Pagan Parenting

**Pagan Parenting**

Disclaimer: Parenthood is a universal experience, but it looks vastly different for each and every family unit. This series is written from my own perspective as a mother of three younger kids and does not represent all experiences. Each parenting journey is unique so take whatever works for you and your family and feel free to leave the rest.

The term ‘Paganism’ covers a vast array of polytheistic religons and spiritualities all over the world, but there are some common threads among every Pagan – the primary belief being a shared deep reverence for the natural world. Pagans experience holiness in what most people barely pay attention to – a light breeze, leaves rustling in the trees, puddles after a rainstorm, and sunlight filtering through the clouds.

When raising children in the Pagan tradition, it’s important, first and foremost, to instill in them that same sense of love for the environment. This can be done in many different ways starting from a young age. There are all sorts of resources to draw from to teach your child(ren) to care for and respect the Earth, but perhaps the most successful is to just get them out into nature. In our highly technological world, sometimes it’s too easy to just throw something on the TV or hand our kid(s) a device to occupy their time and, while that can be okay on occasion, we mustn’t let it stop them from getting outside and exploring our natural world.

There are many sorts of activities to do with kids outside to connect them with nature. Here are a few examples that I’ve pulled from my own experience as a mother of three:

1. Sensory Nature Play

Sensory play for babies and toddlers is vital for brain development. Buying expensive themed sensory bins isn’t necessary when you literally have the world at your fingertips! Take your child(ren) outside to explore different textures, smells, and sights during each season of the year. From grasses to mud, from tree bark to crunchy leaves, from ladybugs to earth worms, from cloud formations to snowflakes, there is so much to learn from the world around us. While your toddler/baby’s brain is forming those early neural pathways, it’s a perfect time to introduce them to these different sensory experiences, although this activity also works great for older kids, as well. For older kids who love being creative, use your findings to create a fun found-in-nature art piece, but don’t forget to source the natural items you use respectfully.

It will likely get messy, so prepare for a bath afterwards! And don’t forget to always monitor a younger child as they are known for exploring things with their mouths.

2. Identification in Nature

As your child grows older, you can start to teach them the names of different things in nature and the concept that that these are alive just like human beings. Being able to recognize a plant or animal as being alive is key to learning how to treat them respectfully. If you feel like your child is developmentally ready for it, you can even begin to identify the delicate systems within nature, how different animals and plants interact with each other, and our role as humans in nature. You can make this even more fun by framing it as a game like a scavenger hunt as long as you make sure that you and your child(ren) aren’t disturbing the space.

3. Books

On days where getting outside isn’t possible, there is no shortage of options for kids’ nature-based books available. There is a niche group of age-appropriate Pagan books, but any book that is about nature and the environment are great choices for reading time. From board books to chapter books, there is something for everyone. Stay tuned for later in this series where a whole post will be dedicated solely to the many book recommendations for parents raising their kids with Earth-centered practices.

4. Earth Movement Games

To connect our kids’ bodies further with the natural world, we can play movement games that cause our child(ren) to think more deeply about its different elements. How would your body act or feel if it was as light as air? What if it were grounded in Earth? If it were hibernating like an animal in winter? Kids learn best about themselves and the world around them through active play and movement games are a great tool to have in your parenting toolkit.

Nurturing your child(ren)’s lifelong relationship with nature is a foundational aspect of Pagan parenting. These are just a few of many different examples of fun Earth-based activities you can do with your young child(ren) and that you can easily give a further Pagan twist to. In a world that is predominantly not Pagan, it can be hard to recognize where you can involve elements of your belief system in your parenting. Over the next while, we’ll continue to explore all the ways that we can do just that through this AWA-exclusive post series. Brightest blessings, everyone, until next time!