https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 02 May 2026 08:41:39 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-are-not-religious-how-do-you-explain-god-to-your-young-children#post-2604023 Mon, 15 Aug 2016 10:12:37 +0000 lovehoneybee 2604023@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Following. Evan hasn't asked any questions soon, but I'm sure he will soon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-are-not-religious-how-do-you-explain-god-to-your-young-children#post-2604015 Mon, 15 Aug 2016 10:05:47 +0000 tlcbaby 2604015@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catomd00: Yeah, I'm not trying to make a huge deal about it. The biggest issue is when he does bring it up around family members who do believe, they do reinforce it instead of changing the subject or telling him what we would tell him and I don't want to confuse him. He can't even remember what he ate yesterday, so I'm sure I shouldn't be too worried. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-are-not-religious-how-do-you-explain-god-to-your-young-children#post-2604013 Mon, 15 Aug 2016 10:04:17 +0000 tlcbaby 2604013@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lamariniere: I like that-more of a social construct. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-are-not-religious-how-do-you-explain-god-to-your-young-children#post-2603918 Mon, 15 Aug 2016 08:05:02 +0000 LulaBee 2603918@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 4 year old has asked what heaven is. I told her it's a made up place some people think you go to after you die... she hasn't asked about god yet, but I will probably say something like what @lamariniere: said. We live in the bible belt, so I know this will come up soon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-are-not-religious-how-do-you-explain-god-to-your-young-children#post-2603895 Mon, 15 Aug 2016 07:48:35 +0000 catomd00 2603895@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I dont really worry about it at this point, unless someone's trying to reinforce it, I don't think it's shaping their beliefs necessarily. I might briefly explain a scientific reason for something or just say some people believe in God and others don't type of deal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-are-not-religious-how-do-you-explain-god-to-your-young-children#post-2603867 Mon, 15 Aug 2016 02:13:54 +0000 lamariniere 2603867@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My oldest is 5 and I'm not sure he knows that there is a concept of god in the world since neither we nor our families are religious. He knows about church and some very vague Christian concepts, mostly relating to Christmas (we live in a very Catholic country and his daycare faces a church). We also have plenty of Muslims and Orthodox Jews in our community, so he sees, and sometimes asks about why they are dressed in certain ways. While we've never discussed God in depth, I've addressed it in a very matter of fact way. Some people practice a thing called religion and they go to church or mosque or synagogue or whatever to do so. They believe in an omnipresent being who created the earth and everything in it. I don't pass judgement, just state very basic facts. But I also underline that DH and I believe in science. My son is very into science right now so I think that interests him quite a bit more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-are-not-religious-how-do-you-explain-god-to-your-young-children#post-2603783 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 16:34:23 +0000 tlcbaby 2603783@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: I need my kids to get a few years older like yours. :) That is a good explanation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-are-not-religious-how-do-you-explain-god-to-your-young-children#post-2603781 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 16:20:35 +0000 mrbee 2603781@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think kids are naturally inclined to believe in a higher power, since everything to them is basically a higher power!</p> <p>I tell my kids that science is what we know is true based on proof... and religion is what we choose to believe based on pure faith. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-are-not-religious-how-do-you-explain-god-to-your-young-children#post-2603772 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 15:55:13 +0000 tlcbaby 2603772@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: Well yes, we have definitely talked about how rain comes from the dark rain clouds (my three year old version of science). :) Maybe that is the best way for now-sort of that different people believe differently about how the world, people, etc. were created and when he is older he can choose what he believes as he learns more. Even that seems complicated, though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-are-not-religious-how-do-you-explain-god-to-your-young-children#post-2603768 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 15:51:48 +0000 tlcbaby 2603768@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cole: That is actually another good point. Christian or not, kids will ask questions about other religions and their practices. I feel like there can be some succinct way to explain this, but, for a preschooler I have no idea what that is. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-are-not-religious-how-do-you-explain-god-to-your-young-children#post-2603764 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 15:04:49 +0000 ShootingStar 2603764@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would say that God is a higher power that some people believe in. And I would also tell him God doesn't make it rain. That goes against my personal beliefs system...called science. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-are-not-religious-how-do-you-explain-god-to-your-young-children#post-2603760 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 14:47:51 +0000 Cole 2603760@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not sure! I really want to be respectful of other people's beliefs but I honestly don't understand everyone's beliefs so giving a succinct answer to a toddler or preschooler is hard! I was thinking about this today since we were in an area where lots of women wear a hijab. I need to be ready for these conversations so I'm not giving inaccurate information. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-are-not-religious-how-do-you-explain-god-to-your-young-children#post-2603737 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 12:58:39 +0000 tlcbaby 2603737@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Obviously from the title of this post, my husband and I are not religious. We do have some spiritual beliefs, but definitely don't fall in line with any established religions.</p> <p>That being said, through extended family and his preschool (I think they say a little prayer before snack), DS has been hearing about god and will say things like, "god makes it rain" and similar comments.</p> <p>I know he doesn't understand god or religion at three, but I also don't know what to say when he brings it up. I don't want to confuse him with some elaborate explanation, but I also don't want to tell him he is wrong because we do plan to let him explore religion when he is old enough to do so.</p> <p>So, to my question, if you are not religious and have young ones, have you explained to them in any way what god is? </p>