ERIC Number: EJ819878
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2005-Dec
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1364-436X
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Breaking Bread: Spirituality, Food and Early Childhood Education
Bone, Jane
International Journal of Children's Spirituality, v10 n3 p307-317 Dec 2005
The spiritual aspect of early childhood education is supported by the early childhood curriculum in Aotearoa New Zealand, "Te Whariki". Research in three different early childhood settings presents new perspectives on the everyday experiences of children in terms of spirituality. Each setting formed a case study that included the voices of children, parents and teachers. Focusing on the practices that surround food and eating, this narrative account takes the sharing of food as a starting point for analysing the spiritual experiences of young children and the metaphor of "breaking bread" is used. It is proposed that the concept of "everyday spirituality" informs the practice of teachers in each context and working with young children involves considering issues of equity, culture and well-being.
Descriptors: Early Childhood Education, Figurative Language, Young Children, Foreign Countries, Religious Factors, Religion, Spiritual Development, Food, Eating Habits, Cultural Influences, Preschool Curriculum, Well Being, Child Development, Social Development, Montessori Method, Kindergarten, Values Education
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Kindergarten; Preschool Education
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: New Zealand
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A