Spirituality and the Sick Child
Does it matter?
The Challenge to take it seriously...
 Spirituality in all children ,
 Not dependent on religious background,
 Childhood – a natural habitat for spiritual encounter
(Hay and Nye, The Spirit of the Child, 2006)
 First step for spiritual care...take the high view
Cultivate a generous, open expectation that spiritual life
is a reality for children
Baseline features of
children’s spirituality
• Erratic
• Individual signature
• Non compartmentalised, integrated
• Multi lingual
• Self taught often
• Not just fluffy moments – about tension too.
(Nye, R. 2009. Children’s Spirituality Church House Press)
Attention to the sick child per se ?
Family Spirituality/ Child Spirituality
Misjudging ‘child protection’
‘What really really matters?’
Flexible Resources
for
Diverse Needs
Developing the best ever resource
for spiritual care of sick children?
Word based
Emotion Based
Image Based
Action Based
(Bellous and Csinos 2009)
Spiritual Care for Children
Essentials Checklist
Space
Process
Imagination
Relationship
Intimacy
Trust
Space
Process
Imagination
Relationship
Intimacy
Trust
Spiritual Care for Children
Essentials Checklist
Space
Process
Imagination
Relationship
Intimacy
Trust
Further Information
 Children’s Spirituality: What it is and Why it
matters Rebecca Nye (2009) Church House Press
 Godly Play Storytelling And Spirituality Training
Courses offered or can be requested to suit
See www.godlyplay.org.uk
Or contact rebecca.nye@ntlworld.com