Аннотация

The child's world often revolves around dreams and fantasy. Imaginary friends, places and play can seem entirely real, and yet in dismissing these as 'just your imagination', many adults cut a tie that can be the key to understanding a child. Unseen Worlds explores children's experiences of creative play, fairies, angels, imaginary friends, dreams and seeing deceased relatives alongside the more frightening realms of nightmares and the unexplained. It breaks new ground by giving voice to children of various ages to express how they encounter these different worlds and why they often keep them a secret. Kate Adams emphasises that whilst many adults forget what it feels like to be a child, developing a little empathy and understanding can enhance relationships with children and lead to positive change, both in parenting and professional practice. This insightful book will be of great interest to educators, counsellors, youth and community workers, childcare providers, parents and anybody else who seeks to understand, nurture, and strengthen relationships with children of all ages.

Аннотация

This book takes an in-depth look at spirituality and its continual expression in children, to support those working with children in developing their own perceptions and interaction with them. The authors outline exactly what is understood by contemporary spirituality, and discuss the importance of context in a consideration of spirituality. They explore key issues in understanding children's spirituality under three broad headings: children's voices – how they are often lost in the context of spirituality and what the implications of that loss are; children's worlds – how children draw on the spiritual as a means of addressing notions of meaning and value in life; and children's lives – how context shapes the spiritual dimension. Drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives, this accessible book will enrich the working practices of educators and other professionals who work with children, and will also be of interest to parents and anyone interested in children's spirituality.

Аннотация