Search Institute

How Your Child May Be Developing Spiritually

• Seeks to resolve differences and conflicts between different parts of self, including those shaped by family, peers, faith community, and other influences.
• Begins to make choices about where intentional spiritual practices fit (or don’t fit) in her or his life.
• Becomes clearer about the things that bring joy and energy in life, including a sense of vocation.
• Begins to internalize personal beliefs and practices, which may be similar to or different from those of parents and peers.
• Can develop strong convictions regarding social and political issues, and may become deeply committed to service and social change.

What You May Experience as a Parent

• New confidence as your child begins to express her or his own spiritual commitments.
• Potential for new agreement or new disagreement in conversations about spiritual matters.
• Deep concern or sadness if your child sets aside your own spiritual beliefs and practices.
• Joy in watching your child develop her or his own unique identity and path.
• Ambivalence, change, or growth in your own spiritual path as you watch and wonder about your child’s spiritual development.

Nurturing Your Child’s Spiritual Development

• Continue modeling the spiritual beliefs and practices that are important to you, including community service.
• Follow your child’s lead as he or she introduces you to the passions and commitments that are important to her or him.
• Find support from friends, religious leaders, or other trusted sources if your child moves in a spiritual or life direction that you see as negative or harmful.
• Encourage your child to connect with peers and mentors who have deep spiritual commitments or practices—even if they are different from your own. Exposing a child to different culture or belief system can trigger them to re-evaluate and reclaim their own.