A little about this month's Guest Blogger - Victoria Tso, Founder of Inner Child Yoga School
Victoria Tso is the founder of the Inner Child Yoga School - a children’s yoga expert and experienced classroom teacher. As well as being a big fan of crystals she was the cover star for Om Yoga magazine in December 2023. She is on a mission to make the benefits of yoga accessible to all children and has lots of resources for teachers and parents on her website.
Mindfulness and Crystals: Summer Activities for Kids
As an experienced children’s yoga and classroom teacher, I have found that the summer school holidays are a super time for children to explore mindful activities. These not only engage their creativity and curiosity but also help them to cultivate a sense of peace and self-awareness.
Incorporating child-friendly crystals with mindfulness adds an extra dimension of wonder and energy - there’s just something so magical about them!
As I discussed in my previous article for Rock + Realm, children find crystals an amazing tool in yoga as they captivate their full focus and imagination.
Now the school holidays are here, Laura asked me to share my favourite tried and tested mindfulness activities for you to enjoy with your children this summer, each complemented by a specific child-safe crystal. So, give these simple mindful activities a go with your kids and you'll beat summer holiday boredom, whatever the weather!
- Nature Walks with Green Aventurine
- Creative Visualisation with Amethyst
- Mindful Breathing with Rose Quartz
- Yoga in the Garden with Clear Quartz
- Making Mandalas with Crystals, Flowers & Shells
1. Nature Walks with Green Aventurine
We are naturally drawn to the great outdoors as soon as the days grow lighter and the sun shines brighter. Nature walks are a perfect way to combine physical activity with mindfulness and get your kids away from their electronic devices and into the fresh air. Encourage children to walk slowly, paying close attention to the sights, sounds and smells around them.
As they walk, they can carry a piece of Green Aventurine. This crystal is known for its calming energy and connection to nature.
"Green Aventurine is known for its harmonious properties, promoting tranquility, emotional balance and a deep connection with nature, making it ideal for enhancing outdoor experiences and fostering a love for the natural world" - Laura - Rock + Realm Founder
Encourage your children to hold the Green Aventurine crystal in their hand, feeling its smooth cool surface, and imagine themselves as a part of the natural world around them. This practice helps ground them and enhances their appreciation of nature.
2. Creative Visualisation with Amethyst
Creative visualisation is a wonderful way to stimulate the imagination while fostering a sense of inner calm. Amethyst is known for its soothing and meditative properties, making it ideal for use in this child-friendly mindfulness activity.
- Find a quiet spot outdoors on a sunny summer's afternoon, perhaps under a shady tree at your local park or in your own garden
- Give each child an Amethyst crystal tumblestone or mini cluster to hold
- Ask your children to lie down and close their eyes
- Guide them through a visualisation, perhaps imagining they are floating on a soft, fluffy cloud or exploring a magical forest
This is a lovely activity to try with your children after they have been running around and need to settle down and is great for more introverted or shy children. The practice can help children to relax deeply and enhance their creative thinking.
If you're less confident about creating your own visualisation stories, you could use some wonderful Inner Child Yoga School yoga stories or games with children that will introduce them to moving their bodies in mindful ways whilst stoking their imaginations.
3. Mindful Breathing with Rose Quartz
Mindful breathing is a simple yet powerful tool for children to learn. It helps them to focus their minds and manage their emotions. Known as the stone of unconditional love, Rose Quartz is the perfect companion for breathing exercises to promote feelings of peace and compassion.
- Sit with your child in a comfortable position, either indoors or in a peaceful outdoor setting
- Give your child a small piece of Rose Quartz that they can comfortably hold in their hand; a mini crystal heart, tumblestone or small raw chunk work well
- Guide your child to take slow, deep breaths, in through their nose and out through their mouth
- Encourage them to hold the Rose Quartz to their heart, feeling its gentle energy as they breathe
This simple breathwork practice can be especially helpful in cultivating self-love and emotional balance.
Short and sweet, it makes a lovely exercise to practice daily, perhaps before bedtime or after a session of vigorous play to settle them down. It's also a valuable way to teach your child how to regulate their emotions when they are anxious or upset, helping them to catch their breath and calm down.
4. Yoga in the Garden with Clear Quartz
How to start teaching kids yoga
Choose a few simple poses that children can easily perform whatever their age, such as
- Tree Pose to learn balance and stillness
- Cat-Cow to learn flexibility
- Child’s Pose to encourage calm and rest
In need of inspiration? Pick up the Yoga & Mindfulness Activities for Kids cards from Inner Child Yoga School for plenty of child safe yoga poses to enjoy.
Next place a piece of Clear Quartz at the centre of your yoga space.
