Deck for kids revisitied

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 01 Sep 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

mehndigirl	01 Sep 2004
My three year old would like her own deck. I read Mythic Tarot, and when my kids show interest they pull a card and we talk about the related myth. I'd like something that would work like this for my daughter. I've read all the suggestions in old threads, but I still have a question. I'm looking at either Wonderland or Whimsical. I know she'd get much more excited about Wonderland, but the weird suites bother me. Will she have a hard time learning the traditional suites later? I also wondered if the Wonderland deck might be stretched a bit thin to force all the cards into the theme. Any ideas would help, Thanks mehndigirl

Ace	01 Sep 2004
A three year old may find some of the concepts too advanced for her. Why not try angel cards or something else a bit simpler?

Flavio	01 Sep 2004
Maybe at this age, the most important is to be familiar with Tarot rather than actually reading with it, correct me if I'm wrong but I do not think your daughter (or any children) can actually read at the age of 3. I have the Whimsical is a lovely deck in contents and art, very suitable for children, please consider in this deck swords are fire and wands are air, if you get it be sure to get the book also as the LWB is very simple. In this thread you will find a link for a site with descriptions of decks suggested for children.

Fulgour	01 Sep 2004
Y'know, I tried thinking of what sort of cards might be more appropriate for kids, but considering all the commercialism and stereotypical (and even violent) themes (Mother Goose!) there's no harm in maybe just toying with the idea. :) The Whimsical Tarot is also now on sale at Overstock.com... http://www.overstock.com Deck & Book Set: $17.49 Deck only: $10.79 Book only: $7.49 Enter "Whimsical Tarot" in their Search frame. Shipping is only $1.40 for a single book/item.

collielin	01 Sep 2004
Actually I think Tarot of a Moon Garden would be perfect for kids. Since they can't actually read.......they could take a spread of cards and create their own story from just the images alone. The deck is filled with unicorns, beautiful scenery, and most of it quite benign. In fact, she may probably even hit upon some pretty acurate readings that way. But even so, she will at least be stretching her imagination in all sorts of ways. If she doesn't evolve into a tarot "reader" she will probably develope story telling skills. An active imagination is probably the shortest route to good learning habits that she will need when she starts school. I'm going to get this deck to put away for my grandkids that I might have someday (sigh....)

MeeWah	01 Sep 2004
Mehndigirl: I do not see the unusual suits as a problem. Remember that the very young tend to perceive differently. Your daughter will not have any of the "prejudicial" concepts regarding symbolism & may well enjoy the deck based on Alice in Wonderland alone. My first exposure to cards was at a few years old via playing cards from family friends (from whom I learned to play rummy, poker & pinochle); then was given children's card games like Old Maid & Go Fish--I think in an effort to divert my attention from "gambling cards". I also think if not the Whimsical nor the Wonderland, Tarot of a Moon Garden suggested by Collielin would be excellent as a possibility. Consider letting her choose. She may form a bond that way.

mehndigirl	01 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Ace A three year old may find some of the concepts too advanced for her. I agree that in some ways it will be too advanced for her. I mostly want something that she can use as a "toy" that will apply later if she does want to learn. That said, now I realize that I'm thinking way to hard. What are the chances she'll still have all the cards by the time she's able to study?

Ace	01 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by mehndigirl That said, now I realize that I'm thinking way to hard. What are the chances she'll still have all the cards by the time she's able to study? LOL! you do know kids well, don't you! IN that case, get her one with the prettiest pictures and let her play!

mehndigirl	01 Sep 2004
I have to check out Tarot of a Moon Garden. I don't know that deck. I think I will let her pick. I know she'll want Wonderland. We have this awsome pop-up book by Robert Sebuda. It is the most amazing thing. If you haven't seen it you really must. It's gotten my little girl sooooo hooked on Alice in wonderland. In any event this all means I'll be buying at least two decks, because I want the Whismical. Beside my own selfish reasons, I think both my kids would have fun telling stories with the fairy tale charachters. Not to mention I haven't seen Moon Garden Yet. Who knows, I may need that one too.

Kittaine	02 Sep 2004
The Legend: Arthurian Tarot by Anne-Marie Ferguson looks like a great storytelling deck. I have it, and if I had a kid, I'd use that with him/her.

rabble	02 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by mehndigirl Who knows, I may need that one too. Don't you just love the way we think? ;)

Riversea	02 Sep 2004
This might be a bit of a stretch but.... what about Maggie Keen's Old English? Very pretty! The minors are mainly pips, but they do show little scenes too. The illustrations look like a story-book. Wonderland and Whimsical sound good too. I was also wondering, that if she enjoys your Mythic, might she like her own copy of it? As far as hoping the deck will survive until she is old enough to study, get two! One for now (the toy) and one to put away for later. Of course, that is not to say that you cannot borrow the spare in the meantime! ;) Or choose a deck unlikely to go out of print for a long time.

mehndigirl	02 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Kittaine The Legend: Arthurian Tarot by Anne-Marie Ferguson looks like a great storytelling deck. I have it, and if I had a kid, I'd use that with him/her. Done! That one is my next buy for myself. I've had my eye on it.

mehndigirl	02 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Riversea I was also wondering, that if she enjoys your Mythic, might she like her own copy of it? I thought about that, but some of the pics are a little harsh. 3 of swords, for example has a dead man in a tub stabbed in the chest! Thanks fot the input

Eco74	03 Sep 2004
How about the Hanson Roberts pocket edition. Not too big for those small hands and laminated to keep the cards safe for a pretty long time even if she would happen to get juices and stuff on them. Not too difficult to clean if needed from sticky fingers and such either. ;) The images are very friendly and approachable and the pocked edition can usually be found at a reasonable price too.

