posted on March 8, 2025

This article is based on my personal exploration due to the work that I am doing with my Infant/Toddler Time families. I have shifted from talking about the soul to talk about the Spirit that lives in all of us. I am inspired by the wisdom of Dr. Daniel Black from his episode "Faith & Revolution: How Spirituality Fueled Black Resistance" as a guest from the Not All Hood podcast. I find him not only impactful, but I also feel and see so many parallels to the spiritual work that is necessary within early childhood, and I would argue for all levels of education. Throughout this article, I used quotes from Dr. Black's podcast session because they are expansive, and it is my intention to push your thinking. As loved ones and guides, we are vessels that are incomplete in nature because we are supposed to be broken and molded. Let this article be the opportunity for you to be expanded to what is possible.

The Creator Goes Beyond the Building

When we think about spirituality for our youngest children, we often default to formal religious settings—the church building, the Sunday school classroom, the Bible stories. But what if spiritual connection begins much earlier and in much simpler ways?

Dr. Daniel Black, professor of African-American studies at Clark Atlanta University and acclaimed author of They Tell Me of Home, The Sacred Place, Perfect Peace, Twelve Gates to the City, The Coming, Listen to the Lambs, Don’t Cry for Me, and Black on Black offers a perspective that resonates deeply for families seeking to nurture spiritual awareness in their children: "We came to this country with the Creator, but we met God when we got here... The Creator is unlimited."

This distinction invites us to consider how we might introduce our children to spiritual connections that go beyond institutional walls. The Creator—that unlimited essence—can be found in the natural world, in community gatherings, in family traditions, and in the everyday moments that make up a child's life.

Nature is the First Sacred Space

"I don't know that we need a building at all," Dr. Black reflects. "I think nature really is the building. I think if you're going to meet God, I think all you really have to do is go outside."

Young children naturally experience wonder when encountering the natural world. Their instinctive fascination with leaves, clouds, insects, and water offers an organic pathway to spiritual awareness. When a toddler stands transfixed by sunlight filtering through trees or a baby reaches with delight toward the moon, they are having spiritual experiences without language or doctrine.

Simple practices to nurture nature connection:

Create a "wonder spot" in your yard or a nearby park where your family regularly sits quietly
Name and honor the elements (earth, water, air, fire/sun) in everyday conversations
Start and end your day by noticing the sky together

Community is Divine Expression

One of Dr. Black's most powerful insights speak directly to how we might raise children with spiritual awareness: "I think all of us combined is God. I think God is a notion in our heads, but I think the reality of what God is us together collectively."

Children first experience community in the family unit, then gradually expand their understanding to include extended family, neighbors, and educational settings. This expanding circle represents a growing awareness of our interconnectedness—a foundational spiritual concept.

Dr. Black notes that traditional Black churches provided community experiences that went far beyond religious instruction: "The black church had a lot of issues then and now but what the black church also had was some things that were salvific for black people." These included learning public speaking, understanding reciprocity, respecting elders, and experiencing collective joy.

How might we create such experiences for our children, whether within or beyond church walls?

Building community connections:

Create intergenerational experiences where children interact with elders
Establish family traditions that honor reciprocity—giving back to places that nurture us
Seek out community celebrations that allow children to experience collective joy

The Power of Ritual in Everyday Life

Dr. Black speaks eloquently about ritual in Black spirituality: "When we come together and invite Spirit to be a guest Among Us... what we're saying is come on in visible and disturb whatever part of this you need to disturb in order for our souls to be made glad." Can I get an “Amen” to that!!!!

Young children thrive on ritual and repetition. Their developing brains find security in predictable patterns, making daily rituals powerful opportunities for spiritual formation. From morning greetings to bedtime routines, these repeated actions can become sacred moments when approached with intention.

Creating meaningful family rituals:

Establish mealtime practices that honor food, its origins, and those who prepared it
Develop bedtime routines that include gratitude, reflection, or blessings
Mark seasonal transitions with special activities or celebrations

It’s Time to Honoring the Multiple Ways of Knowing

Dr. Black offers a profound perspective on finding spiritual wisdom beyond traditional religious texts:

"I think if a person really understood who God is, you know I mean sermons are in “The Bluest Eye” you know I mean sermons are in James Baldwin true yes and [...] you know Baldwin loved God certainly as much as you do. So, he gave us sermons, our problem is that we think we've thought we need sermons in this sanctioned place right called the Bible as we know it."

This expansive view invites parents to honor the various ways children receive and process spiritual information. Young children don't separate their spiritual understanding from other forms of knowing. Their spiritual development happens alongside cognitive, emotional, and physical development, often expressing itself through art, movement, questions, and play.

Supporting diverse spiritual expression:

Provide open-ended art materials for children to express their understanding
Honor big questions without rushing to simple answers
Create space for movement and music as spiritual practices
Share stories from diverse traditions that explore wonder, connection, and meaning

Ancestral Connection…and No, It is Not Devil Work

Throughout his work, Dr. Black emphasizes the importance of ancestral wisdom in spiritual practice. For families with young children, this connection provides roots and context for spiritual identity.

Even very young children can begin to understand family lineage and cultural heritage through stories, photographs, music, and food traditions. These connections help children place themselves within a larger story, an essential aspect of spiritual development.

Building ancestral awareness:

Share family stories that connect children to their heritage
Create accessible visual representations of family lineage
Incorporate traditional songs, games, and foods into family life
Honor ancestors in age-appropriate ways during special occasions

We need to Remember our Freedom to Grow and Question

Perhaps most importantly, Dr. Black's perspective encourages authentic spiritual exploration without condemnation: "The aesthetic of black people is not going to condemn black people."

He brings this reflection up with Black gospel music. Our theology and our liberation are in our music. It is not in the pastor’s words because the pastor’s words can and has been used to condemn, shame and belittle. We have to remind ourselves of our anchors. Where is our liberation and who holds our freedom? It cannot be limited by an earthly person or a physical structure.

This approach invites parents to create homes where spiritual curiosity is welcomed, questions are honored, and individual spiritual journeys are respected—even when they differ from familial traditions.

Creating space for spiritual freedom:

Welcome children's questions without judgment
Acknowledge when you don't have answers
Share your own spiritual journey, including doubts and discoveries
Expose children to diverse spiritual traditions while providing cultural context

Start the Journey

Nurturing spiritual awareness in young children doesn't require theological expertise or perfect practice. It begins with simple awareness: noticing the sacred in everyday moments, honoring connection, and creating space for wonder.

As Dr. Black reminds us about the essence of spirituality: "It's about one believing beyond one's announced limitations." By helping our children recognize the unlimited Creator in nature, community, and themselves, we provide foundations for lifelong spiritual health—foundations that honor both ancestral wisdom and personal discovery.

Whether your family practices within traditional religious structures, creates your own spiritual traditions, or explores some combination of approaches, your intentional attention to the spiritual dimension of your child's development offers a precious gift that will unfold throughout their lifetime.