Kurt Bruner, author of the book It Starts At Home – A Practical Guide to Nurturing Lifelong Faith highlights three windows of opportunity for spiritual training in the lives of our children:

1. 1.       Imprint Period

• From birth to 7 years
• Kids are “all ears”. They listen.
• Young kids want to know what their parents think in order to determine what they think.
• Generally, accepting without much question of values or beliefs.
• They love games, stories, songs, memorization, etc. These activities can be powerful tools in teaching Christian beliefs and values.

1. 2.       Impression Period

• Ages 8-early teens
• Still highly impressionable but more questioning, not as easily accepting of parents viewpoints.
• Children ask questions, wanting to know the “why” along with the “what”.
• When teaching our kids it is important that we explain the rationale behind our beliefs.
• This stage allows them to start thinking for themselves.

1. 3.       Coaching Period

• Early teens – 15
• The window of instruction is narrowing
• Our kids are approaching young adulthood and are forming their own opinions
• We, as parents, move to more coaching and less teaching. Coaches help get the players ready for the game. They don’t play the game for them.
• Motivate, encourage, energize, challenge and advise
• Remind them of what they have already learned
• Be willing to “wrestle” through tough issues with our children. Parents don’t have to have all the answers.

From your experience what would you add to these stages?