In South Australia "Child and Youth Health" is an organisation that promotes the health, well-being and development of children, young people and families by providing support, services and information.

A few years ago a search of their site revealed that "spirituality" appeared in just 1 article. Today

a search for "spirituality" hit some 6 pages! Spirituality was most discussed in the context of cancer; and grief and loss. However, there were some general tips taken from article "Your child's spiritual development" that was dated 5th June 2000.  CYH recognised that your child's spiritual development is important. Do you?!

They state "Some of the different aspects of spirituality include - "a sense of awe and wonder", "a sense of a higher purpose than self-service or self-preservation", "making peace, rather than war", "recognition of the common needs of people or every culture and creed" and "an invitation to silence in order to reflect on the meaning of life."". From their article some ways that you can support your child's spiritual development include:

• making quiet times where you and the child can listen to and think about the world around you
• planting seeds and thinking about the rhythm of nature - how seeds grow, how birds migrate, how caterpillars turn into butterflies
• caring for the environment, putting rubbish in bins, not wasting water…
• friendliness to neighbours
• helping someone in need
• going out into the country or looking up into the night sky and the stars
• family celebrations of special times eg birthdays, home-comings, new developments such as starting school, getting new teeth, starting teens…
• telling family and cultural stories
• laughing with each other (in ways that hurt no-one)
• making sure that your children feel safe and loved.

All these beneficial suggestions just touch the surface of what we know about the spiritual lives of children and how to help them thrive in that dimension. It is an amazing and exciting area of parenting; one of the most 'recent discoveries' if you like, as the world shifts from the 'modern era' and its values and loves, to what some term 'post-modern'.

Eitherway, spirituality is still something many are afraid to talk about; others connect it instantly to (bad) religion; still others dismiss it as identical to Christianity. But it is a huge area; an untrodden area; a largely unknown area that many think will lead us to new levels of 'ourselves' before we can take children there also. Enjoy thinking "SPIRITUALITY"!!