Attachment, Nature, and the Young Child’s Felt Sense of God

Abstract It is proposed that young children may develop a felt sense of God through an attachment to nature that parallels their attachment to significant people in their lives. Children learn through their senses and young children experience a sense of awe and wonder when immersed in nature. Research supports the argument that children who are exposed to nature develop personal attributes that help them flourish. This article argues for a nexus between young children’s sensory experiences in nature and their felt sense of God.