New Research from the Center for the Theology of Childhood

Godly Play Went Home: An Exploratory  Study of the Experience of Godly Play in  Homes during the Covid-19 Pandemic  through the Lens of Caregivers 

Cheryl V. Minor & Hannah Sutton-Adams 

Published in Religious Education online: 25 Jul 2022 https://doi.org/10.1080/00344087.2022.2101814 

Cheryl V. Minor, Ph.D. 

Director for the Center for the Theology of Childhood at the Godly Play Foundation
cheryl.minor@godlyplayfoundation.org 

Cheryl Minor has been the Director of the Center for the Theology of Childhood at the Godly  Play Foundation since 2016. As the Director, she has been involved in curriculum development,  training and research for the Godly Play Foundation. She recently published, “Godly Play in  Middle and Late Childhood.”  

Hannah Sutton-Adams, M.Div. 

Research Assistant at the Godly Play Foundation 
Ph.D. Student, Boston College 

Hannah Sutton-Adams is a third year Ph.D. student at Boston College. Her areas of research  interest include theology, trauma, and children’s spirituality. She has served as the research  assistant at the Godly Play Foundation since 2021.

Abstract  

This study explored caregivers' experiences of virtual Godly Play in the United States, South  Korea, and the UK during COVID-19 lock-downs. Thematic analysis of thirty-three caregiver  surveys and six semi-structured interviews revealed four themes: support/community,  intergenerational Godly Play, spiritual maintenance and growth for the family, and the gift of  wonder. This study shows that the experience of Godly Play at home during the pandemic  benefitted caregivers. As the pandemic subsides and we return to child-centered programming in  churches, this study highlights the importance of including and equipping caregivers in nurturing their children’s spirituality.  

Download the Full Article Here