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Supporting the Spiritual Development of Young Children

by Ruth A. Wilson and Deborah L. Schein
March/April 2017
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Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/supporting-the-spiritual-development-of-young-children/5023426/

Few would argue that early childhood education is about promoting the development of the whole child — that is, meeting the needs of the young child in all the developmental domains (usually considered to be the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional domains) (Copple & Bredekamp, 2009). At times, aesthetic and language development are included, as well. While these developmental domains may seem comprehensive in addressing all the major areas of child development, one area not included is that of spiritual development.

There are many reasons for this. Spiritual development is not as well understood or researched as other areas of child development (Hyde, 2008). Additionally, there is a common misconception that fostering spiritual development involves teaching about religion and thus has no place outside of religious institutions. Another reason for this disconnect is that development and practice are not really as connected as one would hope. 

Theorists have been promoting a spiritual lens on education for centuries. Montessori speaks of the spiritual embryo as being present at birth in all children, and Steiner uses language 
such as “spirit-man, life-spirit, and spirit-self” to describe human stages of development (Steiner, 1910/2008, p. 41). Somewhere between theory and interpretation and practice, visions of spiritual development ...

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