Spirit Play

Religious Education for The Young

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Explore How To

Get Started

Are you just starting to explore using Spirit Play? Do you think you want to get more serious about implementing it in your church? Learn how to get started here.

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Learn About Our

In-Person Training

Spend a full day with a Spirit Play trainer and others at an in-person training. Schedule one at your church or look for one hosted at a nearby church.

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Take Our

Online Training

Our NEW online training option might be perfect for you. This self-paced instruction will teach you on your schedule how to be a Spirit Play teacher.

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Buy Materials at

Our Online Store

We have a variety of materials to help you get started with Spirit Play, learn more about it, or expand your story options.

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What is

Unitarian Universalist

Religious Education Method and Ministry

Spirit Play is based in story and ritual, play and creativity. It gives children the tools to make meaning of their lives and questions such as Who am I, Where did I come from, and What is my purpose within the container of Unitarian Universalism.

The Montessori Philosophy

We use the Montessori approach with key elements of a prepared classroom environment, child-directed activities, and trained teachers. These elements free the children to choose their own focus after an initial lesson or story within a safe and sacred structure shepherded by two adults.

Encourages independent thinking through wondering questions

Gives children real choices within the structure of the morning

Creates community of children in classroom of mixed ages

Develops an underlying sense of the spiritual and the mystery of life

Supports congregational polity through choice of lessons

Fulfills parts of the volunteers' spiritual processes

The Proven 3-Part Format for Education

Spirit Play is a Unitarian Universalist program of religious education that has evolved from a long line of Montessori-based religious education programming.

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Active Story Telling

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Wondering Time

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Child-Directed Activities

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Our Upcoming

Training
Seminars

Full day trainings are available to ensure success in this innovative method of religious education.

View Our In-Person Trainings
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Spirit Play is a way of thinking about religious education, and inviting children and adults into an exploration of their own needs and "existential" limits. It provides for the modeling of authentic religious questioning, the freedom to search for one's own meaning, and perhaps most importantly, is emotionally provocative. I often tell the children that faith is not really something you think, but something you feel.

Kerrie Lirosi

The sacred space that has been created allows for creative wondering and an opportunity to explore the stories personally through re-telling or through art materials provided.  The manipulative materials allow the children to remember and connect to the stories and to independently work with them.  The children are learning about our Unitarian Universalist principles and values at an age-appropriate level.  Their own ideas are encouraged and valued at the same time.

Lynn Sabourini

This spectacular storytelling and spiritual learning method adapts well to rural multi-age classrooms, as children will do individual work at their own level. The method responds beautifully to a congregation's specific curricular needs. I've been using Spirit Play in different ways for fourteen years!

Sparrow Alden

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Help Children Find Meaning & Answers In Life

Spirit Play

Proven Educational Method Whose Values Support Unitarian Universalism

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We are happy to learn about your interest in our program.

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