One of the most beautiful and enlightening qualities of children, is their awareness that life is magical and that all things are alive. They talk to their teddy bears, have conversations with trees, and have an instant rapport with animals. They are equally capable of communing with crystals.
To help your child pick the right crystal, take them to a rock shop, museum or place where crystals are naturally occurring i.e. a cave. They will be drawn to their crystal and have a natural attraction to pick them up and fully explore what they feel like in their hand. They will often use all their senses, seeing what the crystal looks like, feeling the texture with their fingertips. Children can respond very quickly to the healing energy of crystals. Let your child carry the crystal in their pocket, or place 1 or 2 in a small medicine bag around the neck. Let your child even sleep with their special crystal under their pillow.
Please consider the safety notes below with regards to very young children and babies. This doesn't mean that you need to wait to introduce them to crystals. Large crystals which are placed out of crawling or climbing reach can help to create a harmonious atmosphere for a baby's room.
An amethyst cluster may help to have a calming effect; while a quartz cluster placed so that the sun's rays will reflect onto it can be a source of fascination. Rose quartz stabilises and intensifies the energy of love.
The below safety notes also don't mean that a baby or very young child shouldn't be allowed to touch a crystal. Sitting with your child on the floor and putting crystals of various textures and shapes out for their examination can be lovely for their development.
Overall, the presence of crystals in a very young child's life helps them to form a connection to the mineral kingdom which may always be a part of their life.
Programming Crystals with Children
Working with crystals in this way can be very empowering for a child. You must decide for yourself if you think a child is old enough to understand the basic concept of programming, i.e., "When you think a thought enough and feel and see what you want, all of this goes into the crystal and it helps you to make it happen."Let them choose a crystal or crystals they'd like to program. When they've finished you may want to suggest that they put it in a place where no one will touch it.
Some Safety Notes
Very young children should either not be left alone with crystals or should be past the putting-everything-in-their-mouths stage. They should also understand that crystals should not be thrown, put into the washer, dryer, or any other appliance.Please consult the best available qualified medical help on the acre of your children and use common sense in regards to your children’s health and wellness.
Some Helpful Healing Stones
As important as it is for a child to have the freedom to choose stones which feel right there are particular stones which can be helpful for certain childhood conditions and crises.
Nightmares/Insomnia: Amethyst for a child who is troubled by nightmares. Placed under their pillow can put a stop to bad dreams.
Heartbreak: Children's hearts are tender and easily hurt. (This is at least twice as true for teenagers.) A rose quartz can help to ease the pain.
Self-esteem: As the child moves towards becoming an independent individual they may find that citrine helps to boost self-confidence.
Concentration: The child who has difficulty studying may be helped by either carnelian (for being grounded in the present) or sodalite (for clearing up mental confusion).
Emotional Overwhelm: Moonstone can be wonderful for this condition.
Patience: Rhodonite is the recommended stone for fostering this condition.
Communication: If your child has difficulty in asking others for help turquoise can be a useful stone. Blue lace agate is helpful for peaceful communication. Amazonite helps to promote the courage to speak the truth.
Popular Stones & their Healing Properties
Amethyst
A "Master Healing Crystal". Amethyst's most noted healing quality is its ability to purify and transmute all forms of negativity. For children "in transition", whether it be a growth spurt, a major disappointment such as failing a grade, or even hearing the devastating news of divorce or death, Amethyst accepts all negative emotions and provides comfort through spiritual acceptance. For children with various disabilities or with either physical or emotional pain, an Amethyst cluster in the room will help clear unwanted discharged energies, bringing the room back into a balanced state. For local pain, hold an Amethyst directly on or over the area for up to 20 minutes.
Apache Tear
The "Grief Stone". Apache Tear is actually Obsidian and is very dark but transparent. When you hold a small piece up to the light you can see through it. However, if you have been using the Apache Tear to absorb negative emotions, you will see it cloud up and become opaque. Sometimes it will clear up after the grieving is over.
Aventurine
The "Leadership Stone". Aventurine strengthens and restores the Heart energy, providing a balance of male and female energies. This crystal is green and very loving, embracing, and protective of the Heart. Many children who are shy, timid, or suppressing their leadership qualities need a crystal like Aventurine. This stone helps the individual to become active and to initiate action on their own accord. Asthmatic children seem attracted to this stone as it opens up the lungs and they experience a sense of relief.
