Spiritual Formation in Early Childhood

We hold on to and celebrate those sacred moments in our classroom where we see the “wonder” in a child’s eyes about the love of God. As adults, we are sometimes even challenged (and certainly blessed) by a child’s expression of pure faith and desire to know and respond to God. As early childhood educators, we can set the stage for preschoolers in our care to experience the wonder of God. This session will illuminate principles of the spiritual formation in early childhood.

Dr. Shelly Melia is Associate Dean of the Graduate School of Ministry and Program Director for Children and Family at Dallas Baptist University. She is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University and holds a Master of Arts in Religious Education and Marriage and Family Counseling from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas and a PhD in Childhood Education from B.H. Carroll Theological Institute. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a special interest in parental bereavement and resilience in children.