Children What Age

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 08 Oct 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

tarotlova	08 Oct 2004
What age have other readers let their children start to read the Tarot? My daughter is 12 and is always pestering for me to read her cards should I, or should I wait until I buy her a deck of her own? and when!

Phoenix Rising	08 Oct 2004
I don't think that there is a right or wrong age to start. As soon as she's ready, and if she wants to do it. If my daughter wanted to start at 6 I'd let her. I can't wait for one of my children to say, "Mum I want to learn the tarot" I do get a little annoyed when people start putting restrictions and rules on what and how something should be done, tarot is no different. We have the control not the tarot or anyone else for that matter. You just do what you feel! If someone said to you, "you shouldn't let her learn the tarot until she's 16" would you listen?Tell them to get knotted! The only person you should ask that question to is "your daughter"

SoulFlower	08 Oct 2004
I think it's better just to read her cards a few time and see if she still is interested. If you see it really fascinates her, you can buy her a deck of her own so she can start learing the tarot herself. I don't think you should put an age on it. But it all depends on how "mature" your daughter is and how she looks on it. Personally, I think 12 year is a nice age to start out.

tarotlova	08 Oct 2004
Thanks for your advice, I will give it a go and see what happens!

floracove	08 Oct 2004
My oldest is 9, she just recieved a tarot (Hanson) deck as a gift. :) She's the one, who has been able to tell me who was calling on the phone, or coming to the house before it happens (since she started talking at 9 months, and in complete sentences). She's doing really well. I just told her to look at the card and tell me what she sees, tell a story of what's going on. I think that it's alright, if the children are interested. I also think they will be easier for her to learn what they mean for herself, since children can really get into the telling of stories and new adventure's. My 4 year old wants a deck too, but that's gonna wait a bit longer, since I'm not so sure they wouldn't be torn, eaten, drawn on or lost... *wonders if they make 'heavy duty' tarot cards for toddlers*

Sulis	08 Oct 2004
My daughter is 5. She's been playing with my cards since she was 3. She likes to sort them into the different suits (I use a deck with colour coded borders on the suits) and she's just recently started making up stories with the cards. I'd say that if your daughter wants to read then let her :) Love Sulis xx

Summerdream	08 Oct 2004
I've introduced my daughters to the tarot back in 2002 when I really got into them. My youngest was 4 at the time....she would like looking at the cards with me and making stories about them. Often she would say something about the card that I didn't even see. Presently, my daughters are 13, 11 and 7. My oldest got her first tarot deck, the Diamond Tarot at age 12 because she asked for one. My middle daughter likes looking at them, but hasn't expressed too much interest. My youngest daughter was the one at 4 that was fascinated with them and still is. She sees me drawing my daily card each day and often will ask me if she can pick hers. My youngest daughters favorite deck is Hello Kitty! She also loves putting the cards in order. It's also funny because on each full moon, all 3 will say, "Mom is going to be putting out her decks tonight!". Summerdream:)

Majecot	08 Oct 2004
My Daughter is 24 and I gave her her first tarot deck last year, however she does not seem to be interested in learning, ( her boyfriend is kinda rigid when it comes to things like that). I am thinking of giving my son who is 22 a deck, he appears to have an interest in it. My neice is 16 and being the cool aunty ;) I of course gave her a deck, and she is totally into it. She maybe graduating to her second deck soon. I think it depends on the individual, if she seems ready then go for it!

Cariad	08 Oct 2004
I would agree with Phoenix Rising here you should go with what your children are telling you! I have two daughters aged 9 and 12; the 12 year old is not showing an interest in the cards but the 9 year old loves telling stories with the Faries deck or having 3 card spread's done P.P.F, I am very careful with what I say to her though but it can be great fun. I have known her to do 3 card spreads for other people and for her to have a real insight to the cards I encourage her to use her own imagination amazing what they come up with!

Emily	08 Oct 2004
My little boy is seven and he first started to use my cards to tell stories when he was doing speech therapy. He said my Universal Waite looked like the cards he used at therapy. He does still like to look through new decks when I get them and I make sure he see's me using the cards but he finished with his speech quite a few months ago so he doesn't tell as many stories as he did. I think 12 is a nice age to start learning how to read the tarot.

lunar_rabbit	08 Oct 2004
My daughter is 4 and I let her use the cards. She really does see them in a different way than I do sometimes. I think as soon as she is old enough to be able to keep them safe -- keep them together and not spill on them or bend them -- then I'll consider giving her her own deck. I'd say 12 is a perfect age. That is such a tough time in a girl's life, that anything that gives you an opportunity to sit together to talk and learn together is priceless. Many kids that age barely speak to their parents!

Vilyariel	09 Oct 2004
I'd be really pleased if i had a child who was interested in tarot from an early age. I agree with the others who said that 12 is the right age. not only are they starting to mature more, this is the age when they start to form their identity, and it'll also be a nice bonding exercise for you and your daughter to sit down and learn the cards. It'll make your relationship even stronger, because you will have that special common interest. I remeber a friend and i went to a new age store when we were twelve, and we both bought some books; i got one about cartomancy, and the friend got a book about becoming a wiccan. I remeber that my mother was okay about it [because she's not really into this kind of thing, a sceptic], saying, 'as long as you two don't go lighting candles in your room or burning paper or hair or whatever, because it cant hurt you,' whereas the friend's mother made her burn the book and forbade her from even keeping decorative candles. i don't know what the point of that story was, but i posted it anyway...haha

lunalafey	09 Oct 2004
With children it's a matter of interest and responsibility. My 12 year old has a deck, but he just got it last year. He takes good care of it. My eight year old plays with my cards near all the time- when allowed. But untill she can keep her belongings off the floor- she won't own a deck. I have three, the oldest being 14, and I have always allowed them to do stuff with my cards -supervised when very young.

dawns_eve	11 Oct 2004
My son is 9 yrs old and has recently become very interested in the tarot. I let him try a reading with my cards and to my surprise, he is truly gifted. I don't feel like there is a wrong age to start. If they are drawn to it, then they must be ready. I just gave him one of my decks, morgan greer, and he takes very good care of it. His ability has really surprised me.

The Children What Age thread was originally posted on 08 Oct 2004 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.