What deck/s do you think would make good starters for a child?

[Siavahda]

This is a hypothetical question, for me, since I have no children and no access to any that I might teach tarot to, but talking to FreyjaVanir[/member] about the Crystal Unicorns deck made me wonder. There's plenty of decks I might be careful to keep away from a young child - Finland (where I am) doesn't really have a taboo against non-sexualised nudity, so that wouldn't be enough to make me put a deck on a high shelf, but there are some fairly dark or sexual decks out there that I think we can agree we wouldn't let a nine-year-old play with! - but I can't think of many that are not just child-friendly, but also easily readable.

 

Other than the aforementioned Crystal Unicorns, the only deck from my own collection that might suit is the Tarot of a Moon Garden - and I'm not so sure pip-style Minors are the best way to help anybody learn the card meanings, never mind a young child!

 

What about everyone else? What decks would you give an under-12 to start them off with the tarot?

[Cobweb]

I’ve done readings using the Everyday Witch Tarot with my 10 year old.  I don’t think there’s anything in that one to upset/disturb a child (unless there’s a religious objection to the portrayal of fantasy-style witches).  She’s not tried to read with it herself but I imagine she would find it fairly easy; it’s not very esoteric.  So that might be an option - particularly for a child like my daughter who reads Harry Potter and fantasy novels in general.

[Page of Ghosts]

I agree the Everyday Witch could be nice - a lot of the more challenging cards have been softened and the Devil is even offering candies to children I think.

 

Joie de Vivre is very cute and child appropriate too - whimsical characters and no naked people for those who worry about that. There is some softening similar to the EW too, but I think it works better for me in this deck since it's joy-themed.

[Siavahda]

I agree the Everyday Witch could be nice - a lot of the more challenging cards have been softened and the Devil is even offering candies to children I think.

 

Joie de Vivre is very cute and child appropriate too - whimsical characters and no naked people for those who worry about that. There is some softening similar to the EW too, but I think it works better for me in this deck since it's joy-themed.

 

I did think about the Joie! That one is so lovely and happy - joy-themed, just like you said - that I'd be perfectly happy handing it off to my little sister. I'm just not sure it would be the best deck to learn with, given that the images aren't really big on the traditional RWS symbolism?

 

I mean, I jumped straight to non-traditional decks and never looked back. But I was in my twenties. Would an RWS-based one be easier for someone very young? I guess at that point it probably depends on the child, really.

[MoonGypsy]

Hei Siavahda!

 

Hands down, i recommend the Wizards Pets tarot deck:

 

http://www.wizardspets.com/index.html

 

The artist is the well respected Pamela Steele, artist of the Steele Tarot deck.

She created this deck specifically with her grand-daughter in mind. One day, she said:"Gramma,  would you make me a tarot deck"" ...and Pam said "yes, sure"...and then the reality sunk in,  :P ;D So she painted this gorgous, colorful, sweet and magical deck--age appropriate for children of all ages. A lot of adults are fond of it too! xox

 

P.S. and since it is RWS based, it is very easy to learn, also.

[Jewel]

The Joie de Vivre would definitely be one I would consider.  Another one would be The Wizards Tarot!  It has that Harry Potter feel to it, and if said child was into Harry Potter they could grasp the majors as professors, the suits as houses, and enjoy the magic school feel to it.  Yes it has a lot more depth that one would first think, however all that means is that it would leave a lot of room for growth while still being excellent for a beginner  ;D

[EmpyreanKnight]

If a kid is particularly smart, I won't mind giving them the Centennial Tarot in a Tin. I know that I began surreptitiously peeking at Tarot images in some books before I was 12, tho they were in black and white. That time I was studying in an exclusive school run by Dominican friars, so yeah.

 

Otherwise, the Kawaii Tarot or the Golden Thread would be good.

[cosita]

There's also LoS's Happy Tarot and probably Tarot of the Magical Forest?

[Page of Ghosts]

I agree the Everyday Witch could be nice - a lot of the more challenging cards have been softened and the Devil is even offering candies to children I think.

 

Joie de Vivre is very cute and child appropriate too - whimsical characters and no naked people for those who worry about that. There is some softening similar to the EW too, but I think it works better for me in this deck since it's joy-themed.

 

I did think about the Joie! That one is so lovely and happy - joy-themed, just like you said - that I'd be perfectly happy handing it off to my little sister. I'm just not sure it would be the best deck to learn with, given that the images aren't really big on the traditional RWS symbolism?

 

I mean, I jumped straight to non-traditional decks and never looked back. But I was in my twenties. Would an RWS-based one be easier for someone very young? I guess at that point it probably depends on the child, really.

 

I'm a sucker for the RWS system and if the kid can read I really like the LWB that comes with the deck! All the characters have cute little names and even if the picture is a little different from the RWS the text in the booklet does match it pretty well after all.

 

And yeah cosita, I thought about the Magical Forest as well! There are some harsh cards such as the 10 of Swords where the poor kitty looks to be impaled, but I don't think I would have minded as a child since I got a big HC Andersen fairytale book from my grandparents when I was 7 and I think I was able to read it at the time. Between the original "The Little Mermaid" and "The Red Shoes" I don't think that 10 of Swords would have freaked me out too much  O:-)

[Canid]

Moon Garden or Hanson-Roberts.

