Caregiver Questionnaire

Early Childhood Identity Formation in Prophetic and Charismatic Christian Contexts

How Family, Church, and Spiritual Experiences May Shape Children Ages Birth to 5

Participant Instructions

Thank you for considering participating in this study!

Are you a parent or guardian (past/present) that could provide insights into how family relationships, the Christian community, and spiritual experiences may influence a child's development of their own identity, belonging, and knowledge of God in the first 5 years of their life?

If you answer "yes", then we would appreciate it if you could respond to the following questions using your own words. You may write as much as you like, and there is no correct or incorrect answer. Additionally, the responses that you provide will not be used to evaluate how well you parent, nor will they be used to assess what type of belief system you have.

Please avoid using the names of children, the full names of individuals, or any information about families, churches, ministries, etc., that may help identify them.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. What you've experienced may provide a better understanding of how young children form their identities.

Question 1: Your Caregiving Experience | Please share your experiences caring for a child(ren) ages 0-5 years. Are you sharing past memories of a child you cared for or currently caring for? *

Question 2: Family Relationships | During the first 5 years of life, how do you believe children come into the knowledge of Where they belong & who they are through their connections with relatives, caregivers, & parents. Share your experience *

Question 3: Christian Community | Please share. During the time the child is 0-5 years, do you believe that the Christian community, ministry leaders, or church members can influence a child's understanding of God, sense of identity, or relationships? *

Question 4: Spiritual Practices | During a child's first 5 years of life, were Christian/spiritual practices, such as learning about God, worship, prayer, or reading the Bible, part of the child's life? If so, which ones & how were they introduced? *

Question 5: Identity, Purpose, & Calling | Please describe the experience if you have observed or experienced a time when someone spoke to or about a child concerning what God may have for their life, their spiritual identity, purpose, or spiritual gifts *

Question 6: What These Experiences Meant | Share & explain. Do you think a child's church experiences, spiritual activities, or family relationships, could shape how the child views themselves, where they belong, or what they understand about God? *

Question 7: Challenges or Concerns | Did you have any concerns about a child's purpose, spiritual identity, or family or church experiences during their first five years? If so, please explain *

Question 8: What Parents and Church Leaders Should Consider | What do you believe parents, caregivers, and ministry leaders should keep in mind when discussing God, identity, and purpose with children ages 0–5? *

Question 9: Anything Else to Share | Is there anything else about spiritual experiences, church, or family, that may assist a child's identity and sense of belonging from birth to age five? *

Thank you for sharing your experiences and perspectives. Your responses will contribute to this study’s examination of how caregivers understand the communal, relational, and spiritual dimensions of early childhood identity formation in prophetic and charismatic Christian contexts.

Help Spread the Word About This Research

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DOCTORAL RESEARCH STUDY

Understanding Early Childhood Identity Formation

Caregivers' perspectives on relationships, community, and spiritual development