2
JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW
Article Review
This article highlighted the activities that the educators at Northminster Learning Center
were participating in to promote spiritual development in their students. They also discuss the
procedure of collecting, documenting, and assessing the spiritual encounters that the children
experienced that resulted in a range of findings pertaining to the primary inquiries of their
research group. The documentation process involves taking photographs of children participating
in Godly Play and other religious activities, documenting what the children have to say, and
having conversations with the children about various spiritual topics. The authors Helm, Berg,
and Scranton (2007) state that "through documentation, the teacher can make it possible for
others to ‘see' the learning that takes place when appropriate teaching occurs."
Furthermore, the dissemination of the documents proved to be quite effective in
garnering support for their initiative. According to Helm et al. (2007), there exists a lack of
comprehension among congregation members about the significance of preschool education and
the need to provide support for the learning center. The individuals held the belief that the
provision of documents served not only as a means to educate parents, but also as a strategy to
garner support for the ongoing and future development of their program (Helm et al., 2007).
One instance that may have a relationship<to Piaget's theory of cognitive development
occurred when Peyton, a 4-year-old, engaged in prayer due to her teacher's kid being unwell. She
demonstrated the ability to establish a connection between the act of praying prior to<eating and
the act of praying for the physical and mental well-being of others. She managed to establish a
correlation between the act of praying and the unpleasant sickness. She<demonstrated the
3
JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW
capacity to develop her own comprehension by engaging with and encountering various stimuli
in her surroundings.
Practical Application
The subject of spiritual development may be a delicate one to bring up given the varying
opinions held by individuals. In the childcare<environment where I am working, there exists a
policy that prohibits engaging in discussions pertaining to religion or making any references to
the concept of "God" in the presence of the children. Hence, the emphasis of our spiritual growth
would mostly revolve on fostering self-identity and resilience in young children.
The cultivation of spiritual growth inside my<classroom includes fostering a profound
sense of awe and empathy towards others, providing support as students navigate life's
challenges, nurturing resilience, fostering optimism, and cultivating a feeling of belonging and
tranquility. To better help my students, I may accomplish these goals by developing a strong
rapport with them and encouraging them to express their thoughts. Also, offer them advise when
they need me to. Before we start our day, I can also add yoga every morning. This will enable
them to pause and engage in mindfulness exercises to enhance their self-control.
Moreover, diversity is highly valued within the classroom. I provide diverse educational
experiences for children, enabling them to gain knowledge about many cultures, promoting an
understanding of the inherent distinctions among individuals, and promoting the importance of
mutual respect, irrespective of their cultural background or ideological convictions.
Collaboration with families may be a valuable approach to enhance the educational experience of
children in my classroom. This can be achieved by active involvement in the classroom setting
and the provision of culturally relevant materials. This practice may provide a fundamental
framework for introducing children to the concepts of religion and spirituality centered on the
