Abstract
In their so-called magic years, children’s special way to respond to experiences highlights their capacity to move beyond in their interpretation and sense-making of realities. A time of special sensibility, during the early childhood years children perceive realities and experiences that adults may struggle to understand. This allows children to deepen beyond realities in ways that describe their special capacity. Many agree this is what describes the unique spiritual connection that children exhibit through their behaviors and expressions. It is the nature of the response and hopeful demeanor observed by the youngest immigrant that leads many to consider the deep-spiritual character of children of immigration. With children’s spirituality still one of the least researched areas, current experiences of immigrant children call attention to their spirituality and the role it plays in their responses to challenges and social conflict. How do children manifest spirituality and what drives their understanding? What are the pedagogical implications of children’s funds of knowledge? How can pedagogies of hope help children’s educators? Are there examples? Continuous and unprecedented movement of people across the globe opens vistas towards new understandings of spirituality exhibited through children’s behaviors, attitudes, and responses to the immigrant experience. Grounded in ecological, sociocultural, and funds of knowledge theoretical lenses, this study explores the spirituality of immigrant children as exhibited through analysis of narratives in selected children’s literature and informal open-ended interviews of early childhood professionals working with immigrants. Findings reveal the critical need to understand and value children’s spiritual conceptualization of reality.
Presenters
David A. Escobar ArcayAssociate Professor, School of Ministry, Palm Beach Atlantic University, Florida, United States Wilma Robles Melendez
Professor, Early Childhood and Leadership, Fischler College of Education, Nova Southeastern University, Florida, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2024 Special Focus—Spaces, Movement, Time: Religions at Rest and in Movement
KEYWORDS
Early Childhood Education, Spirituality, Immigration Narratives and Discourses, Pedagogical Praxis
