Spirituality is as much a part of childhood as play. Whether a child is of faith or no faith; whatever language they speak or pre-language; loud or quiet! there is something very natural about a child engaging with their spirituality.
David Hay and Rebecca Nye in The Spirit of the Child use the image of a tree where the branches are faith and the roots are spirituality. If we take this image, then it is vital that we get the roots right. From a Christian perspective Psalm 139 and Genesis 1.26 outline that we are made in God’s image and so our faith and spirituality are part of who we are from the very beginning. In this context I find Rebecca Nye’s description of spirituality really helpful.
God’s ways of being with them and their ways of being with God (Rebecca Nye; Spirituality as a natural part of childhood)
One of the key elements of supporting a child’s spirituality is Space. Creating a space where it is safe to talk of spiritual things. This means it needs to be a space that is confidential. And it needs to be a space where the child knows it’s OK to talk about spiritual things – meaning we need to model this and also talk of spiritual things. Spiritual spaces can be clearly defined in the way we set out a room or creating a ‘threshold’ to cross into the space or placing things in the space (indoors or outdoors) that encourage children to engage with their spirituality. I’ve talked more about that here.
It is also about creating spaces where the adult doesn’t need to be. Yes, we need to be able to see and keep a child safe, but can we use fabric, shelters or pop up tents to create an area where the child can go and be with God on their own? Then placing something in there for them to engage with.
In Toast! we often use a pop up tent (why do they never pop down quiet so easily!) and I’m fascinated by the way the children ensure others use the tent in the way it is meant to be and the way they often zip themselves in to be alone with God.
Spirituality also needs Time – something as adults we can be short of. But, as a child, often those time pressures aren’t there in the same way and if they are they are imposed by adults. Can we slow things down. Stop. Be. Dawdle. Create spaces were the framework is loose so the child can encounter something deeper. If you are planning a session with children try and create spaces were they can go and slow down. And if the children aren’t engaging in what you have planned because they are just Be-ing then allow that to happen. That might just be the time they encounter something deeper.
Remember, though, that you can’t force a child to slow down. But you can put time holders in place. These could be lighting a candle and watching it flicker; sitting and blowing bubbles; simple breathing exercises; stopping to look out of the window.
Activities can also be offered that invite a child to slow and be. Often this happens when we go outside – maybe to look at the stars, or chalk on the floor or plant seeds. Open ended activities can encourage a child to engage in play in whatever way that want to in that moment. This might mean providing trays of sand, soil, water or ice with little added resource or simply rolling out a big sheet of paper and placing alongside it some crayons. Areas, where a child can stop and slow down and play in a way that works for them, can also be places of encounter.
Engaging a child’s spirituality is clearly linked with creating opportunities for them to Play, there’s more about that here. So let’s create areas for spiritual play. This might mean spaces where the toys and equipment will enhance the children’s imagination without restricting their exploration, in a Christian context, as they encounter a Bible story. Key to putting together an area for spiritual play is including sensory play. This might be a sensory tub Treasure baskets, colouring and bubbles.
A lot to think about – put simply, in our work with children can we create places for the children to hear and play the story; to respond; to engage in a sensory way; can we create space that is for them. And as we weave the stories of faith through these opportunities to play an intentional spiritual play place will be created.
little dandelion clocks 