Date

5-23-2025

Department

School of Communication and the Arts

Degree

Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design (MFA)

Chair

Andrea Lewis

Keywords

Discipleship, Gen Z, Generation Alpha, Healthy Habits, MEG (Magnetoencephalography), Mentorship, Nuclear Family, Shalom, Worldview, Christian Education, Parenting, Toddlers

Disciplines

Art and Design | Educational Methods

Abstract

It has always been difficult to keep young people attending church after they reach the freedom of adulthood, but their absence continued to grow with each generation. It is hard to prove whether their decline in attendance is due to lack of spiritual formation in younger years or just the changing of the times is hard to prove, but it can be inferred that more training and honest conversations in earlier years would positively affect this statistic as well as the spiritual wellbeing of future generations. Since the most formative years of children based on brain development are between ages 2 and 6, there should be a greater focus on spiritual foundations during this specific time.

The aim of this research is to examine the ways that young children learn and translate that into how the Gospel can be shared at home. With more parents spending less time with their children due to economical situations, it is even more important for the Church to encourage Christian parents to foster true connection and spiritual growth for everyone in the home. To better understand how children learn and what resources are currently being provided to Christian parents, research was conducted through the form of a literature review examining the following questions:

  1. What is the biblical blueprint for spiritual growth in children?
  2. Who is to take on the most responsibility regarding spiritual development – the Church or parents?
  3. How early should spiritual training begin?
  4. If it is the job of parents, should the Church be providing more resources?
  5. How do toddlers learn best?

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