Some call it a "card game". Others call it "spontaneous art." Many people (like me) love tarot because it is a great way to explore options, listen to your instincts, and make safe decisions.
But is it suitable for children?
As a professional tarot reader who has been in the spiritual industry for over 30 years—and as a mother who raised two wonderful children with a kind heart and good manners—my opinion is: "Yes. Tarot for kids. It's very good."
It's perfectly fine for kids to learn to read or tarot.
BUT - VERY IMPORTANT BUT - When doing tarot with kids, always make sure you use an age-appropriate tarot deck.
If you pick up a random tarot deck off the shelf at your local bookstore, that deck may contain images that are scary or confusing to children.
For example, in a traditional tarot deck, the Death card (which often depicts a scary figure), the Tower card (a blazing, crumbling tower with people jumping out of windows and running for their lives), Love cards ( erm... use your imagination).
That's why it's so important to grab a kid-friendly deck—with age-appropriate language and graphics for teens. Think: G-rated tarot decks instead of R-rated ones.
Just as you wouldn't let your child watch "any" movies or read "any" books, don't let them use "any" tarot decks that they happen to grab with their cute little fingers!
Best tarot decks for kids
Tarot Reading for Kids
A great deck for your child or anyone who just feels like a kid!
I have written the manual for this deck. Kelly Whitman contributed beautiful artwork.
Cat tarot
I'm clearly so obsessed with cats that this was a must-have deck for me. It couldn't be cuter!
Kawaii tarot
This deck is so cute - and the simplified images make it easy to understand.
Happy tarot
A cute, fun little deck that any kid will love!
Witchling Academy Tarot
Confirmer! tarot card deck
This is a colorful positive tarot card deck. Great for beginners - but old friends like me will love it too!
Teach Kids How to Tarot
Teaching children to tarot is similar to teaching adults. Kids are smart and learn the basics quickly.
You can explain to your child:
- There are 78 cards in a tarot deck.
- Each card has a different image... and a different message for you.
- Consider a question. If you want, say the question out loud.
- Shuffle the deck.
- Spread out the cards.
- Choose a card. Take a look at what you see on the map? What do you think this card is telling you? Do you think this card has a message for you or an answer to your question? What is this?
- Invite your child to share what they notice and feel.
- Discuss what they shared together. Try to get to the point where your child feels they have the answer to their question and they know what to do next.
This is a quick and easy way to introduce kids to tarot.
There is much more to learn from there.
Get Tarot for Kids and read the 96-page guide that comes with the deck.
This guide includes everything you need to know about introducing kids to tarot.
Tarot is definitely not just for adults. It is also a wonderful tool for kids and teens.
Learning Tarot can help children:
- Compare options ("Should I do A, B or C?") and make better decisions.
- feeling powerful rather than victim ("No matter what happens, I always have a choice")
- Tune into their instincts and gut feelings.
- Understand the relationship between tasks and rewards and between actions and outcomes.
- and (especially with young children) develop motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
As a parent, taking the tarot with your kids becomes a cherished family tradition—something your child looks forward to with bedtime stories or movie night.
Your child may be surprised by something intelligent, profound or hilarious said to you during a tarot reading.
Grab a deck and play!
