RT Article
T1 Creating hospitable space to nurture children’s spirituality-possibilities and dilemmas associated with power
JF International journal of children's spirituality
VO 19
IS 3/4
SP 236
OP 248
A1 Eaude, Tony
LA English
PB Taylor & Francis
YR 2014
UL https://www.ixtheo.de/Record/1779674074
AB This article considers the idea of hospitable space and raises questions about what this entails in nurturing children’s spirituality in both religious and non-religious contexts. In particular, dilemmas associated with the use and abuse of adult power and authority and systemic forms of power are explored. It is argued that hospitable space is open, inclusive and reciprocal, with mutual learning. Adults must help to set the boundaries within which open exploration can take place, empowering children without overcontrolling activities or outcomes or coercing children into particular responses. The difficulty of creating hospitable space and the dangers related to power and control, even in activities intended and widely perceived as benign, are illustrated in relation to play and school classrooms. Structural issues such as a demand for conformity and a culture of competition and pace militate against creating and sustaining hospitable space to nurture children’s spirituality. High-stakes assessment and accountability mechanisms make this especially difficult in formal school settings.
K1 classrooms
K1 Power
K1 Spirituality
K1 Children
K1 hospitable space
DO 10.1080/1364436X.2014.979772