If you have kids and would like to help them develop their understanding of intuition, symbolism, and storytelling, tarot cards can help you better than anything else. After all, the cards are filled with attractive and vibrant images and archetypes that boost imagination and help pumpkins dive into deeper thinking. Below, we offer our personal top picks of creative ways to teach little ones intuition and symbolism with the help of tarot cards. And the best thing? The process is both engaging and age-appropriate!
#1 Have Storytelling Fun Using Tarot Cards
If you don’t feel confident introducing children to tarot reading on your own, experts like TarotAtlas can help guide them and enhance their natural intuition. However, if you think you can do it, one of the easiest ways is through storytelling. Just take a deck, shuffle your cards, and ask a child to pick one, two, or a couple of cards. Now, their task is to create a short (or not) story based on the images they see. Let them know that they can take their time and check out every card in order to find all the symbols on them and describe in detail what they see. Mom and dad are welcome to ask questions, such as “What is happening on the card that you have picked, honey?” “How do you think the character on this card feels?” or “What is about to happen next?” This simple yet effective activity will help your munchkins understand how this or that symbol delivers a particular message with a unique meaning, as well as develop their unique interpretation skills with the help of inspirational storytelling.
#2 Organize a Symbol Scavenger Hunt
Who said that using a tarot means that you don’t have to move? It actually can become an exciting game! All you have to do is organize a good old scavenger hunt right in the comfort of your home. Your task is to pick a couple of common tarot symbols (for example, animals, keys, moon, sun, cups, etc.) and ask the next generation to find all these symbols in their settings. You can hide The Hierophant, The Emperor, The Wheel of Fortune, or any other card in magazines, books, etc. Did they find a symbol? Yay! Now, it is time to sit and discuss what the symbol on the card represents and it can be connected to different life situations and emotions. For example, a lion in tarot cards is usually a symbol of courage and strength while the key is usually considered facing new opportunities or unlocking new knowledge. This simple ritual helps kids boost their understanding of symbols and meanings beyond the tarot deck.
#3 Ask Kids Craft Their Own Tarot Cards
We strongly recommend moms and dads encourage kiddies to create their own cards. Provide them with all the supplies, such as pencils, markers, paints, or anything else that they usually prefer in their creative routine. Include blank cards that they will use for their masterpieces. Now, make sure to encourage little ones to draw or paint their own unique images that reflect various ideas, experiences, and emotions. You are welcome to suggest some simple prompts. For example, parents or caregivers can say, “Craft a special card for a person, who feels sad,” “Draw a card that shows happiness,” “Create a card that represents friendship,” etc. The point here is that when children are engaged in the process of creating their own cards, they are face to face with the very concept of symbolism. At the same time, they take their intuition and creative thinking to the next level.
#4 Have Children Match Tarot Cards with Emotions
…colors, or any other elements that kids feel match the energy of this or that card. Just make sure to shuffle cards and lay out a range of those. Now, let your kids approach the cards and ask them what card (as they feel) is the saddest one; what tarot card (as they feel) reminds them of happy days; what card (as they feel) seems to be related to some fairy tale, etc. It’s crucial to let your little champ know that no wrong or right answers exist! In other words, this simple ritual is designed to help them listen to and trust their instincts, as well as build and maintain solid personal connections with the symbols they deal with.
#5 Charades, Charades, Charades!
Add more fun to the process and teach children intuition and symbolism by encouraging them to physically embody this or that tarot card. Let them know that they can do it by acting cards out. Simply put, the process is similar to the well-known charades. Provide little ones with a card or two and ask them to move, dance, and pose like the character that they see in the image. Ask them if this card was a human being, and what (as they think) this human says. Encourage them to tell you how this card(s) makes them feel when they try to pose like it. Ask what kind of adventures the character on the card would definitely like to set off on. This simple activity will instantly turn a calm tarot session into a more interactive process. The latter helps kids intuitively connect with the unique meanings of every card.
The Best Part?
When you teach your children intuition and symbolism with the help of tarot, the process is not complex and mystical from A to Z. All the approaches we mentioned above are fun and creative! Scavenger hunts, storytelling, art, and acting are the activities that kids adore since each keeps them 100% engaged while helping them develop the ability to express emotions, listen to their inner instincts, and recognize patterns. Needless to say, all these skills are must-haves for the tough adulthood.
