Celebrating your beliefs with your children

As the holiday season is upon us, it is easy to become overwhelmed by the never-ending ads for the newest electronic gadget or get caught up in decorations or arranging travel plans to spend the holidays with family. However, it is important for parents to slow down and teach children the reason why you practice what you practice, why you believe what you believe, and how holiday traditions became a part of your family. Here are a few ways that you can celebrate and share your beliefs with your children this holiday season…

1. Get your child involved in the rituals of your beliefs. For example, allow them to light the Hanukah lights or read the prayers. Make use of an Advent calendar to help prepare them for the birth of Christ. Or engage in another faith-based activity together. Make how you practice your faith fun and real.

2. Explain and get your child involved in the traditions of your family. Adapt your traditions to the needs of your family. Get everyone involved in an age appropriate task. Engage in activities such as decorating your home for the holidays, going to the mall and taking pictures with Santa, ice-skating at Rockefeller Center, attending a winter festival in your town or you may want to start a new holiday tradition for your family.

3. Lead by example. Children learn by imitation. Participate in activities, such as volunteering at a soup kitchen or donating old winter coats together as a family to actively illustrate the fundamental principles of your beliefs. Allow your child to see you “practice what you preach”.

4. Help your child connect with the community around them by celebrating the values of your belief system. For example, followers of Kwanzaa may teach their children how to come together within the family, community, nation and race as they practice Umoja (unity). Christians may illustrate the importance of it is “better to give than to receive” and practice being generous not only with loved ones but strangers as well.

5. Demonstrate respect for others beliefs even when they are different than your own. And do not be afraid to talk about differences. It is hard not to be aware that the time after Thanksgiving until December 25th is dominated by Christmas and all things red and green. However, there are other holidays that are celebrating their faith at this time of year. Expose your child to other belief systems to help promote understanding and tolerance.

Raising happy, healthy well-adjusted children is the goal of every parent and caregiver. Aside from love, the gift of faith or sharing what you believe with your child can help to empower them, teach them to respect and trust others, and give them hope. It teaches them to celebrate the unique aspects of your family’s belief system as well as demonstrating the fundamentals of those principles towards others. And most importantly, it is a more meaningful way to grow closer to your child.

By Belinda Plowell, MSW, PsyD