(Here is a good place for the adults to share their methods of getting guidance.). “Spirituality can be a visual experience, and when an individual is a participant in discovery, they are more apt to have a better grasp of the concept.”. Where I live, hikers and forest rangers make piles of, usually, flat rocks to mark the route of a trail. This includes anything from cross-stitching to oil painting to Origami. Copyright 2021 Morris Media Network. Physical activities prove to be a wonderful way to achieve the mind-body harmony, and it can affect your spiritual growth in the most positive way. Music truly connects the body and mind to the soul. Spiritual wellbeing is about our inner life and its relationship with the wider world. This is how well you truly know yourself or your own soul. This might be fine for the most part, but truthfully one of the best things you can do to enhance spiritual growth is to spend some time totally alone with just yourself and your thoughts. In the high desert you could easily get lost without these “sign posts” along the trail. This includes anything from cross-stitching to oil painting to Origami. Suggested Affirmation As we seek spiritual growth, we should pray to God and ask for wisdom concerning the areas He desires us to grow in. Spiritual growth is an invitation and opportunity for those that follow Jesus. There are seven aspects of personal spiritual growth that need to be understood as one goes through the process of growing in … Here are 5 non-traditional ways to promote your spiritual health and well being. Lesson 2. Now that the plant has grown, a change is necessary so it can continue its growth. Challenge your congregation to take responsibility for their spiritual growth and teach them how they can be more intentional. “Many hard-to-understand truths can be symbolized by easy-to-understand objects,” she says. 5 (Non-Spiritual) Activities That Promote Spiritual Growth Arts/Crafts. The ability to accept those who are different from them is also a big indicator. The Book of New Family Traditions (Running Press, 2003) by Meg Cox, Living Simply with Children (Three Rivers Press, 2003) by Marie Sherlock. Family worship is the time when a household gathers for prayer, Bible reading, and spiritual conversation. Read spiritual and uplifting books. These are some of the questions that this lesson is designed to answer. How connected you are to your own inner space, or your base instincts and inclinations is a pretty clear indicator of spiritual health. Jenkins, who goes by Pegi-Joy in her private life, says she loves the idea of tangible things to express spirituality. Arts and crafts takes you away and if you are doing it fully in the moment and enjoying it what will happen... Music. Clear vibratory tones have even been used as part of traditional medicinal practices since ancient times. This promotes a full activation and connection between mind, body, and spirit. Taking part in music. Another way to keep on the right trail is to watch for the rock formations (such as arrow shapes) left behind by friends who preceded you. Good spiritual health can manifest in a couple of different ways. Five Keys to “Family Worship” The activities can be adapted according to the children’s ages and interests, as well as parental philosophy. A person does not have to say their prayers, attend sacred services or devote any special specific time or money to anyone in order to be spiritually connected or active. There are many things that help keep us on the right path when we are hiking through the woods, desert or anywhere out in nature. Spiritual growth is the process of deepening your understanding of yourself and your place in the energetic system of the world. As you begin to grow your spirituality you will become awakened and more conscious of the personal elements that are creating your perception and how it is affecting the world around you. Meditate for at least 15 minutes every day. Spiritual growth is an invitation and opportunity for those that follow Jesus. By being present and in the moment. Help them see change as a means of “becoming,” and use examples like an acorn breaking apart to sprout a new tree or a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. You want to help them develop the most important relationship of all—their relationship with God. What kind of guidance, prayers or listening within do you use?” Discuss when you might need help to get back on the path. A healthy spiritual connection in yourself can be cultivated by raising your personal awareness and being as present at the moment as possible. Nurturing Spirituality in Children: Simple Hands-on Activities by Peggy Joy Jenkins, Ph.D. Something More: Nurturing Your Child’s Spiritual Growth (Viking, 1991) by Jean Grasso Fitzpatrick, Unplug the Christmas Machine—A Complete Guide to Putting Love and Joy Back into the Season (HarperCollins Publishers, 1991) by Jo Robinson and Jean Coppock Staeheli, Books for Children In middle school and high school, teenagers need us to model conversations with God and teach them how to have conversations of their own. Discuss how, in order to grow and become all that they can be, children must change their old ideas about themselves. While some might balk at the idea of trying to measure a student’s spiritual growth, it is possible to evaluate indicators and perceptions to make sure your institution is doing all it can to promote the spiritual development of students. What can you do if you feel lost? Compare the pot to the children’s old ways of thinking about themselves. Spiritual growth is a lifelong process that depends on our study and application of God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and our walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26). And preach a series about it annually. Spiritual growth is hand-crafted, not mass-produced. Suggested Affirmation Your family eats physical food together in order to nourish your bodies. Spiritual wellbeing means the ability to experience and integrate meaning and purpose in life through a person's connectedness with self, others art, music, literature, nature, or a power greater than oneself. People often compare spirituality and religion as if they are the same thing, but this is very misguided. Working with your... 2. Evaluating Spiritual Wellness: A Guide. The