A Froebelian approach to nurturing young children’s spiritual growth

TY - GEN

T1 - A Froebelian approach to nurturing young children’s spiritual growth

AU - Tang, Fengling

PY - 2024/9/5

Y1 - 2024/9/5

N2 - This presentation shares part of provisional findings of a Froebel Trust funded research project ‘Spirituality in early childhood pedagogy: a Froebelian approach in Chinese and English contexts’. Spirituality is an important dimension of children’s holistic development linking to autonomy, intra-personal relationships, mindfulness, self-awareness, resilience, responsibility and wellbeing (Bone, 2008; Mata McMahon, Haslip & Schein, 2020). This research adopts a Froebelian lens framing spirituality via the concept of Unity, which connects the child with family, community, nature, divinity and world (Froebel, 1887; Bruce, 1987; Tovey, 2013). Spiritual education in Froebelian tradition is cultivation of the child’s body, mind, feelings, aesthetic awareness, creativity and morality (Best, 2016).This qualitative study uses participant observations, focus group interviews, questionnaires and informal conversations at four early childhood settings in China and England. This presentation focuses on children’s experiences at two nursery schools in England. The study adheres to ethical principles to protect participants’ wellbeing, respect participants as human beings with rights to make informed decision and ensure authenticity of participants' perspectives (EECERA, 2015; BERA, 2018). The study witnesses children’s spiritual growth as an ongoing learning journey linking to daily expressions and experience with care, compassion, happiness and sorrow, to their search for meaning of life, and to their making sense of who they are through relational engagements with key people, nature, the imaginary, and cultural, religious rituals. The study calls for the urgency of providing time and space in nurturing children’s spiritual awareness, expressions and experiences as a key part of their holistic learning and wellbeing.

AB - This presentation shares part of provisional findings of a Froebel Trust funded research project ‘Spirituality in early childhood pedagogy: a Froebelian approach in Chinese and English contexts’. Spirituality is an important dimension of children’s holistic development linking to autonomy, intra-personal relationships, mindfulness, self-awareness, resilience, responsibility and wellbeing (Bone, 2008; Mata McMahon, Haslip & Schein, 2020). This research adopts a Froebelian lens framing spirituality via the concept of Unity, which connects the child with family, community, nature, divinity and world (Froebel, 1887; Bruce, 1987; Tovey, 2013). Spiritual education in Froebelian tradition is cultivation of the child’s body, mind, feelings, aesthetic awareness, creativity and morality (Best, 2016).This qualitative study uses participant observations, focus group interviews, questionnaires and informal conversations at four early childhood settings in China and England. This presentation focuses on children’s experiences at two nursery schools in England. The study adheres to ethical principles to protect participants’ wellbeing, respect participants as human beings with rights to make informed decision and ensure authenticity of participants' perspectives (EECERA, 2015; BERA, 2018). The study witnesses children’s spiritual growth as an ongoing learning journey linking to daily expressions and experience with care, compassion, happiness and sorrow, to their search for meaning of life, and to their making sense of who they are through relational engagements with key people, nature, the imaginary, and cultural, religious rituals. The study calls for the urgency of providing time and space in nurturing children’s spiritual awareness, expressions and experiences as a key part of their holistic learning and wellbeing.

KW - A Froebelian approach

KW - spiritual awareness and experience

KW - holistic learning and wellbeing

KW - relational engagement

KW - nature

KW - play

UR - https://crecuk-my.sharepoint.com/personal/m_sybilska_crec_co_uk/_layouts/15/onedrive.aspx?id=%2Fpersonal%2Fm%5Fsybilska%5Fcrec%5Fco%5Fuk%2FDocuments%2FEECERA%202024%20programme%2FProgramme%20of%20symposia%20version%2026%20July%202024%2Epdf&parent=%2Fpersonal%2Fm%5Fsybilska%5Fcrec%5Fco%5Fuk%2FDocuments%2FEECERA%202024%20programme&ga=1

M3 - Conference contribution

BT - A Froebelian approach to nurturing young children’s spiritual growth

ER -