Ep. 34: Creating Sacred Spaces: Nurturing Spiritual Development in Young Children with Dr. Mimi Larson

Today I'm chatting with Dr. Mimi Larson, Executive Director of the Center for Faith and Children and Assistant Professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Mimi, a scholar-practitioner and advocate for children's spirituality, brings over 25 years of experience in ministry and curriculum development. She focuses on children's faith formation, in particular, how young children make meaning of their faith. Most recently, she has been exploring children's engagement in sacred play in worship environments. She holds advanced degrees from Wheaton Graduate School, Covenant Theological Seminary, and Concordia University. What I really love about Mimi is her desire to equip everyone who spends time with young children – whether a parent, a Sunday morning volunteer or an early educator - she wants everyone to understand and value the importance of bringing the spiritual into our everyday. In this episode, we discuss how physical spaces impact learning and spiritual development in young children. Mimi gives us a wonderful insight into the importance of both the physical environment, such as furniture and toys, and the overall atmosphere and relationships within the space. We explore what it looks like for educators to create a welcoming and safe environment that is child-centered and conducive to learning and the importance of integrating spiritual elements into the classroom, such as prayers, blessings, and discussions about God's creation. Together, we offer advice for schools that share space with Sunday school and emphasize the importance of teamwork and communication. Children are valuable in society and we need to prioritize and value them in our actions, not just in our words! I just love listening to Dr. Larson's calming and peaceful voice. She has such a heart for children and forming faith within them.  I especially loved her practical tips for being intentional in considering a child's perspective when we're setting up classroom spaces. Sit on the floor and look around; get on your knees and look around. This is what children see. Is it helpful for their learning? Is it inviting and welcoming? Is it appropriate? In case you sped through the promo, I want you to know that Mimi will be one of our keynote speakers this summer at our state conference in Austin and Dallas. I really hope you'll join us at one of those locations as she talks about the 8 ways we can nurture young children's faith.  When was the last time you sat down on the floor in your classroom?  What did you see? Send us an email at [email protected]   As always, we would love to connect with you on Instagram and on Facebook