second way this manifests is in an individual manner. A healthy spiritual connection within yourself can be cultivated by raising your personal consciousness and being as present in the moment as possible. Getting out and exercising doesn’t necessarily have to mean going to the gym or doing push ups or running a mile, it can be low impact and soothing, swimming in a cool pool or hiking a beautiful mountain trail. Even if you are injured or out of shape, some form of (appropriately safe) exercise is nearly always recommended by medical and spiritual healers. Lord, this is what I desire to do, and I pray I may come to know You more and more each day. Either way, it is thoroughly cathartic and useful for documenting and being able to see the progress you’ve made over time. Her activities include objects found in the home or nature to clarify spiritual concepts through fun, sensory-rich activities. e-Kit consists of a variety of activities and tools that are designed to enhance one’s spiritual journey. Activities that stimulate social and emotional development can enhance your child's ability to relate with others and boost feelings of confidence 1.Social and emotional competence is important for academic and occupational success 2 3.Healthy social and emotional skills can reduce the chances of risky behaviors and prepare your child for the challenges of life 1. Many people achieve this through traditional practices like meditation or yoga, but this can also be achieved by coming into contact with the things that you have passion and love for. If you do not know how to meditate, it is easy to find books, websites or... 3. Movement and physical activity not only promote a healthy body and efficient function of joints and muscles, but it also encourages your brain to release more of the chemicals that make us alert and keep us content. Yoga, in particular, is effective at detaching you from reality and helping you grow spiritually. Her activities include objects found in the home or nature to clarify spiritual concepts through fun, sensory-rich activities. A Prayer For Spiritual Growth Heavenly Father, You have called us to grow in grace, to increase our understanding of Jesus and to develop a close and intimate relationship with You. Preach a series on spiritual progress to launch your spiritual growth path. 5.Do nothing. If this isn’t the case, you did it wrong. “Many hard-to-understand truths can be symbolized by easy-to-understand objects,” she says. All human beings need movement in order to thrive. First, there is the collective or cultural spiritual health; This is something you see in a society, for example, the way they treat the elderly or the attitude toward impoverished members of that society. We rely on very subtle inner cues to inspire us creatively, and this can be an incredibly informative process to go through while also being downright fun. The purpose of this lesson is to encourage us along the path of spiritual maturity. 10 Tips for Spiritual Growth 1. Resources to Help Nurture Spiritual Growth & Exploration, Books for Parents Consider starting prayer journals for each of your children. 1. One way you can help children grow spiritually is by opening their eyes to... 3) … PDF documents sent via email in zipped folder. The following activities are excerpted with permission from “Nurturing Spirituality in Children: Simple Hands-on Activities,” (Atria Books/Beyond Words, 2008). NOTE: To download a the questions in one easy worksheet, click HERE for a DOCX version and HERE for a PDF . Think about what you read, and find out how you can use the information in your... 2. “Roots need a lot of soil to grow in, but these roots have grown so that there is hardly room for any soil. At the end of this, the goal is to feel more hopeful and inspired for future growth. I welcome change in my life because it helps me grow. Simple introspection without any distractions will do wonders for a person’s relationship to their spirituality. This lesson is especially useful when a child is facing a change or a risk, perhaps like joining scouts or a soccer team, going away to camp, staying overnight with a friend for the first time, or entering a new school. This guide discusses the process of children’s growth in faith and the role faith communities play in nurturing children’s various relationships. Taking part in music. The old pot met the needs of the plant at one time and was good for the plant. Jenkins, who goes by Pegi-Joy in her private life, says she loves the idea of tangible things to express spirituality. YOUTH GROUP LESSON ON SPIRITUAL GROWTH. Kids learn through different relationships in their lives, and their spiritual learning is no different. Encourage Spiritual Growth In Your Child: 1) The Prayer Journal: One For You & One For Your Child This includes anything from cross-stitching to oil painting to Origami. The old pot, or the old ways, can be so comfortable that sometimes we need to push ourselves out of our “comfort zone.” If not, our growth will become stunted, just as the plant’s growth is stunted when it’s in a container that’s too small for it. These activities may be done in a group setting, 1 x 1, or independently. Whether you are just listening and experiencing it or playing it yourself, music is a wonderful tool for self expression and exploration. Many spiritual leaders throughout history have endured excruciating pain and suffering, setting an example for intentionality and dedication to beliefs and practices. Family worship is a spiritual meal to nourish your souls. Spending time with nature is one of the best spiritual activities for self-care that we can do to help us achieve optimal well-being. A real houseplant that has become bound by its roots in its current pot and needs transplanting. Listening or playing, music has the ability to evoke an emotional response within you like nothing else. Writing is a unique form of expression in the sense that you can use it as an outlet for extremely intimate and private thoughts in the first person, or you can use it as an extension of yourself, expressing things through metaphor or symbol in a different narrative. Many people achieve this through traditional practices like meditation or yoga, but it can also be achieved by getting in touch with the things you have passion and love for. Some do this through