Godly Play Canada
WHAT IS GODLY PLAY?
Godly Play stories help the children learn Christian language and prepare them to join adult worship. A Godly Play session mimics a liturgical worship service but at a child's level. Through Godly Play, children will come to understand the liturgical calendar, sacraments, advent, lent, and other big concepts in the Christian church.
Godly Play Is
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a creative and imaginative approach to Christian nurture
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based on long-established, tried and tested approaches
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always encouraging participants to make meaning for themselves by inviting them into stories and providing the opportunity for them to connect the stories with their personal experience
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non-coercive way to encourage people to move into larger dimensions of belief and faith through wondering questions and open-ended response time
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a way of preparing children to join in the worship and life of their congregations as they develop a deeper understanding of stories, symbols and rites
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now being used with a wide variety of age groups in a diversity of settings
Introduction to Godly Play
This video will show you what a full Godly Play session looks like and explains the roles of the two adult: the doorperson and the storyteller.
What a Session Looks Like: Two Adults
 Crossing the ThresholdThe doorperson welcomes children individually by name at the door and helps them get ready. This may look like reminding them to take of their shoes, use the restroom if they seem antsy, leaving any toys at the door with you, or simply asking the child "are you ready for a story"? When the child says they are ready the doorperson will invite them to join the circle. |  Building the CircleWhile the doorperson welcome the children, the storyteller sits in the room and builds the circle. They again welcome the children by name, help them find a seat, and visit with them while they wait for all the children to arrive. Children will often have something they want to share with the storyteller from their week at this time. |  The StoryWhen the children have arrived and are ready, the storyteller will find the story and bring it to the circle. The storyteller is very focused on the story while telling it which helps the children focus too. |  WonderingAfter the story, the storyteller will ask the children questions that prompt them to wonder about the story. The children may wonder together out loud or keep their wonderings to themselves. Both are fine. |
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 Work TimeAfter the wondering, the storyteller will put the story away and ask the children what work they would like to do that day. Children may work with anything in the room to help them reflect on a story or discover a new one. Children often like to work with other stories or the art shelves. |  FeastWhen it's time to put their work away, the storyteller will tell them and the doorperson will assist and children who need a hand. When the work is put away, the storyteller will invite the children back to the circle. The doorperson will as 1 or 2 children to help serve the feast. Children may need a reminder to wait until everyone has their feast before eating. This may be a good time to say a prayer or share gratitude with the circle. |  Saying GoddbyeWhen the children are done the feast, they may want to visit with each other some more until their adults arrive. When the child is picked up, the storyteller will give the child a blessing and send them to the door. The doorperson will then have their chance to say goodbye. |
What Makes Godly Play Unique
The Room
The Godly Play room has been designed as a sacred space for children. The story shelves help to give children a visual guide to where the stories are found in the bible and there are very few visual disctrations in the room to keep the focus on the stories.
Materials
Each story is brought to life using hand-crafted materials to help children visualize the story. The materials are high quailty so the children are able to use anything in the room without fear of them breaking or being damaged.
Spiral Curriculum
The Godly Play curriculum follows the calendar of the church year and then begins again. As the children become familiar with the coer stories, more stories are introduced to help them go deeper with their learning and wondering.
Teachers
Godly Play storytellers and door people must attend a 20 hour training to teach Godly Play which ensures they understand the method and children will have the same experience of Godly Play anywhere they go.
Language
Godly Play stories help the children learn Christian language and prepare them to join adult worship. A Godly Play session mimics a litergical worship service but a child's level. Through Godly Play, children will come to understand the litergical calendar, sacrements, advent, lent, and other big concepts in the Christian church.
Wondering
In Godly Play, we believe children have their own rich spirituality already working in them. The approach of wondering allows children to form their own conclusions about what the message of a story is, where they are in the story, and what the most important part is. Adults are careful not to affirm or put down children's wonderings or work but rather, honour their journey exactly as it is.