The Spiritual Dimension of Childhood

Introduction. Clearing the Ground: A Geography of Contemporary Spirituality. Section One: Children's Voices. 1. Silenced by Society: Hearing the Child's Voice. 2. Identity: Spirituality, the Self and the Search for One's Voice. Section Two: Children's Worlds. 3. Children's Worlds: the Variety of Spiritual Experience. 4. Connecting to Something Greater: Spirituality and Respect for Personhood. 5. The Construct of 'Spiritual Intelligence': Is It Really Plausible? Section Three: Children's Lives. 6. Relatedness: Spirituality and Children's Worldviews. 7. The Significance of Context for Spirituality: 'Australian Spirituality' as a Case Study. 8. Unforgettable Dreams: the Impact of Spiritual Dreams Upon Children's Lives. 9. Conclusion. References. Index.

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.