Carnelian
A "Self-Esteem Crystal". Carnelian is used to help restore feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem. The deep orange colours relate well to strengthening and blending the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd chakras, promoting self-security and self-love. The pinker shades relate to enhancing love between child and parent, through self-acceptance. This crystal is also used for dermatological ailments such as acne, by holding the stone over the skin and moving it in circles for several minutes, several times a day.
Clear Quartz
The "Healing Crystal". Clear Quartz is a general all-purpose healing crystal. Each Quartz crystal has its own energy signature and healing mission. When a child makes contact with the right crystal, the energy is discharged either very slowly, or quite suddenly so it feels like a very mild electric shock. This natural energy can be just enough to transform a disharmonious thought pattern, burn off some negative emotional state, or even place the spiritual seeds of one's future into consciousness. Using a cluster of Clear Quartz crystals for children is particularly nice, as so many different types of crystals (record-keepers, transmitters, channellers, etc.) are included. There's a crystal for any occasion! Crystal clusters are also helpful to organise scattered thoughts and to deflect negative energies.Rose Quartz
"The Love Stone". Rose Quartz is another terrific general healing crystal for children especially for those who have a lot of hurt feelings or aggressive tendencies. Rose Quartz can soothe a broken heart shattered by seeing raw Reality - the ways things are, rather than the way one wants them to be. For hyperactive children Rose Quartz soothes erratic emotional states, anxiety, fear, compulsions, and many other mental disorders. Some neurological benefits have also been noticed with muscle spasms relaxing when Rose Quartz is guided over the nerve centres. For young hearts, Rose Quartz helps to keep the Heart chakra open, vital and protected, filtering in good energies and keeping out the bad.Lapis Lazuli
A "Psychic Balance Stone". Lapis Lazuli is an incredible stabiliser for children who show psychic gifts early in life. The deep blue colour stimulates expansion of consciousness in a supportive way, promoting purification and clarity of spiritual insight. Lapis Lazuli provides self-acceptance of one's given gifts and encourages openness of one's spiritual awareness. This stone is highly prized for its protective powers and stimulation of all psychic senses.
Jade
A "Soother of Emotions Stone". Jade is easily obtained and can be openly worn by children as regular "jewellery". Emotionally sensitive children often need a supportive system to ensure that their feelings do not overwhelm them. Jade enhances confidence, self-assurance, and self-reliance. Jade is very inspirational in helping one achieve one's desires in life. This stone is often available from a Chinese goods merchant and is often sold in the shape of thin coins.
Tiger Eye
A "Grounding Stone". Tiger Eye has thin rutile inclusions, and when rocked back and forth the light reflects in a certain way as if the tiger's eye were winking at you! Let your children explore this fascinating stone and help them find the flashing Tiger's Eye. This stone is excellent for grounding psychic energy and providing security for opening up the psychic centres. Sometimes children get carried away and get lost in their dream world. Tiger Eye helps to pull them back into their bodies (after astral travel). This stone is very useful to put action to one's thoughts. Tiger's Eye is about being practical. Perhaps every parent needs one for their child before trips to the shopping mall.
Pyrite
A "Protection Stone". Iron Pyrite comes in many different shapes, from sun discs to cubes. Children are attracted to its shiny brassy surfaces. Pyrite is like a small mirror; negative energy is reflected away. The terror of being unprotected is reduced. There is also a feeling of physical empowerment, that life in the physical form is perfect, and love is abundant.
Here are some links for some of our favourite places to get crystals from or to visit with your little ones:
Our Satellite Hearts - Amazing crystals, minerals, books, homewares and accessories!
Courtney + The Babes - Crystals and essential oil blends.
Crystal Castle & Shambhala Gardens - Some of the biggest crystals in the world and stunning gardens. Such a good family day out.
Jenolan Caves - Stunning Mineral Caves deep in the Blue Mountains, another great day out.
Mineralism - Amazing Rock shop in Glebe, Sydney
Rock & Co - Our favourite online crystal store.
Research via: Holistic Shop | Astrologyzine | Crystal Vaults