AN INTRODUCTION

The Way of the Child recognizes that children have an innate spirituality with a natural acceptance of mystery, an amazing capacity for awe, a vital imagination, a longing to be their unique selves, and an ability to be open to and receive God's love.

For children ages 6-11 years, The Way of the Child leads children into a deeper relationship with God, instills in children spiritual practices to form lifelong habits, encourages children to respond to God, and provides an experience of vital community.

For churches, The Way of the Child can be used in a variety of settings: Sunday School, weekday camp, after-school programs. The resource presents experiential sessions to use in a sustained program, is user-friendly, supports families, and is affordable and adaptable.

The Way of the Child focuses on the spiritual formation of children. It is a part of the Companions in Christ series and helps children learn and experience spiritual practices that will lead them into a deeper awareness of God's presence in their lives. This resource includes 5 chapters on the spiritual nature of children and theory of faith formation as well as 39 sessions to use with groups of children. The sessions are in modules grouped in these themes: God's Love and Care, Prayer, Advent and Epiphany, Acts of Love, Lent, Easter, Parables, and Meaningful Scriptures.

Each session is designed for a 60-90 minute time frame with children ages 6-11. There are enough sessions to use from September through May in Sunday school weekday or weeknight settings. It is also designed for short-term use and can be adapted for day camp, Vacation Bible School, and other gatherings of children throughout the year.

This resource also takes seriously the spiritual journey of the leaders, providing daily exercises that help the leaders practice spiritual disciplines and deepen their relationship with God. While the leaders spend thirty minutes a day with the exercises, they are also familiarizing themselves with the content of the session and preparing to lead it.