My 3 year old son and I read a book about heaven, now he wants to go there. How do I explain without talking in depth about death and scaring him? No one he knows has died so I can't really use an example.
2007-08-31 01:19:48 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Please don't offer "heaven isn't real" answers. We're christians and believe in teaching our children the truth about Jesus.
2007-08-31 01:37:24 · update #1
That is a tricky one as certainly heaven is our goal. A place with no fear, pain, suffering, hunger, depression, illness who wouldn't want to be there? He's three but still pretty young to give a complex answer to. You could say "honey, some day we'll all be there, BUT we all have so much to do here before that, like ride a bike(or whatever he/ she likes to do)...get him off on a tangent. Or you might say "but we can't go now there's suzie's birthday and christmas, we have to wait for a long time" Kids have very limited attention span and can get distracted easily. It's similar to when they ask questions about sex as my daughter did when she was young. she asked "how did the baby get inside?" Basic answers satisfy at young ages. Kids will absorb what they are able to at any particular stage.
2007-08-31 01:32:00 · answer #1 · answered by inkster7 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Could you use a pet that has passed? If not just tell him that's where people go to visit Jesus and God. But when you go you can't visit here anymore. It's like moving far away. Tell him that you hear that it's pretty there and that we will all get to move there some day. Let him say a prayer and let him say whatever he wants too.My 5 year old pray's and thanks God for his toys and ice cream, but that is what he is thankful for right now. And at least he is talking to God and that's what matter the most. Good luck and God bless!
2007-08-31 01:32:00 · answer #2 · answered by candib 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Get him a pet, this is the way children come to terms with death in a manageable way. Probably get a fish as they are less likely to form an affection to it.
Why are you reading this book to him in the first place, it's awfully morbid. Get some Roald Dahl, that's what kids REALLY like.
2007-08-31 01:33:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tell him Heaven is a place where God and Jesus live. And all of the good people go there to see God.
The last thing you want is for Jesus Christ to return and you did not teach your children about God.
Ouch!
2007-08-31 01:28:14 · answer #4 · answered by Bad Boy 300 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
How can you separate telling your child about heaven from telling him about death? How did the book explain it?
I would tell him, in simple, age-appropriate terms about death. I don't believe in lying to kids just because they're kids.
2007-08-31 15:53:54 · answer #5 · answered by layne_victoria 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you really want to explain the concept to him, say that it's the home of your god and that only people who've died go there. Tell him that your god wants him to lead a long and good life so that when he does get there, he's got lots to tell god. At three, he's too young to realise what death actually is. Discussing death openly isn't going to scare him unless you are unable to discuss death without fear in your voice. If this is so, why? If you're Christian, you need to look to your faith.
2007-08-31 01:26:30 · answer #6 · answered by Valarian 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
First of all, even though I was raised Christian, I no longer follow it, and I do not believe in Heaven.
Secondly, tell him it's like a party you can only get into with an invitation, and when a family member dies, tell them God invited them into Heaven cause they led a good Christian life.
2007-08-31 01:25:38 · answer #7 · answered by rainthatwalks 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Tell him Heaven has to be earned, and that's what life is for. No need to scare him, but death as the door to heaven might help him later.
2007-08-31 01:26:35 · answer #8 · answered by All Black 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You really can't explain heaven without going through death.. For now just use the "One day, if you always be good, you'll get there".. Once he gets older and sees people who just passed away, that's when you inject the "Don't cry, ______ is in heaven right now"
Go with your instincts on this one.. It's kinda tricky. Good luck
2007-08-31 01:27:20 · answer #9 · answered by ryangadia 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You can't lie to your children. Tell him that it is a mythical place that only exists in the minds of gullible people who believe anything thay are told by people in authority
2007-08-31 01:27:35 · answer #10 · answered by Nemesis 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