On Children and Energy

[ July/August 2004 ]

On Children and Energy

by Susan E. Peterson

Connecting and building a healthy relationship with
a child is a wonderful thing; building one that will
last for a lifetime is the ultimate experience.

Children and Energy: the two are synonymous! In school, we learn that all matter is energy. Vibration is the crux of our universe, and molecules vibrating at speeds inconceivable to the human mind make up what is deceptively called a solid object. Not an easy concept to wrap ones’ brain around! Surprisingly, however, many young children can grasp this concept – especially if the idea is engaged from an early age.

Energy is the foundation of life. The benefits of laying this foundation of truth in our children’s earliest years are magical because it builds a lifelong respect and honor for all creatures on mother earth, as well as strengthening the relationship with our children for life. Connecting and building a healthy relationship with a child is a wonderful thing; building one that will last for a lifetime is the ultimate experience.

As children grow older, they will shape themselves first from the perspective of their parents and, secondly, from what they have seen and experienced in the world. This makes what we as parents introduce to our children about the world of utmost importance. Thus, it is crucial for us to connect meaningfully with our children from the start.

Connecting with a child changes with each stage of growth throughout childhood. The very young child is the closest to the ‘other side,’ having been here only a short while. This is the time when he or she is most understanding of the universal energy of all living things.

If attention and encouragement of attuning to this universal energy has been fed and kept alive and strong, then by the time a child reaches the age of seven to ten, different games can be played to expand upon this understanding and connection. This is the time to really focus on the energy of plants and animals as it will engender a respect, love and care of all the beings of the earth.

By the “tween” years – assuming again that the groundwork mentioned before has been kept strong – the budding teen’s grasp of energy is not esoteric; it is fact, and the young person can develop his or her understanding of the world with this as a foundation.

With any luck, and a lot of vigilance, the blooming teenager will respect his or her life as he or she respects all living things. The consideration of introducing anything toxic (drugs, tobacco or even caffeine) may then be a moot point. An added bonus will be a genuine respect and treatment of our Mother Earth and all living things. At this level, the circle of life is not only understood – it is lived.

Some Ideas for Age-Appropriate Activities to Experience Energy

Ages 2 to 4:

Play the Energy Game! Make an “energy ball” with your hands as you help your child “see” and “feel” this ball of energy while tossing it back and forth.
Allow your child to talk about his or her imaginary friends. Ask questions and honor the beings who come to help teach your child.
Look for fairy and elvin folk while appreciating flowers and trees. Talk to your child about how the plants, grass and trees feel.
Pay attention to your child’s dreams; talk about them and/or ask your child to draw a picture of dream characters or settings.

Ages 5 to 8:

When appropriate, point out the energetic fields of energy around living things. Some children can see auras easily. Talk about the feel or color or tone of energy fields around different beings – plants, trees, animals and other humans.
Encourage story telling, especially giving the flowers and other plant life roles in the stories.

Ages 9 to 12:

At this stage, your child may come to you with many thoughts, ideas and questions about energy. Encourage any discussions and engage your child’s desire to know more.
At this age, many kids love to learn about planets and faraway galaxies. They want to know what their universe is made of. Help them decorate their rooms with glow-in-the-dark stars, planets, and constellations. Help them see that the macrocosm of the universe is replicated in the smallest particle on earth.
Continue to explore the many diverse forms of energy in our world. Hands on all the way!

Wherever your child goes and whatever road he or she chooses, a loving groundwork focused with admiration for universal energy can be referred back to time and again. It will stand up under scrutiny because it comes from a deeper truth, the evidence of which is everywhere we look.

Susan E. Peterson RM/T specializes in spiritual counseling and energy therapy. She has a Holistic Health practice in Brainerd, Minnesota.