Understanding Children’s Spirituality: Conceptualizations by Chilean In-service Early Childhood Educators

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 2:15 pm - Gold 2
  In Roundtable Session: Spirituality as human connection

Abstract

This qualitative study examines how 87 Chilean in-service early childhood educators define children’s spirituality, based on their responses to Q7 of the ECE-SPC instrument (Author et al., 2023), which is part of a larger U.S. mixed-methods project (Author et al., 2024). Using NVivo 14 for focused and axial coding analysis, three dimensions emerged: Personal (innate, emotional, and self-aware), Interpersonal (relational and shaped by external values), and Intangible-Immaterial (connection with the immaterial or spiritual). These findings reveal a nuanced understanding of spirituality and underscore its significance to holistic child development. They suggest that teacher education and professional development should include spirituality as part of inclusive early learning environments in Chile.

Authors

• Jennifer Mata-McMahon, University of Maryland - Baltimore County

• Xixellonje Nebihu, University of Maryland - Baltimore County

• Francisco Javier Vargas Herrera, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso

• Loreto Bernardita Moya Marchant, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso