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Pagan Parenting
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Bringing up children in a Pagan household can be a great experience for the whole family.  Some parents may choose to involve their children in Pagan aspects from an early age, others may choose to shield them until they are old enough to understand or make the decision for themselves.  Being an Earth religion, we should do things naturally right?

I can't give you much advice, as I am learning as I go too and my husband isn't Pagan, but hopefully this page will give you some ideas.
 

Nappy Choices | Natural Foods | Wiccaning | Toys | Clothing | Links

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Eco-Friendly Nappy/Diaper Choices
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Many parents use disposable nappies without thinking twice about it.  Pagan families and other families who care for the environment might like to consider cloth nappies.  These have come along way from the boring white square of towelling that needed plastic pants and always seemed to leak.  Infact they are known as "Modern Cloth Nappies" because they are so different to the old fashioned nappies most people know of.  Now there are fitted cloth nappies that include a waterproof layer, attach with velcro and look and fit like a disposable nappy, making them very convenient and affective.

Did you know in some councils it's actually illegal to put human waste into the garbage bin. So you are supposed to tip any solid contents of a disposable into the toilet and flush it, rather than tossing it into the bin where it can go into the ground and find it's way into our water supply!  if you are going to do that - you may as well use cloth, as it's not much more effort and much more eco-friendly

Australian Links:
http://www.ozclothnappies.org | http://www.modernclothnappies.org

UK Links
http://www.clothnappytree.com | http://www.wen.org.uk/nappies

US Links
http://allaboutclothdiapers.com | http://www.diaperpin.com



Home Made Nappy/Diaper Rash Cream
Take a handful of dried calendula (Look for it in healthfood shops as a tea) and add to about a cup of any type of vegetable oil.  Let this gently heat for about 10 mins (Don't cook the calendula, just warm it).  Then strain out the flowers keeping the oil.  Add about half a jar of vaseline or about 1/4 cup beeswax, and stir well.  When starting to cool and thicken, add a few drops of lavender essential oil.  Pour into jars.  You can store excess batches in the freezer until you need them.  The vaseline, because not natural, will not be absorbed so helps form a barrier on the skin, while the oils penetrate the skin to work on the rash.  If you want a more natural base, you can use beeswax.

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Pagan Clothing & Toys
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Pagan(ish) Toys
Here are some ideas for Pagan themed toys

Elemental Dolls -  Make a cloth doll using representations of the Elements.  For example plain calico cloth dolls, with different coloured hair and clothing, with appropriate buttons and charms sewn onto the clothing.  Some examples to give you ideas - hereherehere

Paperdolls
hhttp://www.icynic.com/~knowles/paperdolls.html
http://www.pookapages.com/PookaPages.htm

Barbies - I have to mention these, even though I know a lot of people hate barbie.  There have been a couple of "Witchy" barbies brought out.  No, not even vaguely realistic, but then really, what do you define as a realistic Pagan barbie?  Jetski barbie or Astronaut barbie could equally be Pagans as could be Christians or Athiests....  and if they slap a pointy hat on a barbie we all scream that it's a stereotype, but if it's not "witchy" enough, we complain... :)

"Secret Spells barbie" - which is a group of 3 dolls, who are really not Pagan-like in any way shape or form, but the vague idea is there... they come with a cauldron (plastic bowl thing in a stand) and potions (like a powdered drink I assume), and a few other bits, but if you are like me, and the concept of a slightly witchy doll compared to a cheerleader one or something is slightly appealing, then there you go :)  (I confess, we have Barbie and Kayla).  
Halloween Barbies - There have been a couple brought out, and if you are after one, ebay is probably a good place to look.  They range from the stereotypical green skinned witch (A series of barbies brought out for the Wizard of Oz movie), to Witches hat wearing blond barbies.... but if you want a barbie wearing a pointy hat - there are several to choose from.  We have this one, this one, and a kelly doll
You also have the option to make your own.  There are some Pagan barbies here.  You could even make a centaur!
 
 

Pagan Clothing and Accessories
Often you can find childrens clothing with a star design.  If you make your own, you could include Star buttons or embroidery for protection. If you are Pagan and Proud, and out of the broom closet, you can decorate bibs etc. with pentagram or Goddess Symbol designs. 

