Nurturing Children’s Spirits in Everyday Life: More Practices to Encourage Children’s Spiritual Identities

Research shows that we all have an innate capacity for spirituality, independent of religion or culture, and that spiritual vitality in children is one of the most significant indicators of their ability to thrive. “The focus is on the gifts not deficits. Children’s spirit knows what they need. If you can find that child’s gifts, that child can do anything. (Participant in BC Aboriginal Child Care Society, Early Learning Framework, p. 20)” As foundational as spiritual connection is to children’s wellbeing, there are valid reasons why we are hesitant to bring spirituality into our workplaces. With the help of the BC Early Learning Framework, participants in this* interactive workshop will:

• Review the unique aspects of children’s spiritual formation and the health benefits associated with a positive, dynamic spiritual life
• Reflect on moments of meaning, mystery, or transcendence in their own caregiving settings
• Receive some basic evocative responding skills for interaction with children of all ages
• Reconnect with one’s own spirituality (broadly defined) through exercises and practices that can be transferable to a variety of caregiving settings with children of all ages