Children’s Spirituality Mary Hawes January 2011 Children’s Spirituality Painting by numbers? Children’s Spirituality Looking at the landscape….. Baby/toddler 3 – 5 years 5 – 7 years 8 – 11 years Children’s Spirituality Children…have spiritual abilities that defy conventional chronological categories of faith development. Religious faith does not develop in quite the same way as other parts of our bodies and minds from small to large or from immature to mature. Growing up, in fact, does not guarantee spiritual development. Bonnie J. Miller-McLemore Children’s Spirituality Full of potential Children’s Spirituality Children should be helped to develop the spiritual qualities of wonder and inner peace – and the sense of something greater than themselves……No child is complete without some passionate spiritual engagement of this kind. A Good Childhood: Layard & Dunn Children’s Spirituality Everyday Integrated Endangered Children’s Spirituality Depth Surprise Challenge Verbal and Non-verbal Erratic Children’s Spirituality Nourishing the roots Being shaped Shooting and fruiting Children’s Spirituality Space Process Imagination Relationship Intimacy Trust Children’s Spirituality SPACE Physical Focus Threshold to the sacred Emotional Stillness and silence Children’s Spirituality PROCESS Journey not end result Genuine open questions Opportunity to explore Children’s Spirituality IMAGINATION Looking at things differently Spontaneity Opening windows not closing doors Children’s Spirituality RELATIONSHIP More than words Depth of engagement Integrity With each other With God Children’s Spirituality INTIMACY Coming close Feeling safe Becoming vulnerable Children’s Spirituality TRUST Trusting the child Trusting God Trusting the material Children’s Spirituality Church/Collective Worship child-friendly? child-spirituality friendly? What are the foundations we are laying to support the child’s spiritual growth? Children’s Spirituality Going for Growth Growth… In spirituality In understanding In quality of care and nurture In children and young people themselves Going for Growth: theology Made in God’s image Created to be in relationship Called to be active citizens Going for Growth: principles Precious and valued Importance and quality of relationship Reflecting the values of the Kingdom Going for Growth: action Enabling encounters Embracing transformation and change Providing support and development Children’s Spirituality http://www.going4growth.org.uk Children’s Spirituality Children’s Spirituality Dr Rebecca Nye Children’s Spirituality Through the Eyes of a Child ed. Richards and Privett Children’s Spirituality