My kids are asking why they have to go to church every Sunday when their friends stay home and play. I want to teach them about faith but I'm struggling to make it relevant to them at ages 7 and 9. What do you guys do to help your kids understand that worshipping God is important? I don't want to just say 'because I said so.'
Tough one. I try to frame it like this is our family tradition and time together, not just about the rules. My kids respond better when they know it's something we do as our people.
I'm still figuring out the faith stuff with my daughter myself, but I think kids eventually understand that some things matter beyond just having fun in the moment. Stick with it.
The thing is kids don't care about theology yet. They care about why dad thinks it's important enough to make them go. What if you found something FUN about it for them? Youth group, a friend who goes, donuts after... something that's not just the requirement.
Honest answer? You explain that different families do different things and this is what YOUR family does. Their friends doing something different doesn't make it wrong. My kids still complained but respecting that this is our thing helped.
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I'm still figuring this out with my newborn, but I think it has to be about WHY it matters to you, not just the rule. Like if church is important to your family's values, maybe frame it that way instead of just 'we have to go.'