Children’s Spirituality: What Is It and Why It Matters

Dr. Rebecca Nye is a researcher, consultant and trainer in the field of children’s spirituality. Originally a psychologist, she conducted a landmark empirical study of children’s spirituality in the 1990’s with David Hay (The Spirit of the Child, David Hay and Rebecca Nye). Her most recent book is ‘Children’s Spirituality: What it is and Why it matters’ (Church House Press 2009).  Much of her public work has been to address the neglect of children’s spirituality in traditional Christian nurture and education. She is particularly interested in a counter-cultural approach called ‘Godly Play’, in which she leads training for teachers in parishes and schools throughout the UK and beyond. Godly Play offers both to respect our childlike intuitive spirituality, as well as developing the use of traditional spiritual language.