Helping Children Understand God Through Kindness: Expert Advice
Speaking to IQNA on the subject of teaching religious beliefs to children, Masoumeh Tabatabaei, an Iranian professor and expert in psychology and philosophy, warned against portraying God as a punishing force.
"Unfortunately, some parents, either out of ignorance or habit, introduce God as someone who only punishes or takes revenge," she said.
Phrases such as ‘If you do this wrong, God will send you to hell’ or ‘God will be angry with you’ may instill fear rather than a genuine connection with faith, she explained.
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Tabatabaei stressed that children struggle with abstract concepts, so parents and educators must make the idea of God more relatable and practical. "Children accept things they can experience with their senses. That is why we need to present faith-based concepts in ways that they can see, touch, and feel," she said.
She offered practical advice on how to introduce God’s kindness in everyday moments. "For example, when taking a child to the park, show them a flower and say, ‘Look how soft and fragrant this flower is. God created this beauty.’ Or when hugging them, remind them, ‘The God we believe in is even more loving than a mother or father.’"
According to Tabatabaei, faith education should evolve with a child’s developmental stage. "What we explain to a three-year-old should be different from what we say to a teenager. We must tailor our examples and explanations to their level of understanding," she noted.
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She also cautioned against rushing children into religious beliefs with complex discussions about the afterlife. "We don’t need to constantly talk about the grave, or Judgment Day. Instead, we should focus on God's kindness and gentleness," she said.
Tabatabaei encouraged the use of storytelling, poetry, and books to help introduce religious concepts. "There are excellent books available that can help children understand God in a way that resonates with their minds and hearts," she added.
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