RT Article
T1 The concept of the child through a spiritual lens: implications for interdisciplinary approaches and Religious Education
JF Journal of Religious Education
VO 65
IS 1/3
SP 81
OP 93
A1 Adams, Kate
LA English
YR 2017
UL https://ixtheo.de/Record/1666439320
AB Developing an understanding of what is meant by the terms 'child' and 'childhood' is essential for teachers as it shapes their approaches to teaching and learning (Grajczonek in J Relig Educ 59(4):40-47, 2011). Contemporary discourse on these meanings is dominated by sociologists working in the field of the 'new sociology of childhood' but this paper argues that notions of spirituality also need to be considered. The paper re-interprets data collected from children aged 7-11 (n = 56) in England about their perceptions of childhood. Previous analysis (Adams, Int J Prim Elem Early Years Edu 41(5):527-537, 2013; Adams, Camb J Edu 44(2):163-178, 2014) was contextualised entirely in sociological theory. However, whilst that analysis facilitated a coherent and meaningful exploration of childhood which synthesised children's perspectives with theory, this paper argues that sociology alone was insufficient. Without a spiritual lens, the very nature of the children themselves and their descriptions of childhood were lacking. This paper revisits the data and, whilst acknowledging the centrality and value of sociology's contribution, it re-interrogates the data from the perspective of spirituality. Key themes emerging are: relationship with self; relationship with others; connectedness; beings and becomings, and its darker aspects. The paper concludes that interdisciplinary approaches to understanding childhood should also include the spiritual. The implications of the findings for Religious Education are discussed.
K1 Cambridge Primary Review
K1 Child's voice
K1 Childhood
K1 children's spirituality
K1 Children's views of childhood
K1 New sociology of childhood
DO 10.1007/s40839-017-0043-7