Mindful Parenting: Raising Spiritual Children

Happy Mother’s Day to all the strong and resilient mamas out there! I’m a toddler mom with a baby on the way (send help!), and it’s been quite a journey. Raising children is a tough job, especially in an unkind world. As a child, I had a hard time connecting with my peers. I lacked self-confidence and was afraid to be myself. I was always interested in spirituality but didn’t get into it until I was out of college. Opening my mind and heart to spiritual practices and beliefs has changed my life in a big way. I’m more loving and accepting. I have tools I can use to protect my boundaries and find peace through life’s ups and downs.  I’m in tune with my inner self and have learned to trust and always listen to my intuition. I am confident and surround myself with people who are good for my energy. And I want the same for my children.

Setting a strong spiritual foundation for my kids is important. I want my kids to be self-aware and lean into their inner spiritual tools to help guide, protect, and support them as they grow and experience life. Do you want the same for your kids?

Here are some easy ways to get started on your spiritual parenting journey

Disclaimer: Let’s be real. Our kids aren’t going to be masters of meditation. That’s not the point. The idea is to start teaching them from a young age how to tap into their inner power through easy exercises. I’m also NOT a child development expert. I’m just sharing my personal journey in the hope that it’ll inspire your path to spiritual parenting.

Breathing Exercises for Children

Let me start by saying that my toddler is extra! He can go from smiling and laughing to a full-on the world is ending tantrum in a split second. It’s truly amazing – HA! So, one thing I started doing was encouraging him to take deep breaths. When things take a turn to crazy town, I take a much-needed deep audible breath and ask him to do the same. TBH, my kid ignores the breathing technique 98% of the time. But that’s ok because, with consistency, it’ll eventually (fingers crossed!) become a habit. You prob already know the benefits of breathwork and how it recenters, calms, and reconnects us to our present. It’s a tool anyone can use during stress, even our kiddos.

Prayers and Manifestation for Children

This one may look different for everyone depending on your religious beliefs. I don’t practice a formal religion. I believe in spirituality, karma, and energy, so I keep prayers pretty simple. Before bed, I pray with my son, thanking the Universe for our health and all the good that happened during the day. Even if nothing happened – expressing gratitude for play, friends, and family works. I also will ask the Universe to send us positive gifts and energy for the future. I like to tell my child that what you ask for and put out into the Universe comes back to you, and it’s important to express gratitude and believe in things you really desire.

Mindful Creative Activities

From yoga to painting and music, there are so many fun activities for stimulating your child’s creative mind. Kids have incredible imaginations and creative gifts, which often shut down as they grow older - thanks to adult criticism and judgment. From a holistic parenting perspective, it’s my duty to give my kids the freedom and space to let their creativity blossom. My son started a music class at eight months old, and it’s so cool to see how much he’s grown to love music and how he knows the chorus and hand gestures to popular nursery rhymes. Here are some activity ideas for sparking creativity:

• Music class
• Yoga
• Art
• Dance
• Puppet shows
• Nature walks

Practicing Empathy

Being empathic opens our minds and tunes us into a deeper sense of self-love and acceptance, which is key to a strong spiritual connection. Empathy is developmental. It is a skill that is learned and developed over time. Although, some kids are natural empaths (hello, future Psychics!) or are just blessed with an empathic personality. For the rest of us who are teaching our kids to be good people, I’ve found that investing in children’s books that inspire empathy is a great first step. Look for books about kindness, helping, and listening to others. I like to reference these stories when my kid feels frustrated, and it seems to work for us.

Mindfulness Journaling for Kids

Obviously, my two-year-old isn’t going to make journal entries anytime soon. But I saw a really cool idea that I plan to try once my kiddos are a little older. Hang a large chalkboard in your kitchen or the main gathering area in your home. Create a space on the chalkboard for a daily mantra. Ask your kids how they’d like to feel today or what they want to accomplish. You can even just keep it simple with positive keywords of the day. Every morning at breakfast, jot down positive words or goals and let your kids dictate what gets posted on the chalkboard. This is a fun way to introduce journaling and positive affirmations.

Ask a Psychic for Holistic Parenting Tips

Many of our Psychics here at PathForward specialize in relationships and family. If you’re curious about spiritual parenting or think your child might have intuitive gifts, connect with a Psychic! I am currently pregnant with a girl (baby #2), and one of our Psychics told me that my daughter and I would have a spiritual bond through energy healing which is pretty amazing! I hope this blog post gave you some good ideas for your mindful parenting journey. I wish you the best of luck!

From one mom to another, Happy Mother’s Day!

Xo.

Read more articles by Your PathForward Blogger Samantha.

“If you’re feeling inspired, I recommend chatting with a Psychic who specializes in this area of expertise. And remember, YOU are smart, strong, and capable of anything you set your mind to!” – Your PathForward Blogger Samantha