Abstract

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.

One of the strengths of the book is that its arguments are well supported with both academic references and children's own accounts of their experience - an important factor when dealing with a subject as elusive as "spirituality". The book is engagingly written because the authors are passionate about their subject. They persuade us that if we engage more fully with how children experience their inner world, we can better understand how the inner and outer worlds interact to shape the spiritual dimension of their lives. We are then in a better position to help children regain their spiritual voice, which many struggle to find... the authors' willingness to engage positively with so many of the issues raised is truly inspiring.
De Numine, The Magazine and Newsletter of the Alister Hardy Society
Kate Adams, Ph.D., is a senior lecturer at Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln, England. Her Ph.D. comes from the Faculty of Education at the University of Glasgow, where she undertook a multi-faith study of children's dreams and their implications for the education system. Her research interests include the significance of dreams for children, and children's spiritual lives. Brendan Hyde, Ph.D., is a lecturer in the National School of Religious Education at Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia, where he was also awarded his Ph.D. Brendan's research interest is in the spirituality of children. His research interests include exploring the characteristics of children's spirituality, and the implication these have for education in the primary school context. Richard Woolley, Ph.D., is a senior lecturer in primary education and Teaching Fellow at Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln, England. His Ph.D. was awarded by the University of Sheffield, where he undertook research in collaboration with the Urban Theology Unit. His current interests include children's spirituality and global citizenship education, and developing standards in initial teacher education.
I feel this book will benefit anyone working with children, teachers, social workers, foster carers, teaching assistants, counsellors and parents or carers. If we want to change the way children evolve let's be open to new ideas. We have nothing to lose by reading this book and much to gain.
Adoption Today
The authors of this book were inspired to write it by their shared experiences and enthusiasm for the spiritual lives of children. The book draws on the results of their research in the areas of the significance of dreams for children and how they interpret them, aspects of children's spirituality and the implication this has in the primary school context and how children's spirituality impacts on global citizenship education. I found this book exciting because it recognises the challenge and reward in being able to support children appropriately in discovering and expressing the spiritual dimension of their lives. It is also thought provoking because the authors demonstrate, using current and very relevant issues, that when children can voice their spirituality, their self-esteem increases and allows them to make informed choices and decisions about their lives. I believe this book will be of great interest to those who work with children and are fully committed to the development of the whole child.
Counselling Children and Young People