Paying attention to the spiritual flourishing of young children in church toddler groups: a scoping study evaluating the feasibility of a research study in this context
Journal article
Casson, A., Woolley, M., Pittaway, Ann, Watts, Tansy, Kemp, Nicola, Bowie, B., Clemmey, Katie and Aantjes, R. 2023. Paying attention to the spiritual flourishing of young children in church toddler groups: a scoping study evaluating the feasibility of a research study in this context. Religions. 14 (2), p. 236. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14020236
Authors | Casson, A., Woolley, M., Pittaway, Ann, Watts, Tansy, Kemp, Nicola, Bowie, B., Clemmey, Katie and Aantjes, R. |
---|---|
Abstract | Attention to the spiritual flourishing of young children contributes to their well-being, both their being and their becoming, but much-needed research in this area poses many challenges. The National Institute for Christian Education Research is undertaking a funded research project investigating the spiritual flourishing of young children in church toddler groups in England. This article reports on a scoping study which investigated the feasibility of a major research study in this area. The study was multifaceted, it involved clarifying terminology, evaluating previous research studies and early years research methods, and led to the development of a potential research framework. The article defines spiritual flourishing as a dynamic state of being, revealed in nurturing the right relationship with self, others, creation, and the transcendent. The findings propose an understanding of children’s spirituality as relational, based in the here and now, and shaped by the environment. Secondly, an exploration of midweek church toddler groups, a common feature across the denominations, through the lens of belonging, behaving, and believing reveals a potential critical contribution to young children’s spiritual flourishing or faith development. Thirdly, following an evaluation of potential effective research methods, the discussion highlights the value of an interdisciplinary study, the potential challenges and proposes a research framework. The article draws attention to the urgent need for more research to understand what contributes to young children’s spiritual flourishing within a Christian context. |
Keywords | Children; Early years; Church; Spirituality; Christianity |
Year | 2023 |
Journal | Religions |
Journal citation | 14 (2), p. 236 |
Publisher | MDPI AG |
ISSN | 2077-1444 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14020236 |
Official URL | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/2/236 |
Funder | Douglas Trust |
Publication dates | |
Online | 09 Feb 2023 |
Publication process dates | |
Accepted | 02 Feb 2023 |
Deposited | 20 Feb 2023 |
Publisher's version | License |
Output status | Published |
Permalink -
https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/item/93y81/paying-attention-to-the-spiritual-flourishing-of-young-children-in-church-toddler-groups-a-scoping-study-evaluating-the-feasibility-of-a-research-study-in-this-context
Download files
11
total views1
total downloads5
views this month1
downloads this month
Export as
Related outputs
Pupil-centred spiritual leadership: an empirical study of thirteen church primary school headteachers in England
Eisl, Ursula, Woolley, M., Hulbert, Sabina, Casson, Ann and Bowie, Robert A. 2023. Pupil-centred spiritual leadership: an empirical study of thirteen church primary school headteachers in England. International Studies in Catholic Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/19422539.2023.2171622How can an interdisciplinary ITE day support student teachers of RE?
Bowie, B. and Woolley, M. 2023. How can an interdisciplinary ITE day support student teachers of RE? National Institute for Christian Education Research (NICER).How can I foster collaboration between the RE and science departments in my school?
Bowie, B. and Woolley, M. 2023. How can I foster collaboration between the RE and science departments in my school? National Institute for Christian Education Research (NICER).What role can different disciplinary knowledges play in shaping RE?
Bowie, B. and Woolley, M. 2023. What role can different disciplinary knowledges play in shaping RE? National Institute for Christian Education Research (NICER).How can I teach about truth in a complex world?
Bowie, B. and Woolley, M. 2023. How can I teach about truth in a complex world? National Institute for Christian Education Research (NICER).Sharing the purpose of secondary RE in the school
Bowie, B. and Woolley, M. 2023. Sharing the purpose of secondary RE in the school. National Institute for Christian Education Research (NICER).What is the purpose of RE on the school curriculum?
Bowie, B. and Woolley, M. 2023. What is the purpose of RE on the school curriculum? National Institute for Christian Education Research (NICER).What are science/religion encounters and how can I prepare for them?
Bowie, B. and Woolley, M. 2023. What are science/religion encounters and how can I prepare for them? National Institute for Christian Education Research (NICER).Science and RE teachers' perspectives on the purpose of RE on the secondary school curriculum in England
Woolley, M., Bowie, R. A., Hulbert, S., Thomas, C., Riordan, J. and Revell, L. 2022. Science and RE teachers' perspectives on the purpose of RE on the secondary school curriculum in England. The Curriculum Journal. https://doi.org/10.1002/curj.191A meta approach to texts in Religious Education: Researching teachers’ engagement with sacred text scholarship in English secondary schools
Bowie, R. A, Clemmey, K. and Panjwani, F 2022. A meta approach to texts in Religious Education: Researching teachers’ engagement with sacred text scholarship in English secondary schools. British Journal of Religious Education. 44 (3), pp. 271-280. https://doi.org/10.1080/01416200.2022.2054773Nexus Teachers' Action Pack
Casson, A., Bowie, B., Hulbert, S., Pittaway, A. and Woolley, M. 2022. Nexus Teachers' Action Pack.A life ‘in and with nature?’ Developing nature engaging and nature enhancing pedagogies for babies and toddlers
Josephidou, J. and Kemp, N. 2022. A life ‘in and with nature?’ Developing nature engaging and nature enhancing pedagogies for babies and toddlers . Global Education Review.Faith in the nexus
Casson, A., Hulbert, S., Woolley, M. and Bowie, R. A. 2022. Faith in the nexus. National Institute for Christian Education Research (NICER).