school closing

[Pagecrd]

well we are having ice storms :) so my babies get to spend today with me yay! what are some good things to do. they are getting older and i would like to start introducing them to pagan beliefs. we are in a way learning together. i prefer to teach them about as many beliefs as i can so they can form thier own opinions and believe their own things...ideas?

[MistOfTheSea86]

What your beliefs are, what you do etc. etc.

[crystal_night]

My husband and I are of different religions so this is kind of difficult but we have come to an agreement. Of course, not to inforce our beliefs upon our children, but to still give them something to start with.
I found a site while I was pregnant dealing with the subject on how to raise children without trying to force religion down their throats. I don't remember the site, I just jotted down some notes for personal use.
Things to do with your children:
teach them pagan songs
read pagan stories/fairy tales
take nature walks
say morning and nightly prayers, thanks to the God/Goddess
Make daily or weekly offerings (flowers, petals, rocks etc)
Working arts and crafts with pagan themes
Plant flowers in a garden together
Recycling
teach energies of stones and gems
Write family rituals together
Buy glow in the dark stars for ceiling
"Ring around the rosy, pocke full of posies, magic, wishes, we all fall down"
Show them how to ground by touching the earth
For "cakes and ale" change ale to hot chocolate or milk

How to teach children without using the wors witchcraft or paganism:
focus on ecology: saving the earth, respecting the earth, gettin ginvolved with Earth Day projects
Learn about other traditions: discuss similarity between different religions and traditions
Do discuss Witches from time to time-stress what Witches do/don't do. Discuss Salen. Make sure they understand that people are afraid of what they don't understand and that's usually why Witches and people who are "different" are harmed.
Color magick-color symbolism, use color when doing art and craft making
Fairy tales and myths-read A LOT of them!

Other activities to do with your family:
Nature walks
pick up litter,
picnic outside
cloud watching
dancing wild, free, and unihibited
camping
ask your child what they woul ddo for the earth if they had three wishes
If you see an unfair or inaccurate portrayal of Paganism in the media, discuss this with your child asap
allow them to express themselves through their clothes
allow them to play naked after or before baths to help develop part of their sexual development
Leave colorful pieces of yarn in the yeard for birds to build their nests
make or put out bird feeders and bird baths
help children write stories
encourage them to learn about their favorite animal
meditation
self blessing
chanting and singing
shrines
nature journals
dream journals
drumming

A few books to check out: The Pagan Family-Ceisiwr Serith
The Family Wicca Book-Ashleen O'Gaea

[Yvonne Belisle]

Wander into the pagan family forum here at Mystic Wicks and look through the older threads. You will find a lot of information to use in your daily life as well.

[manstranger]

How old are they?

[GingerBurkley]

I'm teaching my daughter how to cast a circle, to have her own little "sacred space".