"In most religious education children are told who God is.
In 'Godly Play' children discover who God is."

Godly Play teaches children the art of using religious language - parable, sacred story, silence and liturgical action - helping them become more fully aware of the mystery of God’s presence in their lives.

Developed by Episcopalian priest, author and teacher, Jerome W. Berryman, Godly Play is offered throughout the United States. Designed for children aged two to twelve, Godly Play has been classroom tested since 1972. Deeply spiritual and highly creative, Godly Play is also used in schools, hospitals, homeless shelters, and retirement centers. Internationally, Godly Play classrooms are found in the United Kingdom, Finland, Germany, Canada, Tanzania, Australia, and in Spanish speaking countries.

To provide an environment that fosters discovery learning in which children feel safe and welcomed; where they can learn the art of using Religious language to encounter God and to find meaning in their lives.

Our Objectives (The Heart of Godly Play)
• To create sacred space
• To build and work in community
• To learn religious language
• To use that religious language to make meaning

How we do that
• By using religious language sacred stories, parables, liturgical action and silence (the stories)
• By modeling how to wonder using the religious language, so that children can enter the language rather than merely repeating it or talking about it. (the wondering)
• By showing children how to choose their work so that they can confront their own issues rather than working on issues determined by others. (the response time)
• By organizing the time to follow the pattern of worship that the Christian tradition has found to be the best way to be with God in community. (the structure of time)
• By showing the children how to work together as a community by supporting and respecting each other and one another’s work. (the adults model this in their interactions with other children)
• By organizing the space so that the whole system of Christian language is present in the room, so that the children can literally walk into that language domain when they enter the room. (the set-up of the room)