmation, and would undoubtedly create a situation of more selfishness. Instead, to feel more generous, a person would repeat “I am generous and loving to myself and others.” And if the person were feeling selfish, perhaps because of an underlying fearful thought of never having enough, an affirmation would be “I am always provided for,” or “I always have everything I need,” or “The Universe is a safe and loving place. I am abundantly cared for.”
Negative statements have a tendency to create more of a situation that is not wanted. As an example, I ran into a friend of mine at the gym. She was upset because she had forgotten her gym bag and now had to skip her workout. She told me she’d been repeating to herself before she left the house, “Don’t forget your gym bag!” Her mind focused on the word “forget,” and sure enough, it created that very fact. If she had been repeating, “Remember your gym bag,” or “I always remember my gym bag,” perhaps she would have been able to work out.
Finishing the children’s craft project:
After the children have written out their affirmation with the help of an adult on a sturdy card or thick paper which when folded can stand up by itself, place the card and the mirror together. The mirror will remind the children of their inner beauty and self-worth as they repeat their affirmation throughout the day.
Anyone of any age can use affirmations to create positive thoughts which in turn will create a wonderful life of beauty, purpose and promise!
Note: Enhancements can also be added to the mirror and affirmation if desired, such as sequins, feathers, paper cut-outs, etc.
© 2010 Connie Bowen ~ All Rights Reserved
http://www.conniebowen.com
Author Bio:
Connie Bowen’s books have sold over 65,000 copies worldwide and still counting! She is the author/illustrator of the beloved children’s affirmation books http://conniebowen.homestead.com/bookgallery.html
I Believe In Me and I Turn to the Light, and illustrator for The Sunbeam and the Wave, and Susan Chernak McElroy’s animal stories of Heart in the Wild and All My Relations.Inside pages of her books can be viewed and enjoyed at http: //www.conniebowen.com. Connie’s story of how I Believe In Me was created originally for her own son is featured in the last chapter of Rosemary Ellen Guiley’s book, Breakthrough Intuition.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Psychic Children
We have commenced a new Blogspot because of ftp changes to google Blogspot - thus old articles are now archived and we've started 'a fresh'.
Not only do we (Pick-a-WooWoo) publish children's spiritual books, but we like to share information that is provided to us for our newsletter - and we know you will enjoy. ONe of the titles we have is called - Yes I See Spirit. We are often asked how do we know if our children can see Spirit or are Psychic...well known Australian Pyschic shared with us her view on identifying Psychic Children. We hope you enjoy.
Psychic Kids – How to Identify and Manage Them by Julianna Suranyi
Is my child psychic? What do I do with a psychic child? These are two of the most common questions I am asked by parents and in this article I help you with information to identify and manage psychic kids.
Psychic children are no different to any other children – they don’t come with a pre-packaged halo, special birthmark or capital T for trouble. As with all children they need understanding and to have boundaries set for them. Learning and discussion to encourage your children’s growth and development are also needed.
The only extra ingredient you need for parenting a potentially or confirmed psychic child is an open-minded acceptance that perhaps all the things they are telling you they can hear and see are, in fact, real - even when they do not seem real to you.
Identifying a Psychic Child
The first thing I always advise if you think your child is psychic is to assume that they are. By doing this, and speaking 'to' them about what they share with you rather than 'at' them means that the information they give you will guide your intuition on this.
There are also three key areas to identify in a child with any level of psychic ability: temperament, behaviour and acceptance.
Temperament
A lot of children who are considered to be slightly sensitive, highly strung or introverted are often considered by parents of a similar disposition to be psychic or “sensitive with their intuitive manner”.
You need to be careful that you do not allow behaviours that are unsocial and disrespectful to be misjudged as psychic sensitivity and then over compensate for your child’s bad behaviour by excusing this as behaviour from an intuitively sensitive child.
Why do I say this? Time and time again, I see parents allow a temperamental child to have free reign in the house and outside the house. This temperament has nothing to do with being psychically sensitive but rather is about them being temperamentally sensitive. If you know or think your child is intuitively sensitive, don’t let them indulge in temperamental behaviour if you are unsure of the lines.
Let’s get clear - temperamental and intuitive or psychic kids are not one and the same. Psychic kids are, in my experience, rarely if ever highly strung, evasive or overly sensitive to boundaries.
Psychic kids live in a world that is balanced by a stronger order than us and because they accept guidance from Spirit, they are comfortable being guided with strength and clarity from their parents.
It is parental interpretation that muddies the waters.
Behaviour
Behaviourally speaking, most psychic children are living in a world where at times they are very sharp with what is going on around them - and at other times very vague. They move from one extreme to the other because they will tune in and out of information depending on their age and what their general thinking styles are. Also, depending on how introverted or extroverted they are by nature will determine how physically engaged they are with their world.
Your intuitive child is also usually pretty laid back as they are self entertaining constantly and will often be very amenable and chatty about what they are experiencing – after all, their spiritual world is very real for them and they love to question and share.
Acceptance
The level of acceptance that intuitive children have for all that is in their environment is perhaps the stand-out feature with these little ones. They see a world that they communicate in constantly that is not laced with judgement, discrimination, recrimination and ugliness. They see Spirit as clear, fluid, precise and evolutionary.
They also communicate so mentally that often they will hold silent conversations with animals and those who have communication retardations.
How Do You Manage Psychic Kids?
To raise these children safely and comfortably, so they reach their full potential, you must do the following:
1. Allow them to function in their own time within the Spirit world, yet balance that during real time (or Earth time as my boys like to say) because they have a responsibility to listen to and respect the humanity around them.
