Christian Formation

Godly Play teaches trust in a gracious God who is real and accessible in all the mystery of life, both the sad and the joyful (rather than hunger for the non-renewable magic that comes from the latest movie, toy, or video game).

Godly Play teaches children to respect the space, materials, and people they work with, learning to enjoy each with care and patience.

Godly Play teaches the classic rhythm for living modeled in the Bible - the alternation of action and reflection, engagement and prayer. Godly Play helps both teachers and learners to build a spiritual rule of life.

Godly Play teaches kindness and mutuality by its ritual character and by how it organizes space, learning materials and the community of children, embodying the biblical ethic of how the people of God are to live together.

Godly Play's way of "wondering" and responding to the Bible's sacred stories is, in fact, a contemporary expression of the ancient spiritual practice of lectio divino. Instead of meditating abstractly on God's word, the children "meditate" in an artistic and kinesthetic way. Thus, Godly Play helps children know God - not just know about God or about the Bible

Godly Play teaches that everything in God's creation is charged with the possibility of holiness, including each of us, and that we are in relationship with everything in Creation. There is no sacred vs. profane; all ground is holy ground.

Godly Play teaches that there is Kairos time as well as Chronos time. Kairos time is not concerned with knowing "what time it is" but instead with the ancient notion of "what time is for," including time to be with God. Godly Play puts God back into the center of daily life.

Godly Play builds on the pioneering educational work of Maria Montessori, including her own innovative religious classrooms built in Italy and Spain in the 1930's.

Godly Play affirms and honors elements in our Christian tradition which have often been ignored in recent centuries: non-verbal communication, quietness, receptivity, awe and wonder. In our own time we are rediscovering what valuable spiritual resources these elements of our tradition are.

Godly Play is innovative.

Godly Play re-sacralizes the everyday things of the world (e.g. bread, wine, candies, oils, wood, linens, clay), re-teaching a sacramental worldview in a society that is so often utilitarian and materialistic.

Godly Play teaches children and adults that being quiet, careful, and deliberate can be as playful and as satisfying (if different) than being noisy, busy, and grabby. This counter cultural message is delivered in a gentle and consistent way.

Godly Play is not a "rote" or "transfer" method of teaching and learning. It is an experiential, "discovery" method which engages the whole child - hands, heart, mind, senses, and intuition. This is the best way for children (perhaps all of us) to internalize and retain what we learn.

Godly Play uses art activities differently than most curricula. Rather than have children create something prepackaged to show mom or Dad, each child creates an expressive response to what he/she feels, thinks, or imagines after "receiving" the parable or story told in the group setting. The children have the opportunity to "enter" the story, "wonder" about it, and then find and express meaning that connects to their own lives.

Godly Play combines and integrates two primary gateways to knowing for young children - language (verbal) and play (non-verbal) by providing sensorial and kinesthetic materials to work with in a safe, stimulating environment.

Godly Play is thoroughly grounded in what we know about child development and children's learning capacities and styles. Children's abilities are deeply respected and encouraged. Children are not viewed as small, inefficient adults or as all-important little gods/goddesses.

Godly Play is established and proven.

Since 1991, Godly Play has spread to more than 2500 churches and institutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Latin America and Africa. This growth is continuing and steady.

Godly Play introductions, demonstrations, workshops and training are in demand every weekend of the year.

Godly Play National Conferences have been successfully held in 1997, 1998 and 2002. Advanced training conferences have been held annually since 1999. All have stimulated increased local teacher training activity, from 10 events in 2001, to 20 events in 2002.

The Center's Houston and Dallas offices receive daily inquiries asking for materials, training and assistance in establishing Godly Play programs. Most of these questions are referred to the Center's 28 Accredited Trainers throughout the United States.

The basic Godly Play texts and curriculum books have sold thousands of copies and have been in print continuously since publication in 1989, - a notable accomplishment in religious publishing.

A new edition of the Godly Play story texts, annotated and illustrated, was published by Living the Good News. A fourth introductory volume will accompany the three texts and a volume with notes for parents has been added.