I made a polar fleece blanket for my baby to be wrapped in once born, and decorated it with a Pentagram.  I got a metre of Polar fleece and about half a metre of black cotton and iron on interfacing.  I used my computer to print out a pentacle design, and transferred this to the cotton fabric, and cut out the design.  Then I used the interfacing to stick it to the polar fleece, and did a small zigzag stitch around all the pentagram edges to finish it off nicely.  Then I folded it in half so the fluffy side was on both sides of the blanket (makes a small bunny rug size) and all the stitching was hidden, then used a blanket stitch to sew them together.  When she was a newborn it made a great bunny rug, and how she is older, it is a great dolls rug.  You could use it as a wall hanging once the baby has outgrown it.
 
 


Assorted Pagan Parenting or Pagan Kids Websites
(No particular order)
http://www.paganparenting.com
http://www.crystalforest1.homestead.com/paganparenting.html
http://paganparenting.net/phpnuke
http://clik.to/witchykids
http://www.musicforthegoddess.com/parent
http://www.witchvox.com/_x.html?c=parent
http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/pagan_parenting
http://members.tripod.com/paganparent-ivil
http://members.cruzio.com/~thezoo/paganparenting.html
http://www.mind-n-magick.com/search/html/Lifestyles/Pagan_Parenting
http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/parenting
http://www.conjure.com/COG/parents.html
http://www.fote.org/parents.htm
http://www.littlepagans.com
http://dmoz.org/Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Pagan/Parenting
http://www.glasstemple.com/parents
http://www.ladybridget.com/parents.html
http://www.mysticmooncoven.org/parent.htm
http://www.geocities.com/k_garber/pparent.html
http://www.stjohnsuu.org/earthspirit/parent.htm
Pagan parenting yahoo group mailing lists
http://www.moondragon.org/pagan/ppp.html
http://pub14.ezboard.com/bchildrenrmylife
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/2962/bos/lore/pagan_parent.html
http://oakdancer.com/parenting.htm
http://www.branwenscauldron.com/resources/parenting.html
http://parentcenter.bbs.babycenter.com/board/preschooler/pfamilylife/17694
http://www.beliefnet.com/boards/discussion_list.asp?boardID=73762
http://www.spiritandsky.com/religion/pagan/parenting/homeschooling
http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/religion/pagan.htm
http://northernway.org/paganparenting.html
 

Pagan Parenting / Pagan Kids Books
(Ones I know of.. in no particular order)
Pagan Parenting: Spiritual, Magical & Emotional Development of the Child  - Kristin Madden
Reviews at www.amazon.com

Circle Round : Raising Children in Goddess Traditions - Starhawk, Diane Baker, Anne Hill
Reviews at www.amazon.com

The Family Wicca Book: The Craft for Parents & Children - Ashleen O'Gaea
Reviews at www.amazon.com

Raising Witches - Ashleen O'Gaea
Reviews at www.amazon.com

Celebrating the Great Mother :....... - Cait Johnson, Maura D. Shaw
Reviews at www.amazon.com

Wiccacraft for Families -  Margie McArthur
Reviews at www.amazon.com

The Pagan Family: Handing the Old Ways Down -  Ceisiwr Serith
Reviews at www.amazon.com

Pagan Kids' Activity Book - Amber K
Reviews at www.amazon.com

Pagan Homeschooling -  Kristin Madden
Reviews at www.amazon.com

Moon Mother, Moon Daughter: Myths and Rituals That Celebrate a Girl's Coming-of-Age - Jennifer Louden
Reviews at www.amazon.com

The Thundering Years: Rituals and Sacred Wisdom for Teens - Julie Tallard Johnson
Reviews at www.amazon.com

First Moon: Celebration And Support For A Girl's Growing-Up Journey -  Maureen Theresa Smith
Reviews at www.amazon.com

Teen Witch: Wicca for a New Generation -  Silver Ravenwolf
Reviews at www.amazon.com

Spellcraft for Teens: A Magickal Guide to Writing & Casting Spells - Gwinevere Rain
Reviews at www.amazon.com
 
 


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