Attachment, nature, and the young child's felt sense of God

Attachment to nature through sensory experiences may help a young child develop a felt sense of God

This theoretical article proposes that an attachment to nature may be a pathway for young children to develop a felt sense of God. Support for this premise is based, in part, on the well-documented concept of attachment theory, which is usually discussed in relation to the way in which infants become emotionally attached to the significant people in their world. Included in the attachment theory literature is the understanding that the sensory experiences of an infant’s interactions with others help to develop attachments with caring adults.

This paper outlines ways in which young children’s attachments expand beyond humans to include animals, places, and nature. Such attachments develop through behaviors involving one or more of the senses. Five such behaviors are highlighted: eye contact, pre-speech “conversations”, tactile behaviors (touching, cuddling, hugging), playful exploration of surroundings, and following the object of attachment. In building the case for attachment to nature, each of these behaviors and related sensory experiences are explored in the context of interaction with nature: observing nature, listening to the music of nature, physically touching natural objects, engaging in multi-sensory play and exploration in nature, and observing changes in natural cycles.

Observable indicators of a young child’s developing attachment to nature include a sense of awe and wonder, which is sometimes described as a feeling of transcendence. This feeling may engender a felt sense of God.

This article combines the literature on attachment with the literature on early childhood spirituality and the natural environment. Related discussion explains how “a felt sense of God may be triggered by the ongoing presence of the natural world in a young child’s life.” Highlighted in the discussion is the importance of exposing young children to the natural world “early and often”. Practical ideas on how to do this in a way that engages the senses are offered.