"Clear Quartz is known as the master healer, it embodies a pure, harmonising energy that resonates with clarity of mind and purpose. A clear quartz crystal sphere will radiate its energy in even waves around your space creating a harmonious environment. A clear quartz crystal cluster will add a more dynamic energy to your space, perfect for more upbeat yoga sessions." - Laura - Founder of Rock + Realm
As the children move through their poses, encourage them to focus on the clear quartz crystal, imagining it filling their bodies with light and energy, amplifying their intentions for the session.
This practice not only enhances their physical flexibility, but also strengthens their mental focus and clarity. And if the summer weather prevents you from getting outside, this activity can easily be switched to an indoor yoga session, just create a bit of space in the middle of your lounge or playroom!
5. Make a Mandala with Crystals, Flowers and Shells
Creating crystal mandalas is an engaging and meditative activity that you can do in the garden when it's bright and sunny or on the kitchen table on those overcast or rainy summer days.
- Provide your kids with a variety of crystals in different shapes and sizes, such as orange calcite, carnelian, howlite and tourmaline - there's a wonderful selection to choose from in Rock + Realm's Crystal Gridding section
- Guide them to arrange the crystals in a circular pattern on an even surface, starting in the centre and working outwards
- Encourage them to collect shells and pebbles from the beach or flowers, leaves and twigs from your garden or park to enhance their crystal mandala designs
- As they create their crystal mandalas, ask them to think about their intentions and the positive energies they wish to manifest, such as friendship, love, happiness or kindness to others
Once created, you can keep their crystal mandala in place for them to return and add to over time, making a wonderful visual reminder of their positive intentions.
This activity fosters creativity, concentration and a sense of accomplishment; stoking your child's imagination and deepening their connection with the natural world.
How to Enhance Your Child's Mindfulness with Crystals this Summer
Simple mindful activities, combined with colourful and tactile kid-friendly crystals, offer children a magical experience during the summer holidays. These practices not only keep them engaged but also teach them valuable skills in mindfulness, emotional regulation and self-awareness.
As they explore these activities, children can develop a deeper connection to themselves and the world around them, laying the foundations for a balanced and harmonious life.
Remember, the beauty of mindfulness and child-safe crystals is that there is no right or wrong way to use them. Encourage your children to follow their intuition and enjoy the journey. And why not join in and nurture your inner child too!
Happy summer!
Victoria Tso
FAQs - How to Safely Use Crystals with Children
1. Can I use Crystals with my Children?
Yes, children are naturally drawn to the energies and beauty of crystals and collecting crystals is a lovely hobby you can share together. Crystals are a fun and interesting way for children to learn about the natural world, science and mindfulness practices.
You must always be mindful about selecting which crystals you use with your child. Some crystals are very delicate and may crumble or break when handled roughly and some crystals are toxic in their raw state. Polished crystals are safe for children to handle as the crystal is encased in the polish, but make sure you check for chips and never let a child put crystals in their mouth.
Always supervise children when they are handling crystals and educate them about the proper use and care of these stones. By choosing the right crystals, you can ensure a safe and enriching experience for your little ones.
2. How Do I know which crystals are child-friendly and what to avoid?
When using crystals with children, it's important to choose stones that are safe and non-toxic. Certain crystals should be avoided due to potential toxicity, sharp edges or strong energetic properties.
Some commonly available crystals to avoid using with children:
- Toxic crystals or may cause irritation: Malachite, Chrysocolla, Sulphur, Galena, Raw Tiger's Eye
- Delicate crystals that may break: Celestite, Selenite, Kyanite, Needle Quartz, Scolecite clusters
Additionally, avoid any crystals with sharp edges or those that can break easily into small, ingestible pieces. It's also wise to avoid high-energy stones like Moldavite, which can be too intense for children.
Easy to find and affordable Child-Friendly Crystals
For safe and nurturing options, choose crystals like Rose Quartz, Amethyst and Clear Quartz. These stones are known for their gentle energies and are perfect for promoting peace, love and emotional balance in children.
- More Child-safe crystals options: Orange Calcite, Carnelian, Howlite, Green Aventurine, Sodalite, Blue Agate, Agate, Moss Agate, Amazonite, Tourmaline, Smoky Quartz
3. Where can I buy ethically sourced child-friendly crystals in the UK?
Rock + Realm is an ethical spiritual retailer, specialising in crystals, incense, jewellery, spiritual wellness and more. They responsibly source their crystals to ensure fair pay and working practices for staff and consideration of the environmental impact of mining.
You can find a selection of non-toxic and child-friendly crystals on our website in the following collections:
Crystals for Children Collection
Nursery + Child's Room collection
If you're in any doubt about whether a crystal is suitable for children, then please don't hesitate to contact Laura at hello@rockandrealm.com
Loved our article on Using Crystals with Children?
📖 Read more - Crystals 101: The Joy of Using Crystals with Children
💬 Comment below how you plan on using crystals with your children this summer
📌 Pin for other Mums, Dads, Uncles and Aunties to discover some calm summer fun activities, perfect whatever the weather
