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Children's Center: Articles
The Articles section is designed to provide you with the latest thinking and practices in children's faith formation. You can use these articles in a variety of ways: for personal enrichment, in teaching and workshops, with your church's faith formation teachers and leaders, and in planning for children's faith formation. We will make available articles by leaders in children's faith formation on a regular basis, so keep checking back for the latest editions. To read a PDF of the article, just click on the title.
New
New: Bullying in Schools: An Overview - Ken Seeley, Martin L. Tombari, Laurie J. Bennett, and Jason B. Dunkle
(U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, OJJDP Juvenile Justice Bulletin, December 2011)
Bullying in school can start as early as kindergarten and can be an issue for children all the way through high school. Researchers at the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention completed three studies on bullying and found: 1) when students attend a caring school community where they are challenged academically and are supported by adults, they are less likely to be bullied; 2) 3ven when children are bullied, if they remain engaged in their school, they are more likely to attend classes more often and achieve more academically; 3) schools should start bullying prevention programs early; and 4) schools should focus on the difficult transition between elementary and middle school, when bullying often becomes more intense. Bullying affects each child differently, and bullying is a complex and emotional phenomenon. The researchers conclude: “Schools can overcome this negative effect if they adopt strategies that engage students in their work, creating positive learning environments that produce academic achievement.”
New: Bullying in Schools: An Overview - Ken Seeley, Martin L. Tombari, Laurie J. Bennett, and Jason B. Dunkle
(U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, OJJDP Juvenile Justice Bulletin, December 2011)
Bullying in school can start as early as kindergarten and can be an issue for children all the way through high school. Researchers at the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention completed three studies on bullying and found: 1) when students attend a caring school community where they are challenged academically and are supported by adults, they are less likely to be bullied; 2) 3ven when children are bullied, if they remain engaged in their school, they are more likely to attend classes more often and achieve more academically; 3) schools should start bullying prevention programs early; and 4) schools should focus on the difficult transition between elementary and middle school, when bullying often becomes more intense. Bullying affects each child differently, and bullying is a complex and emotional phenomenon. The researchers conclude: “Schools can overcome this negative effect if they adopt strategies that engage students in their work, creating positive learning environments that produce academic achievement.”
Becoming a Child, Becoming Christian - Karen-Marie Yust
"Each new generation of congregational leaders and parents must find ways to help children discover the transformative relevance of faith stories for contemporary lives." Dr. Karen-Marie Yust presents an understanding of the developmental capabilities of children at different ages, the social contexts in which they are growing up, and the kinds of spiritual and ministry practices that contribute to faith formation.
(Source: Lifelong Faith Journal, www.LifelongFaith.com)
Biblical and Theological Resources for Raising Children - Marcia Bunge
Marcia Bunge identifies some fundamental insights from the Bible and the Christian tradition about the roles and responsibilities of parents and the complexity and dignity of children as resources for raising our children in the faith. The article includes a summation based on Scripture and Christian tradition of parental practices and responsibilities for nurturing the moral and spiritual lives of children.
(Source: Lutheran Partners, July/Aug 2009, Vol. 25, No. 4)
Faith and Faith Formation: More Than Just Ages and Stages - Robert J. Keeley
Robert Keeley presents a synthesis of James Fowler’s stages of faith and their application to the faith formation of children and adults. He reminds us that faith is a gift from God and no theory of faith development can ever adequately describe the faith journey. Yet, he says that Fowler's stages provide a helpful description that can offer practical insights for all those involved in faith formation.
(Source: LIfelong Faith Journal, www.LifelongFaith.com)
FUNdamentally Important: Humour and Fun as Caring and Practice - Karen Ford, Leigh Tesch, and Bernie Carter
(Journal of Child Health Care, 15 (4) 247-249)
When children end up in the hospital, it’s easy to overemphasize the seriousness of the situation. Researchers, however, have discovered that when we find appropriate ways to play with sick children and even find jokes that make them laugh, that they benefit a great deal—not only emotionally but also physically as well. “There is nothing about play and fun which should be seen as trivial,” the authors conclude. “We need to remain serious about creating opportunities for fun.”
On Beyond Zebra: Beyond Traditional Models for Children’s Ministry - Amber Espinosa
Children’s ministry has all too often been understood as a static model or curriculum that can be adopted and repeated year after year. Certainly any activity that involves children needs careful planning. If we understand God to be continually at work in the lives of individual children, however, children’s ministry also needs to be flexible enough to discern and nurture the movement of the Spirit. Amber Espinosa offers a fresh perspective on children's ministry that is centered on children and God's activity in their lives.
Saturated Spirituality: Creating Environments that Nurture All Children - David M. Csinos
David Csinos describes four styles of spirituality—word, emotion, symbol, and action—that he and his colleagues have identified, and presents a variety of practical strategies for nurturing the spiritual life of children in each of the four styles.
(Source: LIfelong Faith Journal, www.LifelongFaith.com
Teaching & Learning with the iGeneration - John Roberto
John Roberto summarizes a variety of perspectives and strategies for teaching children today - the "iGeneration” - offering practical ways that teachers and leaders can use the new Web 2.0 technologies with children in faith formation.
(Source: LIfelong Faith Journal, www.LifelongFaith.com)
Transforming Practice: Emerging Literature on Children, Youth and Christian Formation - Karen-Marie Yust
Karen-Marie Yust reviews the books and edited volumes of 24 scholars or scholarly collaborations, highlighting shared themes and commitments in the major literature on children, youth and Christian formation that has emerged since 2000. A common thread among these scholars is the hope that sustained attention to the lives and spiritual journeys of children and youth in postmodern America will both stimulate and sustain young people’s faith and strengthen the church through the active and creative participation of children and youth in faith communities.
