Today’s modern era and fast lifestyle is of science and technology. In today’s time, children get access to mobile, laptop and internet from the early age of 4-5 years. Parents are also at fault in this because they try to calm down their crying children by showing them animated YouTube videos or cartoons. There is hardly any discussion of religion in schools. In such a situation, this question is natural – can today’s children be connected to religion, and if yes, then how?
This article focuses on how we can teach or connect children with religion without affecting their modern scientific study and research.
Table of Contents
Start the day with a spiritual practice
Start every day with a prayer or shloka, even if it is for 2 minutes.
For example: “Karaagre Vasate Lakshmi”, “Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah”, “Gayatri Mantra”
You can guide your young ones to recite these mantras immediately after waking up in the morning, or when everyone is sitting together and having breakfast or while praying. Chanting these mantras will not only give mental peace but will also increase the ability of children to concentrate.
Make religion interesting through stories
It is better to tell stories to children rather than lecturing them about religion because small children are able to feel more connected to stories. There must be some reason that in the movie “My Friend Ganesha”, worshipping Ganesh ji has been presented through a story.
There are many life events of Shri Ram, Shri Krishna, Hanuman, Bhishma, Yudhishthira etc. which can be explained through very interesting stories. For example, a story can be recited telling how Hanuman ji is stronger and powerful than Iron Man or Superman. If you want us to make such stories for you, then let us know through the comments.
You must have seen how there are more pictures than texts in the poetry books of small children because through these pictures, children feel more happy in opening the books and reading them. In the same way, introduce them to religion through picture books, audiobooks and animated videos. In today’s time, many religious books with pictures are also available which have been made keeping small children in mind.
Make one day in the week “Culture Day”
It is important that the work you are asking the children to do, you are also doing it yourself and for this, one day every week, Aarti, Bhajan or Katha should be done in the house
- Whenever you light a lamp yourself, make the child light a small lamp too.
- If all this seems too much, then tell the child how important the Sun God is for us and to thank him, offer water to him before going to school on Monday.
By doing all this, religion will not seem like a burden, but an occasion of joy.
Don’t consider festivals as just a holiday – teach their essence
Whenever a festival comes and you have a holiday from the office, consider it as a holiday and go out somewhere or just dance and sing, along with explaining to the children the religious story behind each festival and its importance in society.
For example – Tell them that Diwali is not just a festival of lighting lamps, it is the victory of light over darkness. Also tell them how Shri Ram killed Ravana.
On festivals like Holi, Janmashtami, Shivratri, Ramnavami, simple worship, bhajans, or dramas can be organized at home.
Make going to the temple a “family tradition”
Going to the temple is not just worship, but also a way to experience an atmosphere of collective devotion, discipline, and religiosity.
- Take children along, tell them the names of the idols,
- Tell them why the idol of Krishna is dark in color, tell them why Ram has a bow and arrow and why Krishna does not have a bow and arrow.
- Give children the opportunity to touch the aarti thaali, ring the bell.
I remember here in Pune there is a Shiva temple called “Someshwarwadi” where the aarti and shringar of Lord Shiva is done at 11-12 in the night, I saw small children blowing conches there at night, because when parents came, they started bringing their children along too, now the children would not remember the aarti so soon, so that the children do not feel bored, the parents got them conches.
Now many small children were blowing conches and listening to aarti, albeit in a spirit of competition, because by making such small efforts children gradually start connecting with each other in a spiritual way.
One way to get children to light diyas is to give them already prepared diya wicks. We make diya wicks made of pure desi ghee for every ghar puja. To buy our diya wicks or fragrant incense sticks made from temple flowers, visit our website by clicking here.
Take help of modern resources
Today’s children are technology friendly, so religion has to be made compatible with them:
- Tell shlokas, bhajans, stories for children on YouTube, not “Humpty Dumpty” or “Baa Baa Black Sheep” or “Baby Shark”
- Similarly, get children to join Sanatan dharma apps, e-books, interactive quizzes
- Online “Ramayana Club” or “Gita Classes” are also becoming popular these days.
Connect with the spirit of discipline and respect
The basic objective of religion is practical morality. That is why teach children that –
- One should respect elders
- One should speak the truth
- One should maintain regularity and cleanliness
All these are part of Sanatan values.
Teach love, not fear of religion
Many parents make religion a “tool of fear” – “Don’t do this or else God will get angry.”
Instead explain to them –
- “God is our guide,”
- “Nature and all creatures are a part of God,”
- “Devotion is done with love, not fear.”
In short, to connect children with Sanatan Dharma, it is not necessary that they stay away from modern education. Rather we have to create such a balance where their future is made from modern knowledge, and their character is made from religious knowledge.
For example, if children like to listen to English poems or Bollywood and Hollywood songs, then tell them that okay, you can listen to these songs but along with that you will also listen to Shri Hanuman Chalisa.