This is a collection of ideas for parents who want to instil respect and love into their children while encoraging imagination
and helping them learn in the best enviroment possible. Young children and infants are in an ever learning state, everything
they experience helps them learn and grow, their brains are devloping and making connections which will help develop
who a child will grow to be. Its never to early to start introducing your child to concepts of love, respect, and connection
to the earth, no matter what path they may choose for themselves later. These Ideas experessed here follow pagan beliefes
and ideals (primarily wiccan) however they can be utlized by any who is interested in raising their child to ask and think
with their head and heart. These pages contain information from books to toys, craft ideas, poems, and more, gathered
together to make up a list of ideas and resources for pagan parents all around the world.
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Pagans As Parents.
Being a parent is one of the most imporant jobs any individual
could ever have. Children primarily learn from example, seeing others around them. Parents have a tremendous effect on how
their children grow and who they will be, for the positive and negative. Studies have proven that the connections that
form in our brains when we are young can depend on so many factors including stress levels, repetitivity,
and much more. Weighing our choices for better and worse are more important now then ever as they will not only affect you,
but your child, and everyone who the child meets in their journey in life.
Children
have feeling, thoughts, opinions, and importance. Unfortunatly many parents of
the past, and still some today, do not treat children like living, thinking people but more like objects they own. Pagan parents try to focus on the life inside the body. A human needs
love, support and nurturing, not to be pushed away, left alone crying, ignored, or told their feelings and wants
are not important. Pagan parents, as well as many parents today around the world, put behind the old views that
children and infants are void of thoughts or feelings. More so they realize that as a child grows and develops so is their
brain and spirit. It is important to nurture a child physically and emotionally. As well, it is important
for a parent to listen to their heart and their natural parenting instincts, every woman has mothering instincts and
listening to what you feel inside can make choices easier. While many pagans have different views when it comes to
religion as to what to teach children and at what age, people tend to agree that it is important to teach a child good values
and respect. Often many Wiccans as well like to introduce the basic ideas and concepts of the wiccan religon to their children,
forming memorable family traditions as well as a connection with the earth and the seasons.
Teaching a child to recognise their feelings, open up to others about their
feelings and views, ask questions, explore, talk about problems and find solutions, feel sympathy for others, welcome comfort
and feel important encourages growth of children into responsible adults who can get along with their family and others without
yelling or violence, recognize their own needs, love to learn, has high self-esteem, are patient, care for other living
things and respect each other. Children learn how to respect others by being respected themselves. "A child may forget
what you told them but they won't forget how you made them feel." Children learn best by example and watching others
and mimick what they see. Children will learn best when parents and caregivers set good examples, talk about problems,
work out solutions, form close bonds, listen to every member of the family and find comprimises whenever possible.
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