[NerdyShelties]

Monstarot and Stickee Critters Tarot. They both look adorable and I think they would be readable by all ages.

[Petalene]

In general, I’d say The Wizards Tarot because it’s reminicent of Harry Potter. But I adore Harry Potter and so do my kids. My kids have looked at my steampunk tarot deck. There isn’t anything problematic in it, but the theme doesn’t speak to them and they have no interest in it beyond the occasional glance.

 

Another question is what does child adore and is there a deck for that? If they are into Alice in Wonderland, then an Alice deck could be a good choice. My older son is into Greek and Roman mythology, so for him, a deck centered around ancient gods would have appeal and it would help him understand the meanings based on which god reperesents which card.

 

Just my two cents and I would still look at a deck I’m unfamiliar wth for possibly problematic cards before handing it to a child. Alice can get dark and I wouldn’t just assume it’s good for kids because it’s Alice.

[Cobweb]

Ok, it's a snow day here so thought I'd get some feedback from my 10 year old.  Having looked at the card images of most of the decks mentioned, she's most interested in Joie de Vivre with her second favourite being the Wizards Tarot.

[Canid]

Good choices! Did anyone mention Everyday Witch?

[sandrang123]

Everyday Witch

[gregory]

One that the child likes the look of. Seriously.

[sandrang123]

One that the child likes the look of. Seriously.

 

True on that, too. At 14 my first deck was The Cat People, which isn't exactly one that would spring to mind...

[Canid]

Everyday Witch

Great minds think alike!

[gregory]

I love the way everyone comes in with actual deck suggestions - it depends SO MUCH on what the child would like. My grandchild, for instance, would be appalled at anything with animals with clothes. But that's the kind of thing most people would immediately think of. (The preferred one there was Pagan Cats. The Hermit is acceptable as he isn't REALLY clothed.) I say again - what would the CHILD like ?

 

The first child I gave a deck to was 3 at the time; she specifically wanted Hanson Roberts. I have no idea why; it wouldn't be one I'd have chosen. But....

[Saturn Celeste]

Hei Siavahda!

 

Hands down, i recommend the Wizards Pets tarot deck:

 

http://www.wizardspets.com/index.html

 

The artist is the well respected Pamela Steele, artist of the Steele Tarot deck.

She created this deck specifically with her grand-daughter in mind. One day, she said:"Gramma,  would you make me a tarot deck"" ...and Pam said "yes, sure"...and then the reality sunk in,  :P ;D So she painted this gorgous, colorful, sweet and magical deck--age appropriate for children of all ages. A lot of adults are fond of it too! xox

 

P.S. and since it is RWS based, it is very easy to learn, also.

Oh that is so adorable!!  I can see how it would be perfect for a child!

 

I suggest the Wonderland in a Tin.  The cards are also small for little hands.

http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/wonderland-tarot-in-a-tin/

 

I also suggest the Victorian Fairy Tarot

http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/victorian-fairy/

[EmpyreanKnight]

There's also LoS's Happy Tarot and probably Tarot of the Magical Forest?

 

I would've suggested these too, along with the Kawaii Tarot if the kid is a girl.

 

I love the way everyone comes in with actual deck suggestions - it depends SO MUCH on what the child would like. My grandchild, for instance, would be appalled at anything with animals with clothes. But that's the kind of thing most people would immediately think of. (The preferred one there was Pagan Cats. The Hermit is acceptable as he isn't REALLY clothed.) I say again - what would the CHILD like ?

 

The first child I gave a deck to was 3 at the time; she specifically wanted Hanson Roberts. I have no idea why; it wouldn't be one I'd have chosen. But....

 

I think following this would be the most prudent course of action tho.

[gregory]

Magical Forest terrifies quite a few adults =- there were threads on AT about that...

[EmpyreanKnight]

You're right, some do find it creepy, especially their eyes? I dunno how tho, they look downright cute to me.

 

While looking at the old AT, I also discovered that the Magical Forest has a study group! Well I never! Gonna check them out. ^-^

[Page of Ghosts]

I love the way everyone comes in with actual deck suggestions - it depends SO MUCH on what the child would like. My grandchild, for instance, would be appalled at anything with animals with clothes. But that's the kind of thing most people would immediately think of. (The preferred one there was Pagan Cats. The Hermit is acceptable as he isn't REALLY clothed.) I say again - what would the CHILD like ?

 

The first child I gave a deck to was 3 at the time; she specifically wanted Hanson Roberts. I have no idea why; it wouldn't be one I'd have chosen. But....

 

This is very true. From the start of this thread, with so many tarot decks on the market I imagined this going down as a conversation with the child. As we look at decks I'd have somewhere to start with the specific deck suggestions, it would not be me running off buying something I think they would like. As an adult I've found it hard to understand what I like and don't like in a deck and it's been kind of a journey where only since early 2017 I think I can say I trust myself to get something I'd really enjoy. So getting specific suggestions as a place to start at least, if the kid isn't a fan of any of the decks I could come up with, sounded like a good idea to me, and with the internet and all it's easy to get a good impression of a deck before you buy anything.

 

ETA I do have many decks myself so we could always have a look in it and see if there's anything the kid would like before heading off to the internet.

[cosita]

One last suggestion: maybe the Ellis Deck?