Godly Play
What is Godly Play?
Godly Play is a montessori-inspired spiritual formation program that helps children to explore their faith through story and to enhance their spiritual experience though wonder and play.
Many religious education programs treat children like “empty vessels” who must be instructed and “filled” with the correct facts and information about God. Godly Play recognizes that children are not empty vessels, but are full and vibrant humans beings who already have an innate sense of the presence of God. Godly Play simply seeks to equip them with the religious language needed to express their original experience of God and become more fully aware of the mystery of God’s presence in their lives.
How is a Godly Play class structured?
All Godly Play classes follow the same basic routine:
Gathering & Getting Ready: Children are greeted at the door and are invited to join the storyteller in the circle, where they visit and “get ready” (prepare their minds & hearts) for the story. Every week we open with prayer, light our Christ candle and review where we are in the liturgical year.
The Story: The storyteller tells a sacred story using special materials and speaking in a simple, meditative manner, allowing time for silence. This invites the children to meditate on the word and pay careful attention.
Wondering Questions: The group engages in a series of “I wonder” questions allowing them to explore the relationship between the story and their lives.
Work Time: Children are invited to respond to the story by choosing where they would like to work in the classroom. They can choose to play with the story itself or choose from a variety of art and building materials to express and respond to the story in an artistic or kinesthetic way. This is a time of free expression and we do not do prepared crafts or other adult-driven activities.
The Feast: The children gather back together to share their work, pray and share in a simple “feast” (usually crackers & juice). This is designed to model and prepare children for the experience of holy communion.
Goodbye: We say goodbye and bring the children up to join their families in the sanctuary for the 10:30 service. Families who are not staying for the service may pick up their children at 10:20 AM.
A panorama of our beautiful classroom space.
other frequently asked questions
Can I stay with my child during Godly Play?
Yes. Parents & caregivers are welcome to stay with their children during Godly Play, but it is not required. We are happy for parents to use this time to attend their own adult formation classes or simply have a little break. No matter what, there are always two background-checked adults present in the classroom. We are committed to the safety of our children!
Who are the Godly Play teachers?
Trained Godly Play storytellers in the parish take turns telling the story each month. Each week a second adult (usually a parent) also volunteers to help in the classroom as Diocesan policy requires two adults to be present at every gathering with children or youth.
What is the age range of the children in Godly Play?
Children ages 4-12 are invited to come to Godly Play. We know this is a wide age range, but Godly Play is designed to work with children of all ages and meets each child exactly where they are developmentally. You would be surprised how well it works to have this big of a mix of ages! Children over 12 are invited to look into our youth program. In some cases, 3-year-olds might be ready to come to Godly Play, especially with if they are an older 3, have attended preschool before and a parent or caregiver attends with them. If you think your 3-year-old is ready, feel free to bring them and we can try it out!
What are all those things on the shelves in the classroom?
These objects are the manipulatives used to tell the sacred stories and make them come alive for the children. There are materials for Old Testament stories, New Testament stories, Parables, Saint stories and stories about the liturgical year and sacraments like baptism and communion. The objects are always placed in the middle of the circle, symbolizing the fact that God is present and accessible to all, children and adults alike. The circle also helps us emphasize many aspects of being together in a Christian community. One child described the room as “a walk through the Bible.”
Why not do a prepared craft or activity, especially one that reinforces the story of the day?
In Godly Play we prefer to give the child time for authentic expression and exploration in lieu of a pre-prepared craft or activity. We do encourage them to do or make something that connects to the story of the day, but we ultimately give them the freedom to choose how to do that. We want them to ponder how each story connects with their own experience of God and then to reflect on that connection through art and play. They might not always do or make something that seems “on topic,” but that’s okay! Part of Godly Play is actually letting go of the expectation that children “produce” anything that meets the needs of adults, teachers or parents. If we want children to truly explore their faith, rather than just fill them with knowledge to regurgitate, we have to be open to their interpretation and meaning of these beautiful, sacred stories.