Why Tarot for Children

Tarot is a valuable tool for fostering emotional intelligence, creativity, critical thinking, and confidence. It encourages self-reflection, helps with emotional regulation, and aids in decision-making and problem-solving. Tarot also supports children in expressing themselves and discussing difficult topics in a safe and empowering way.

The "Fool’s Journey" (the sequence of the Major Arcana) is essentially a map of growing up - starting with the innocence of the Fool, learning from "parents" (Empress/Emperor), finding a voice, facing challenges, and eventually reaching "The World" (maturity).

Children live in a world of games, stories and pictures. They don’t sit down and say, “Mum, I’m overwhelmed by change and school and friendships.” They show you instead – through play, bursts of emotion, clingy phases, quiet patches, big imaginations and sudden worries. I’ve spent over 15 years working with children and young people (including kids in care, those who’ve had a tough start, and neurodivergent kids), and the one thing that consistently opens them up is story and play, not pressure.

Tarot fits into that beautifully when it’s used well. I’m not predicting your child’s future or putting big labels on them. I’m using the cards as a structured set of pictures – like a deck of story prompts – to help me understand how they might be feeling, what they tend to notice most in the world, and what helps them feel steady and safe. Then I turn that into something you can actually use at home, in a way that feels light and playful.