(Source: Resources for American Christianity, http://www.resourcingchristianity.org/essay.aspx?ESYID=5ac8b5d6-a419-4a42-a4ef-0478ccee3793)
What Matters Now in Children’s Ministry: 33 Perspectives on How to Influence Children’s Faith Now - Matt Guevara, Amy Dolan, Henry Zonio, and Friends
“What matters now in children’s ministry?” is a question that every leader in the field of children’s and family ministry answers on a daily basis through their decisions, communication, meetings, programming, curriculum, recruiting, and schedule. This is the question that underscores countless hours of time and effort by pastors, faith formation leaders, support staff, and volunteers. This is the question that gets answered every time a church opens its doors to children and families. This question matters. Leaders from a variety of denominational backgrounds in vocational church ministry, education, parachurch ministry, non-profit organizations, and business were asked to answer the question with one word. The responses are as varied as the environments where the contributors serve. These unique one-word themes are colorful and catalytic, inspiring and conversational, innovative and foundational, timely and true.
(Source: www.corycenter.org/uploads/what_matters_now.pdf)
"Each new generation of congregational leaders and parents must find ways to help children discover the transformative relevance of faith stories for contemporary lives." Dr. Karen-Marie Yust presents an understanding of the developmental capabilities of children at different ages, the social contexts in which they are growing up, and the kinds of spiritual and ministry practices that contribute to faith formation.
(Source: Lifelong Faith Journal, www.LifelongFaith.com)
Biblical and Theological Resources for Raising Children - Marcia Bunge
Marcia Bunge identifies some fundamental insights from the Bible and the Christian tradition about the roles and responsibilities of parents and the complexity and dignity of children as resources for raising our children in the faith. The article includes a summation based on Scripture and Christian tradition of parental practices and responsibilities for nurturing the moral and spiritual lives of children.
(Source: Lutheran Partners, July/Aug 2009, Vol. 25, No. 4)
Faith and Faith Formation: More Than Just Ages and Stages - Robert J. Keeley
Robert Keeley presents a synthesis of James Fowler’s stages of faith and their application to the faith formation of children and adults. He reminds us that faith is a gift from God and no theory of faith development can ever adequately describe the faith journey. Yet, he says that Fowler's stages provide a helpful description that can offer practical insights for all those involved in faith formation.
(Source: LIfelong Faith Journal, www.LifelongFaith.com)
FUNdamentally Important: Humour and Fun as Caring and Practice - Karen Ford, Leigh Tesch, and Bernie Carter
(Journal of Child Health Care, 15 (4) 247-249)
When children end up in the hospital, it’s easy to overemphasize the seriousness of the situation. Researchers, however, have discovered that when we find appropriate ways to play with sick children and even find jokes that make them laugh, that they benefit a great deal—not only emotionally but also physically as well. “There is nothing about play and fun which should be seen as trivial,” the authors conclude. “We need to remain serious about creating opportunities for fun.”
On Beyond Zebra: Beyond Traditional Models for Children’s Ministry - Amber Espinosa
Children’s ministry has all too often been understood as a static model or curriculum that can be adopted and repeated year after year. Certainly any activity that involves children needs careful planning. If we understand God to be continually at work in the lives of individual children, however, children’s ministry also needs to be flexible enough to discern and nurture the movement of the Spirit. Amber Espinosa offers a fresh perspective on children's ministry that is centered on children and God's activity in their lives.
Saturated Spirituality: Creating Environments that Nurture All Children - David M. Csinos
David Csinos describes four styles of spirituality—word, emotion, symbol, and action—that he and his colleagues have identified, and presents a variety of practical strategies for nurturing the spiritual life of children in each of the four styles.
(Source: LIfelong Faith Journal, www.LifelongFaith.com
Teaching & Learning with the iGeneration - John Roberto
John Roberto summarizes a variety of perspectives and strategies for teaching children today - the "iGeneration” - offering practical ways that teachers and leaders can use the new Web 2.0 technologies with children in faith formation.
(Source: LIfelong Faith Journal, www.LifelongFaith.com)
Transforming Practice: Emerging Literature on Children, Youth and Christian Formation - Karen-Marie Yust
Karen-Marie Yust reviews the books and edited volumes of 24 scholars or scholarly collaborations, highlighting shared themes and commitments in the major literature on children, youth and Christian formation that has emerged since 2000. A common thread among these scholars is the hope that sustained attention to the lives and spiritual journeys of children and youth in postmodern America will both stimulate and sustain young people’s faith and strengthen the church through the active and creative participation of children and youth in faith communities.
(Source: Resources for American Christianity, http://www.resourcingchristianity.org/essay.aspx?ESYID=5ac8b5d6-a419-4a42-a4ef-0478ccee3793)
What Matters Now in Children’s Ministry: 33 Perspectives on How to Influence Children’s Faith Now - Matt Guevara, Amy Dolan, Henry Zonio, and Friends
“What matters now in children’s ministry?” is a question that every leader in the field of children’s and family ministry answers on a daily basis through their decisions, communication, meetings, programming, curriculum, recruiting, and schedule. This is the question that underscores countless hours of time and effort by pastors, faith formation leaders, support staff, and volunteers. This is the question that gets answered every time a church opens its doors to children and families. This question matters. Leaders from a variety of denominational backgrounds in vocational church ministry, education, parachurch ministry, non-profit organizations, and business were asked to answer the question with one word. The responses are as varied as the environments where the contributors serve. These unique one-word themes are colorful and catalytic, inspiring and conversational, innovative and foundational, timely and true.
(Source: www.corycenter.org/uploads/what_matters_now.pdf)
