Preschool teachers' perceptions of spirituality in Türkiye
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CHILDRENS SPIRITUALITY, 2026 (AHCI, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1080/1364436x.2026.2706134
- Dergi Adı: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CHILDRENS SPIRITUALITY
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Arts and Humanities Citation Index (AHCI), Scopus, Agricultural & Environmental Science Database, ATLA Religion Database, Child Development & Adolescent Studies, EBSCO Education Source, Education Abstracts, Educational research abstracts (ERA), Public Affairs Index, Religion and Philosophy Collection, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Social Science Premium Collection (ProQuest), Education Collection (ProQuest), Education Source Ultimate (EBSCO), Religion Database (ProQuest)
- Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
This study aims to examine how children's spirituality during early childhood is understood, interpreted, and reflected in the early childhood education environment in T & uuml;rkiye. For this purpose, the study was designed based on a qualitative research method. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews from 11 participants who are preschool teachers in the city of Eski & scedil;ehir. The findings were analysed using the MAXQDA program and evaluated under four themes: uncertainty, potential, belief, and curriculum. Ultimately, it was determined that participants were unable to give a clear definition of spirituality, which they associated with religion and values, and that they found it difficult to discuss the concept. The inability to define or discuss spirituality can largely be associated with the absence of a curriculum with religious or spiritual content in preschool and the early years of primary school, as well as the lack of coursework addressing this topic during teachers' undergraduate training.