Sulis	03 Sep 2004
My daughter has been playing with my cards since around the age of 3. The thing she likes to do most is to sort the cards into Major Arcana and the 4 suits. For this reason the cards she likes best are the ones with coloured borders depicting the suit. World Spirit is her favorite but she also likes to play with Tarot Nova and Wheel of Change. She's played with the cards in this way for years - she's just started to make up stories about the cards - for example she thinks that the Hanged Man in the World Spirit deck is washing his hair in a beautiful magical pool :) Here's a pciture http://www.tarotpassages.com/images/WorldSpiritXII.jpg Love Sulis xx

BlueLotus	03 Sep 2004
There is actually a lovely deck by the name Children Tarot. You can see a few images from this deck and read a couple of reviews Here and Here Children can get creative and make up their own stories and maybe find connections between certain images.

lelandra	06 Sep 2004
I've added the Ator and Children Tarot to my page comparing decks that might be appropriate for children at: http://www.lelandra.com/comptarot/tarotchildren.htm Some of the other decks that have been mentioned in this thread are shown on other comparison pages. For instance, the Wheel of Change and World Spirit are shown here: http://www.lelandra.com/comptarot/tarotcoldwar.htm and Arthurian Legend is shown here: http://www.lelandra.com/comptarot/tarototherkin.htm and Old English is shown here: http://www.lelandra.com/comptarot/tarotsca.htm Lelandra (Joan Cole)

Kittaine	06 Sep 2004
Oh, there's one more! Tarot of the Saints! But if you're not Roman Catholic, you might not want this deck for you child. http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/tarot-of-the-saints/

dolphingirl	06 Sep 2004
Hummm there are so many great decks that I can see using for children :) Below are a few more that I would think about :) The Inner Child Cards - I didn't see these mentioned anywhere but the artwork is really bright and lively with childrens fairy tales for the them to relate to. Cards are large . Halloween Tarot- One of my all time favorites, artwork is fun and bright and with Autumn here a perfect time to bring it out. Hello Kitty Tarot- I don' t have this deck but it is a B&W deck ment to be colored. That way she could color her own deck :) Fey Tarot - images are bright and fun artwork is very cool. Well those are a few of my picks :)

rota	07 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by lelandra I've added the Ator and Children Tarot to my page comparing decks that might be appropriate for children at: http://www.lelandra.com/comptarot/tarotchildren.htm Lelandra (Joan Cole) ++++++ Hey, thanks, Lelandra! That fits in there quite well!

RedMaple	08 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Sulis My daughter has been playing with my cards since around the age of 3. The thing she likes to do most is to sort the cards into Major Arcana and the 4 suits. For this reason the cards she likes best are the ones with coloured borders depicting the suit. World Spirit is her favorite but she also likes to play with Tarot Nova and Wheel of Change. She's played with the cards in this way for years - she's just started to make up stories about the cards - for example she thinks that the Hanged Man in the World Spirit deck is washing his hair in a beautiful magical pool :) Here's a pciture http://www.tarotpassages.com/images/WorldSpiritXII.jpg Love Sulis xx Thanks for that lovely story! That image of washing his hair in a pmagical pool will no doubt stay with me as I do readings -- and it fits in some ways with the original meaning, which has to do with collecting prana or chi in the crown chakra. Out of the mouths of babes. I think it is true that children will see these images in their own ways. My grandson is two and plays with my decks, also. I also have the World Spirit, and he likes the Fool, or as he calls it, "Memere Dancing on the Roof" (I'm Memere, btw :)) I have both the Whimsical and the Inner Child cards -- so far, he prefers the Inner Child cards, as do I. The art is really beautiful. We go through the deck much as we do with a storybook, talking about the pictures, making up stories. The big size of the cards is actually a plus for him. He cannot shuffle yet, and the pictures are good size, and easy for him to hold and examine. He seems to get the idea that cards can tell a story, just like books, which is great for his age. He also likes to line the cards up, make "trains" of cards on the floor, etc. I sometimes make Mandalas with cards while he is making his "trains", and he sees me doing spreads, so he's making his own designs with cards. I don't have the Moon Garden deck, but I'd like to get it, it seems like another that he will like. I also got him a non-Tarot deck of cards made for children of baby animals. He uses them as he uses the Tarot cards, naming the animals, telling stories, making designs on the floor. So although they aren't Tarot cards, looking for such decks for children are a good introduction to the whole idea of cards. As for the original quesstion on the Wonderland deck -- if that's what she wants, you know she won't be happy with another deck, would you? :) If she loves the story and is already familiar with the weirdness of wonderland, the images probably won't put her off. She'll probably be able to integrate them into her own wonderland world, and make up her own stories about characters. What fun!

mehndigirl	08 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by RedMaple As for the original quesstion on the Wonderland deck -- if that's what she wants, you know she won't be happy with another deck, would you? :) If she loves the story and is already familiar with the weirdness of wonderland, the images probably won't put her off. She'll probably be able to integrate them into her own wonderland world, and make up her own stories about characters. What fun! I think that's what I'll do for a first deck at least. No better way to turn a child off to something they're into than to get controlling about it. I'll give the girl what she wants! But really, I can see how this is going to play out. My deck buying problem just grew two fold! "Oh! that deck would be great for Addie" I'd like her to have a fairy tail themed deck, and the Hello Kitty deck sounds cool. I like the idea of coloring a deck. It has a certain intimacy. I believe there's a RWS clone meant to be colored too! Can you see where this is going??? Thanks for all your help folks!

The Deck for kids revisitied thread was originally posted on 01 Sep 2004 in the Tarot Decks board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Decks, or read more archived threads.