a meditative practice, but it can also be done just by withdrawing into a quiet place where you’re comfortable and safe to question and work on yourself without fear of judgment or disturbance. They are not activities I do for spiritual extra-credit. At New Song, we teach people about Next Steps twice a year. (I mean that in the nicest possible way, of course!) May 9, 2019 - Explore Play Eat Grow's board "Spiritual Growth for Kids", followed by 4199 people on Pinterest. Dr. Peggy Joy Jenkins, Ph.D., recently republished Nurturing Spirituality in Children, which contains simple hands-on activities for beginning, advanced and experienced learners. curricular Activities, students moderately agree that co-curricular activities improved their spiritual growth (M= 3.27, SD= 0.941). Life & Relationships Explore resources to help you live out your life and relationships in a way that honors God. I can connect with the Spirit within and always know what I am to do. Options include tea rituals, meditation, kid-friendly rituals, and more. A study shows that spending time in nature dramatically reduces stress and is also anti-inflammatory. Tactile arts and crafts. Similarly, a person who regularly follows rigid religious practices isn’t necessarily particularly spiritually connected themselves. If you don’t use a houseplant, explain that the mass of string represents the roots of the flower. Recommended: 12 Ways To Naturally Raise Your Vibration. It takes an active posture to encourage growth. They are what John Wesley called "means of grace." This includes anything from cross-stitching to oil painting to Origami. activities to promote spiritual growth. We can ask God to increase our faith and knowledge of Him. For the relationship among Spiritual Growth components and assessment of Co-curricular activities, only the students’ level of responsibilities and the assessment of co-curricular activities has significant relationship (r = 0.438, p = 0.017). All rights reserved. If a rootbound plant is not available, use a tiny clay flowerpot or a small cardboard transplanting pot, a tangled mass of string stuffed into the pot and an artificial flower inserted into the string mass. Spending time in nature. See more ideas about bible for kids, bible lessons, kids church. Tactile arts and crafts. 5 unconventional activities that promote Spiritual Growth - I don’t really know what spirituality mean to you, but I do know what spirituality mean to me. Something about music can move us in psychological and emotional ways like nothing else can. It also gives us time to reflect. Many people achieve this through traditional practices like meditation or yoga, but it can also be achieved by getting in touch with the things you have passion and love for. Working with your own hands to make something original or beautiful is always a great way to express yourself with authenticity. These are just a few suggestions of the many applications of the Spiritual Health Profile. These are both extremely useful for spiritual growth, and in fact, according to the Spiritual Research Foundation If yogic asanas and pranayam are complemented with other forms of spiritual practice to purify the mental body and other bodies then a person can achieve rapid spiritual progress in his lifetime. Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth. 5 (Non-Spiritual) Activities That Promote Spiritual Growth, 12 Ways To Naturally Raise Your Vibration, How to Develop Your Inner Strength and Power. Below are 5 non-spiritual activities you can do that will promote your spiritual … The S.P.I.R.I.T. Gender-Guessing Myths and Facts, Where to Ski, Snowboard and Tube Within a Short Drive, Penn Holderness on Family Life, Parenting, YouTube and Health, What to Do When Your Baby Hates Tummy Time, Meet Pablo, Uniqua and Tyrone of The Backyardigans at Tweetsie Railroad. “We are on a trail called Life, and we can get off the path easily without guidance. 5 (Non-Spiritual) Activities That Promote Spiritual Growth 1. Tactile arts and crafts. There are two varieties of yoga: asanas and pranayam. Teach them to pray. Also includes access to a meditation video. This can be achieved through more traditional spiritual practice such as meditation or yoga, but it can also be achieved through connecting with the things you love. Here are 5 non-traditional ways to promote your spiritual health and well being. Materials Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem (Random House Children’s Books/Schwartz & Wade, 2008) by Maya Angelou, A Faith Like Mine: A Celebration of the World’s Religions through the Eyes of Children (DK Publishing Inc., 2005) by Laura Buller, Hope Is an Open Heart (Scholastic Press, 2008) by Lauren Thompson, Wish: Wishing Traditions Around the World (Chronicle Books, 2008) by Roseanne Thong. In these modern times of technology and media, many of us are left with almost no time in the day during which we have no external stimuli engaging our senses. Working with your... 2. 2) Thankfulness: A Lesson On Gratitude Bugg Magnet Elementary is Perfect for Tech-Minded Students in NC Triangle, New Display Debuts at the NC Museum of History, Wake County Schools to Remain All-Remote Until Mid-February, Boy or Girl? 5 (Non-Spiritual) Activities That Promote Spiritual Growth 1. We need to remove the plant from the old pot and put it into a larger one, or the plant will always be limited in size.”. Spiritual strength does not come passively. If you’ve been talking to God for a while, it’s easy to forget how strange prayer can seem to someone who hasn’t been talking to God for an entire lifetime. Explain that people are just like the plant, and at times we, too, need more room to grow. Better still, you can engage yourself in activities like swimming, hiking and team-games. Public Domain from pixabay. When we think about how spiritual growth happens, the first thing that comes to our minds are the typical habits of going to church, prayer, reading the Bible, having a quiet time, journaling, etc. Lesson Recommended: How to Develop Your Inner Strength and Power. If you want a helping hand (and a dash of old-school earth magic), check out the rituals suggested by Magickal Folk – their curated packages come with herbs, crystals and more with an emphasis on healing, grounding and connection. 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