Beliefs may differ, but it still goes against local customs to openly talk about religion here, and attempts to do so will be frowned upon, I don't think it hurts for her daughter to know that. The Swiss (including the younger generation) are among the most religious in Europe after the Italians, so it's not about being religious or not, it's about whether it's considered polite to talk openly abou it, which is not the case. It doesn't hurt to sometimes respect the local culture me thinks.
I was explaining to my 2 year old son that there was a giant pink hippo who lives in the sky and comes down at night and magically transforms all the bad people into cheese. He insisted that the only reasonable response to this statement was "bla bla bla"
Could it be that some gifted young children posess an in-built level of sanity that is missing in many adults and enables them to see through such 'smoke and mirrors'?
Children can be honest and striaghtforward in a way that adults no longer can be. They speak their thoughts often without realising the effect this may have on others. In a way that innocence is something precious and I wouldn't interfere and try to take it from them too early. I don't think it's right to give a 6-year old a list of things she can or cannot talk about. But if you think there is a conflict looming you could explain to her that some people are different and that's why they react that way.
My six-year old came home the other day and said that, according to her best friend (Swiss), there is a big nanny in the sky who looks after all of us. While my daughter loves the idea of baby Jesus at christmas we have not discussed religion with her otherwise.
I'm inclined to let them all sort it out between themselves. There will be so many different influences and perspectives when it comes to religious beliefs. I would not try to stop any child from talking about it with friends as I really do think this is something that need to work through for themselves. As parents we can provide guidance according to our own beliefs but our children are entitled to also develop their own way of thinking.
And at this age, the tooth fairy or the Easter Bunny probably hold as much power over them as the 'big nanny in the sky'.
With kids, stuff moves through their mind pretty quickly, too. What was foremost in her mind yesterday may be shifted to one side by "Dora the Explorer" or "Hello Kitty" tomorrow and she'll be wittering on to her chums about that instead.
I doubt mum would be too upset if her daughter got a "blablabla" response to that.
Back on topic. Id appreciate facts/experience of parents whose kids are enrolled in local schools. My daughter will be in Grade 1 in august, she ́ll be spending more time then compared to kindergarten so i would really want to know if there ́s written/unwritten rules about this.
It would be my answer at 32 as well... i think it's important that children learn that religion is not universal and that not all kids believe in the same thing in the same way. Most importantly that you should be tolerant about other views even if you don't agree with them. And yes, I would expect negative reactions if the kid tries to convince others of your belief system. From what I remember in your other thread are you not exactly a run-off-the-mill protestant and that not trying to convince others of Christianity might be difficult for somebody with evangelistic views... if you'd try with me you'd get a negative reaction and the same is true for most Swiss. So yes, bringing up religion at a dinner party is not that appreciated here.
Would that be a dinner party in grade school? Because ive never heard of one.
Well, i have been approached by her teachers a few times here about my daughter and they are not really good english speakers. Im not a very good german speaker though i understand more than 50% day to day conversations. Therefore asking in her school wouldnt be so productive.
So forgive me if i would like to read more from your experiences.
wow lighten up people, two children, 6 years olds, talking...and one said something about God...there is nothing fundamentalist about that, there is no secret agenda...do not make it into something that it is not...
just pathetic to deeper analyze the "situation"...
I gave you mine. Problem is, it wasn't what you wanted to hear.
This is what we've done with eldest. Perhaps it may help you to understand the other view point:
I'm not bothering to explain God to my son any more than some people choose to believe in things that don't really exist but it helps them through life to believe in these things. And that's it unless he has more questions.
He understands evolution pretty well as to him, it makes a lot of sense but when he asked about how the world was created and I tried to explain the big bang, he merely looked at me and said, "So what was there before the big bang?".