Nexus researching church toddler groups

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This unique research project revealed fascinating insights into the spiritual flourishing of very young children and how this is nourished within church toddler groups in England. The findings have uncovered evidence of very young children exploring self-understanding and the nurturing of relationships with others.

We found that church toddler groups contribute to children’s spiritual flourishing through:

• Providing an environment that fosters a non-threatening connection with spirituality
and faith.
• Nurturing and sustaining relationships with families.
• Offering a safe place for young families to come together, play together, and feel
supported in their spiritual well-being.
• Enabling a sense of belonging to the church community through engagement in the
church toddler group.

However, we also found that:
• There is a need for adults to have a deeper awareness of the significant role they play in enabling the spiritual flourishing of very young children.
• A common misunderstanding of spiritual nurture in terms of faith development hampers focused attention on the spiritual nurture of very young children.