Parents Sharing the Nembutsu Teachings with their Young Children

Responding to “Tuft” Situations and

Questions

The following responses to ten representative questions are obviously not meant to be absolute, for our interactions with our children are always relative and conditional, depending upon our children’s age, temperament, needs.

1)	How can II share the teachings with my infant or toddler?

Give the child all the love and care you can give them. At this age, there is little need for punishment or excessive discipline. And they obviously are not mature enough to be interested in the Buddhist doctrine; rather they are interested in you. Children at this age are watching you and internalizing what they see. If you express gratitude before and after meals in words and gestures, more than likely they will too!

2)	My preschooler enjoys playing with war toys. I am not com-

fortable with this and am wondering if there is a Buddhist perspective that could help me deal with this situation in my house- hold.

a)	If your don’t like having war toys in your home, have a good talk

with your children. Explain why you have decided not to buy war toys. Also, you can let close friends and relatives know that you do not wish to receive such toys as gifts. Tell them why.

b)	If your child insists on gun play, tell the child to pretend, using his

fingers instead of toy weapons. They should still not point at other children.