Quick! Without taking time to figure out the “best�?answer, finish the following sentence: “If there was just one thing I could teach my child today, it would be ______.�?BR>
Did your answer surprise you? Your intuition has just helped you to identify a quality which may be somewhat lacking in your family. Consider this an open door: now you have an opportunity for change. This “quick check�?can be your guide when you next spend time with your children.

When I first did this exercise I heard my intuition whisper “compassion.�?“Yes,�?I thought to myself, “Compassion is definitely a quality I would dearly love to impart to my daughters.�?But how? I saw the answer in my mind's eye as soon as I asked the question. Intuitively I knew I would need to become more compassionate myself, even (perhaps especially) at times when tempers flared and my patience grew short.

Ask yourself now, “How can I share this lesson with my child?�?and listen for an answer. Note any symbols, words, images or feelings you receive intuitively. These are your clues to finding the best way to share with your child. If you feel that you did not receive any answer, then ask yourself the question again as you are going to sleep tonight with the intention that the answer will be revealed in your nighttime dreaming.

Do not be alarmed if you receive an answer that indicates your own need to make some change in order to better demonstrate the quality you wish for your child. Our children are our spiritual teachers, and one of their most impressive talents is the ability to teach us by helping us realize that when we change our thoughts and feelings, everyone and everything around us reflects those changes.
Now that you have some specific helpful intuitive insights, here are four general spiritual parenting ideas for you to consider as well.

Spend Quality Time with Your Kids
There's very good news for those of us who are concerned about how the excesses of our material world might be influencing our youth. A recent nationwide poll commissioned by the nonprofit Center for a New American Dream reported that American kids want more time with friends and family �?not more things that money can buy. A whopping 90% of kids ages 9 to 14 reported friends and family to be “way more important�?than buying new stuff; 57% of these youngsters said they'd rather have fun with their parents than go shopping at the mall. Sixty-three percent of the children surveyed desired more family time, while only 13% wished their parents made more money. Interestingly, 58% of the children surveyed said they felt peer pressure to buy stuff, and 81% felt that most kids place too much importance on buying things.

Find Special Times to Talk
Have you ever noticed that when you want to talk to your child about something spiritual, they seem distracted or uneasy? You might find that you'll have better discussions by raising these subjects in ways that make your child feel more comfortable. Recent research shows that children are most open to discussing things when they aren't required to make eye contact. This means that your child will probably be most receptive to deep, meaningful conversation when you are driving together in the car, going on a walk together or tucking him or her in at bedtime.

Keep Your Comments Positive
You have probably found yourself saying things to your children that your mom or dad frequently said to you, even if it is something you would rather forget. You may even recall feeling devastated by something an adult said to you when you were growing up. One of the single best things you can do for your children is to watch your tongue and make sure that the things you say to them are things you want them to be repeating over and over inside their head for the rest of their life. One of the biggest hurdles we all face is getting rid of negative self-talk. A harsh, critical comment has greater power to influence a child than you may realize, so please choose your comments with care.

Share Spiritually-Oriented Books and Films
One of my favorite ways to open a dialogue about spirituality with my daughters is to watch a movie or read a book with them. Subjects that can seem difficult to bring up out of the blue, like death, God or angels, can arise very naturally in the contexts of stories. With so many spiritually-oriented books and films to choose from, I pay close attention to book and movie reviews to get an idea of what sort of issues might be raised before we see the movie or read the book. Then we enjoy letting the subsequent conversation go wherever it may lead. You can establish a family movie night or reading time and begin your own family book or film club, creating a lifetime of wonderful memories for you and your child to enjoy.

Cynthia Sue Larson is author of Aura Advantage: How the Colors in Your Aura Help You Attain What You Desire and Attract Success and Karen Kimball & the Dream Weavers Web. She is also the editor of the popular RealityShifters News ezine