Full Description
This book takes an in-depth look at spirituality and its continual expression in children, to support those working with children in developing their own perceptions and interaction with them.
The authors outline exactly what is understood by contemporary spirituality, and discuss the importance of context in a consideration of spirituality. They explore key issues in understanding children's spirituality under three broad headings: children's voices - how they are often lost in the context of spirituality and what the implications of that loss are; children's worlds - how children draw on the spiritual as a means of addressing notions of meaning and value in life; and children's lives - how context shapes the spiritual dimension.
Drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives, this accessible book will enrich the working practices of educators and other professionals who work with children, and will also be of interest to parents and anyone interested in children's spirituality.
Contents
Introduction. Clearing the Ground: A Geography of Contemporary Spirituality. Part I: Children's Voices. 1. Silenced by Society: Hearing the Child's Voice. 2. Identity: Spirituality, the Self and the Search for One's Voice. Part II: Children's Worlds. 3. Children's Worlds: the Variety of Spiritual Experience. 4. Connecting to Something Greater: Spirituality and Respect for Personhood. 5. The Construct of 'Spiritual Intelligence': Is It Really Plausible? Part III: Children's Lives. 6. Relatedness: Spirituality and Children's Worldviews. 7. The Significance of Context for Spirituality: `Australian Spirituality' as a Case Study. 8. Unforgettable Dreams: The Impact of Spiritual Dreams upon Children's Lives. 9. Conclusion. References. Index.
