Babies, Toddlers and Childrens Spirituality

Spirituality can be defined in many different ways but I particularly like the way Rebecca Nye, a prominent Christian writer,  explains it....
"All human beings are spiritual people...this is the way God made us...spirituality is something already there to be cherished, rather than something to be added on...What is spirituality? Delighting in all things. Being absorbed in the present moment. Not too attached to self and eager to explore boundaries beyond. Searching for meaning. Discovering purpose. Open to more."
I believe every baby is born with a strong spiritual aspect to their lives and this should be nurtured just as any other aspect of their lives such as creativity and physicality.
The UN Convention on the rights of every child refers to children having spiritual rights and it is the law in English and Welsh schools to encourage spiritual development in all areas of learning ensuring children gain the ability to be reflective about their own beliefs....to develop their sense of enjoyment and fascination in learning about themselves, others and the world around them...to develop their use of imagination and creativity in their learning and develop a willingness to reflect on their experiences.
What an exciting mission for those who look after children either at home or away from their homes.
I believe children's spirituality has been forgotten by many and it is time we redressed the balance and look creatively at ways we can help children explore life in spiritual way...creativity and spirituality go hand in hand. One of the defining elements of spiritual learning is that children experience awe and wonder, develop respect for the world and living creatures, develop wisdom, learn to ask questions, reflect upon answers, trust in their own ideas and develop a clear sense of right and wrong. By developing the "whole child" including their spirituality they grow up with a firm foundation that prepares them for all that life will throw at them. Look out for my posts that encourage spiritual development.