Whole-Child, Whole-Heart: Spiritual Formation in Early Childhood
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Hey Reader! In a recent gathering with pastors and Christian early education center directors, a pastor said about early childhood experiences: “It’s this formative thing that IS you but you don’t remember it.” What a profound statement! We know that many of our students will not have vivid cognitive memories of their time in our classrooms…and yet…their time in our classrooms is pivotal to their eventual formation as a full-grown adult. Like this pastor said “It IS you, but you don’t remember it.” Faith formation in young children isn’t just something that happens during chapel, Bible stories, or prayer time. It’s deeply woven into everything they experience and learn. When a toddler feels safe and loved by a caregiver, they are also learning what it means to be loved unconditionally—just as God loves them. When a preschooler learns to say “I’m sorry,” or to offer help to a friend, they are practicing grace, empathy, and the kind of community God designed us for. When a child examines a butterfly, builds a tower, or sings with joy, they are experiencing wonder—and that awe is one of the earliest expressions of worship. We often try to separate out “spiritual” learning, but in reality, faith formation happens in the same soil as all other development. It’s not an extra category—it’s the thread that runs through the whole tapestry. How we (the adults) talk, how we make decisions, how we respond to challenges, how we show gratitude, even our attitudes…all of this is how children’s faith is formed. Our role as early childhood educators and caregivers in faith-based settings isn’t just to teach children about God—it’s to help them experience His presence through everyday routines, loving relationships, and joyful discovery. I had an important conversation with a new friend, Hannah Collado, recently on how beautifully all of our development is intertwined with our faith formation. I’d love for you to check it out on our YouTube channel – just click HERE to go directly to this episode. More Resources: Faith-Filled Play-Based Classrooms – on-demand training course Spiritual Formation in Early Childhood – on-demand training course Frolic early childhood resources and curriculum – https://www.wearesparkhouse.org/store/category/286738/Frolic The Adapted Way – resource for additional needs/disability ministries https://www.instagram.com/theadaptedway/ https://www.theadaptedway.com/
Cheering you on this week! -Your ECCN team
Colossians 3:16 “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” |