2. As with all other children you will need to have a structure that is strong, competent and consistent for psychic children so that they understand socialised behaviours and are open and communicative with their surroundings.
3. You should also let psychic kids know gently that there are some environments that are best to not have their psychic or intuitive ability so that for example, they learn that education is for school hours - but spiritual evolution and development is for all the other hours.
4. And finally, as parents it is essential that we are child-like enough to realise that we do not know everything and cannot see everything, but that their world is still there and very real.
So, if you allow your child to indulge in talking to their Spirit friends, singing with their angels and fairies and having a tea party or soccer match with a deceased grandad, you will find that your little one will develop into an intuitively intelligent and expressive child and then grow into a psychic and balanced adult.
Professional Psychic and Intuitive Profiler Julianna Suranyi helps thousands of people worldwide with personal guidance, behavioral change and spiritual growth online, corporately and in media. For direction and clarity click here to receive her free newsletter: => http://www.julianna.com.au or ask about your future now: => http://www.julianna.com.au/services/life.html
Not only do we (Pick-a-WooWoo) publish children's spiritual books, but we like to share information that is provided to us for our newsletter - and we know you will enjoy. ONe of the titles we have is called - Yes I See Spirit. We are often asked how do we know if our children can see Spirit or are Psychic...well known Australian Pyschic shared with us her view on identifying Psychic Children. We hope you enjoy.
Psychic Kids – How to Identify and Manage Them by Julianna Suranyi
Is my child psychic? What do I do with a psychic child? These are two of the most common questions I am asked by parents and in this article I help you with information to identify and manage psychic kids.
Psychic children are no different to any other children – they don’t come with a pre-packaged halo, special birthmark or capital T for trouble. As with all children they need understanding and to have boundaries set for them. Learning and discussion to encourage your children’s growth and development are also needed.
The only extra ingredient you need for parenting a potentially or confirmed psychic child is an open-minded acceptance that perhaps all the things they are telling you they can hear and see are, in fact, real - even when they do not seem real to you.
Identifying a Psychic Child
The first thing I always advise if you think your child is psychic is to assume that they are. By doing this, and speaking 'to' them about what they share with you rather than 'at' them means that the information they give you will guide your intuition on this.
There are also three key areas to identify in a child with any level of psychic ability: temperament, behaviour and acceptance.
Temperament
A lot of children who are considered to be slightly sensitive, highly strung or introverted are often considered by parents of a similar disposition to be psychic or “sensitive with their intuitive manner”.
You need to be careful that you do not allow behaviours that are unsocial and disrespectful to be misjudged as psychic sensitivity and then over compensate for your child’s bad behaviour by excusing this as behaviour from an intuitively sensitive child.
Why do I say this? Time and time again, I see parents allow a temperamental child to have free reign in the house and outside the house. This temperament has nothing to do with being psychically sensitive but rather is about them being temperamentally sensitive. If you know or think your child is intuitively sensitive, don’t let them indulge in temperamental behaviour if you are unsure of the lines.
Let’s get clear - temperamental and intuitive or psychic kids are not one and the same. Psychic kids are, in my experience, rarely if ever highly strung, evasive or overly sensitive to boundaries.
Psychic kids live in a world that is balanced by a stronger order than us and because they accept guidance from Spirit, they are comfortable being guided with strength and clarity from their parents.
It is parental interpretation that muddies the waters.
Behaviour
Behaviourally speaking, most psychic children are living in a world where at times they are very sharp with what is going on around them - and at other times very vague. They move from one extreme to the other because they will tune in and out of information depending on their age and what their general thinking styles are. Also, depending on how introverted or extroverted they are by nature will determine how physically engaged they are with their world.
Your intuitive child is also usually pretty laid back as they are self entertaining constantly and will often be very amenable and chatty about what they are experiencing – after all, their spiritual world is very real for them and they love to question and share.
Acceptance
The level of acceptance that intuitive children have for all that is in their environment is perhaps the stand-out feature with these little ones. They see a world that they communicate in constantly that is not laced with judgement, discrimination, recrimination and ugliness. They see Spirit as clear, fluid, precise and evolutionary.
They also communicate so mentally that often they will hold silent conversations with animals and those who have communication retardations.
How Do You Manage Psychic Kids?
To raise these children safely and comfortably, so they reach their full potential, you must do the following:
1. Allow them to function in their own time within the Spirit world, yet balance that during real time (or Earth time as my boys like to say) because they have a responsibility to listen to and respect the humanity around them.
2. As with all other children you will need to have a structure that is strong, competent and consistent for psychic children so that they understand socialised behaviours and are open and communicative with their surroundings.
3. You should also let psychic kids know gently that there are some environments that are best to not have their psychic or intuitive ability so that for example, they learn that education is for school hours - but spiritual evolution and development is for all the other hours.
4. And finally, as parents it is essential that we are child-like enough to realise that we do not know everything and cannot see everything, but that their world is still there and very real.
So, if you allow your child to indulge in talking to their Spirit friends, singing with their angels and fairies and having a tea party or soccer match with a deceased grandad, you will find that your little one will develop into an intuitively intelligent and expressive child and then grow into a psychic and balanced adult.
Professional Psychic and Intuitive Profiler Julianna Suranyi helps thousands of people worldwide with personal guidance, behavioral change and spiritual growth online, corporately and in media. For direction and clarity click here to receive her free newsletter: => http://www.julianna.com.au or ask about your future now: => http://www.julianna.com.au/services/life.html
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