ABSTRACT

Attention to children’s spiritual and religious well-being is required by legislation, Government guidelines and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989. Margaret Crompton has worked with and on behalf of children as a social worker, lecturer and writer. Her recent publications include Children and Counselling and a training pack, Children, Spirituality and Religion. This jargon-free book develops and adds to those ideas and materials, focusing on everyday practice in social work, education and health care. Reference is made to several religions and to ideas about spirituality, which is not necessarily associated with religious belief and observance. Practitioners’ experience is also cited. Topics include, spiritual and religious rights, spiritual development, needs and well-being, implications of religious beliefs and observances for daily life and care, abuse and neglect, death, including suicide and abortion and communication, including stories and play.

part |2 pages

Part 1: Spiritual and religious rights

chapter 1|22 pages

Spiritual and religious rights

part |2 pages

Part 2: Children and spirituality

chapter 2|20 pages

Ideas about spirituality

chapter 3|14 pages

Experience of spirituality in childhood

chapter 4|14 pages

Spiritual distress

part |2 pages

Part 3: Children and religion

chapter 5|6 pages

Religion in everyday life

chapter 6|16 pages

Rites of passage

chapter 7|10 pages

Fasts and festivals

chapter 8|12 pages

Worship

chapter 9|10 pages

Symbols and sacred objects

chapter 10|8 pages

Daily care

part |2 pages

Part 4: Spirituality, religion, abuse and neglect

chapter 11|16 pages

Abuse and neglect

part |2 pages

Part 5: Children and death

chapter 13|20 pages

Spiritual and religious care

chapter 14|14 pages

Suicide and termination of pregnancy

part |2 pages

Part 6: Communicating with children

chapter 15|18 pages

Stories, myths and legends

chapter 16|12 pages

Communicating about death and loss