Follow the child . . . That’s the guiding philosophy of the Montessori curriculum, developed by Italian educator Maria Montessori in the early 1900s. It’s also a theology expressed in the Hebrew Scriptures and in the Gospels: “and a little child will lead them” (Isaiah 11:6); “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14; Luke 18:16).
As a mom who has raised two of her children in the Montessori tradition, I’ve long believed that “play is children’s work” and have followed the wisdom of many young people. It wasn’t until I became an ordained Episcopal (read: Anglican) priest that I discovered the portion of Maria’s curriculum that brought children’s wonder into religious studies. “Godly Play”, developed by Montessori educator and Episcopal priest, the Rev. Dr. Jerome Berryman, introduced this method to the U.S. in the 1990s, one that encourages children, youth, and teachers to explore Christian spirituality together, discovering lessons anew with each story telling.
Here at St. Bart’s in Gibsons, we’re starting a Godly Play program. So far, I’ve created two sets of materials: the story of the Pentecost, complete with fiery red fabric and building blocks, and the story of Creation, featuring seven tiles painted with impressions of created life (including a blank tile for the day of rest, something I need to remember!). This week, I’ll be creating a “desert box”: a low, shallow box with sand, with which we tell stories of the ancient Hebrew people and wonder about their meaning. My favourite questions asked at the end of every story are “I wonder where you are in this story?” and “I wonder if we could take anything away and still have all the story we need?”
It may take a while to create all the materials – story boxes, parable boxes, lessons on sacrament – but as we say in Godly Play, “we have all the time we need.” Of course, if any woodworkers, fabric artists, or story tellers would like to get involved, the project will grow faster! Come see for yourselves any Sunday – 11 a.m. through July 2, and 10 a.m. in the summer. I’ll meet you in the children’s corner and we’ll wonder together.
