Raising young children in Wicca?

Question

Does anyone have any good resources for introducing young children into the Wiccan faith?

I practice as a Solitary Wiccan and wish to keep the introduction as simplistic as possible right now. I have two daughters, 5 years and 1 year.

Any good books/websites that have worked for you?

Blessings

I guess I need to be a bit more clear.

I'm not trying to recruit my children into a cult. I am simply trying to pass my values onto my children while they are in my care.

My parents are Christian and while I was raised in a blend of Catholic and Baptist faiths, I was allowed to choose my own path when I came to understand that the faith of my parents wasn't right for me. I would NEVER tell my children that my faith is the only faith... They may follow whatever path they feel is right for them.

I am simply trying to accomplish the same things that other parents do. Christian families support their own values and faiths but taking their children with them to church, by baptizing them, by promoting activities that strengthen those values. Unlike Christian families, I do not have the mass of commercial products available to me.

I simply wanted a resource of available books and activities.

Thanks.

Answer 1

I just picked this up for my nieces as an intro to the Winter Solstice:
http://www.amazon.com/Shortest-Day-Celebrating-Winter-Solstice/dp/0525469680/

There are lots of places to look for things, and Pagan parenting resources online. Try these:
http://www.amazon.com/Pagan-Parenting-Spiritual-Emotional-Development/dp/1892718529/
http://www.amazon.com/Pagan-Family-Handing-Ways-Down/dp/0875422101/
http://www.blessedbee.com/
http://www.paganparenting.com/
http://www.solitary-pagan.net/Pagan%20Family.htm

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Raising young children in Wicca?
Does anyone have any good resources for introducing young children into the Wiccan faith?

I practice as a Solitary Wiccan and wish to keep the introduction as simplistic as possible right now. I have two daughters, 5 years and 1 year.

Any good books/websites that have worked for...

Answer 3

Wicca For Kids

Answer 4

raising young children wicca

Answer 5

I think it is wonderful that you want to raise your child Wiccan, and there are many traditions in Wicca that can be quite fun for children -- especially the celebration of the Sabbats. There seems to be a taboo in Wicca against bringing the children up in it, but there is no basis for this beyond the baggage of the religion of their upbringing. You're not "forcing it on them." It's your sacred tradition, and if you value it, you should teach it to your children. Give them the basics, and a firm foundation in personal spirituality. They will explore other religions, and make up their own mind when they are older. When they are young, don't confuse them with every other religion in the world, but stick to the path you practice, and the basics. Encourage them to have a relationship with the Gods. Focus on who the Goddess and Horned God are, and on the celebration of the Sabbats. There are rules against initiating minors into the Craft, but I think that applies more to other people's children than it does to your own -- the purpose of those rules is to protect yourself from baseless accusations of panicy parents. If it's your own child, you can, and should, teach them your ways.

Answer 6

Merry Meet.

There are many resources to teach children about Wicca. Did you check Amazon.com. I once saw some fantastic books there.

But if you Yahoo search it, I'm sure you will also find some good online resources for teaching Wicca to children.

Blessed Be.

Answer 7

Children And Their Baptismal Into A Religion

Wiccans, Witches and Pagans have just as much right to raise their children in the Wicca, Witch and Pagan Religion as do Christians in their own Christian Religions. If Christians, Protestants, Muslims, Buddhists and other Religions have the right to teach and baptize their children into their own Religions, without persecution of any type or form, then so Do Wiccans, Witches and Pagans. Spiritual Training is not a dirty word, nor is it a Sin, no matter what Religion you believe in, want to belong to, or worship in.

Those that cannot, or will not, recognize this as a fact, are those of whom have so severally bought into their own Religion's Doctrine, False Propaganda and Dogma that they ultimately need a Re-Education in "Religious Freedom" which was so desired, voted upon, and passed into law as the "First Amendment" of our Nations 'Bill of Rights" and then Ratified by our Nations Founding Fore-Fathers. Which has now been re-voted upon, as (and under) the "Restoration of Religious Freedom Act of 1993" which was then backed up by our Nations Supreme Court Judicial System, and then signed into law by the President of the United States at that time.

Those two "Religious Freedom" laws gives each and every individual (both Adults and Children of all ages) in America, the choice of choosing and being in (or a member of), any Religion they so desire. So if by law, Christians and other Religions are allowed to baptize their children as well as other children under the age of eighteen (by (or with) their parents consent) into their own religions, then it also gives the Wiccans, Witches and Pagans the right of law to do the same with their own children as well as other children under the age of eighteen (by (or with), their parents consent) in their own Wiccan, Witch and Pagan Religion. Otherwise it becomes an "Unlawful Act of Discrimination" against others, by those who deny (or forbid), this Religious Freedom, Which can then be pursued in a court of law.

In most cases, "Religious Discrimination" cases are endorsed, pursued and then brought to trial in a court of law by Civil Rights Agencies, such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) rather than by individuals. The reason being, is that agencies like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has more pull, lawyers, funding and access to legal laws and procedures for a long drawn-out court battle, with a better chance of winning, than an individual alone does.

Answer 8

I want to give my support to you in this endeavor. Wiccans have just as much right to raise their children in Wicca as Christians do in Christianity. Spiritual training is not a dirty word, and as long as you have the mindset of accpetance for your kids' choices all is well. I tell my children stories of the Old Gods, since mine are young as well. I engage them in the planting of herbs and flowers, and in the care of our Mother Earth. If I can give wisdom a child can simply understand in these areas, I do so. I keep an altar, and my oldest will sometimes ask about it. I explain as simply as I can. I keep devotional statues in the rooms of my children, and they know who the figures are. I print of coloring pages of the Old Ones, and we do crafts with a pagan theme. At this time, it is difficult to delve more deeply. I simply let their interest be my guide. My children are raised by parents of two different faiths, and we figure at this time the conflicting concepts could be too much.
Try the books "All I see is part of me" by Chara M. Curtis
'Celebrating the Great Mother: A Handbook of Earth Honouring activities for parents and children" by Cait Johnson and Maura D. Shaw

Answer 9

I picked up a book suggested to me by my Wiccan mentor -

Raising Witches (Teaching The Wiccan Faith To Children) by Ashleen O'Gaea.

It helped with the basics. Now we live our life in accordance to our beliefs which touches everything we do (as it should). My Love and I lead by example and include the children in all Sabbat and Esbat rituals.

Answer 10

I highly recommend Circle Round: Raising Children in the Goddess Traditions by Starhawk, Diane Baker and Anne Hill (1998). I found it to be wonderful resource.

Blessed Be

Answer 11

I am Asatru and I raise my kids in it. I am not teaching them to believe, I am simply teaching them. It's their heritage, just like Catholicism is.
My oldest is 5 and I teach her by just letting her practice with me. I answer her questions as they come up. "Why do we celebrate Yule instead of Christmas?" "Who is Jesus anyways?" "What does your necklace mean?" "Who did you just hail?"
We have a virtue every week as well. While I don't subscribe to the Nine Noble Virtues as a part of the adult Asatru religion, I think they are a great way to introduce kids to the thirty or so in the Havomal.
I tell her stories of Thor when it storms, Odin when I'm studying for school, Frigga when I am cooking, Freyja when I am muttering to myself (LOL) and we talk about the wights when I leave out apples for them. I teach her in little ways. My twins are 2 and aren't old enough to care one way or the other.
I also take the kids to a UU Church so that they are exposed to all sorts of different faiths or lack of faiths. Religion is personal and the gods call who they will. Where that leads my kids is up to them. While I hope they follow my path, I in no way expect it from them. Thier soul is thier business.