This course explores the role and influence of spirituality in the child ages two to eleven. It seeks to better understand how the spiritual life of the child forms and how adults in the faith community can enhance that formation. Drawing upon classic interviews and research into the child's awareness of God even in very early years, this course invites students to do further research into how children relate to God. How a child processes images of God on the journey of spiritual formation affects how we as adults nurture and design for a child's spiritual growth.
Children are a vital part of the faith community.
As parents and educators gain greater awareness of their ways of processing spiritual insights they are better able to communicate with, design for and foster the child's spiritual growth. In a seminar format learners will construct a composite of previously researched data suggesting themes and active uses of spiritual consciousness as well as how spiritual truth tends to be assimilated at various stages. They will continue this research, seeking to verify as well as uncover new data through child interviews and focus groups. The results will be examined for implications and issue in the designing of a learning experience for children or parents which takes into account and enhances the spiritual life of children. Lectures, interviews, discussion, demonstration, student presentations.