Guidelines for Working With Indigo Children

HELPFUL GUIDELINES FOR WORKING WITH INDIGO CHILDREN

The following information is from Wendy H. Chapman copyright 2001 Metagifted Education Resource Organization, www.metagifted.org, Compiled by Wendy H. Chapman from her own experience with children and the information in The Indigo Children: The New Kids Have Arrived by Jan Tober and Lee Carroll and her experiences with children.

How To Get the Most from Your Indigo Child ~ A Guide for Parents and Teachers by Wendy H. Chapman

  • RESPECT them
  • Practice UNCONDITIONAL LOVE for your child. Love them and show it, no matter what.
  • Give CHOICES.
  • Give them FREEDOM to develop, balanced with SUPERVISION and SAFETY limits.
  • Do set LIMITS to protect them, but not arbitrary ones.
  • Tell REASONS and EXPLAIN WHY.
    As much as is possible, LET THEM HELP to CREATE RULES and fair and appropriate consequences for breaking them.
  • Give them COMPLETE EXPLANATIONS to the level they will be able understand.
  • DON'T TALK DOWN to them.
  • NEVER SAY "JUST BECAUSE" or "Because I said so" and feel it is an adequate reason for an Indigo. It isn't.
  • Be HONEST with your children. Tell the Truth. They will know if you are not.
  • Avoid giving orders, instead ASK FOR their COOPERATION in accomplishing a goal (ie. of getting ready to leave on time).
  • DON'T try to MANIPULATE them. It won't work.
  • DON'T USE GUILT, fear, or hate as a controlling tool.
  • Be FAIR.
  • Be CONSISTENT. If you say NO, make sure you have a good reason and don't give in.
  • DON'T COMPARE your childhood to theirs (when I was a kid we had to walk 10 miles to school uphill both ways..)
  • Provide EMOTIONAL SUPPORT for them and their goals.
  • LISTEN to them.
  • RESPECT their PRIVACY and personal space.
  • TEACH your child to have RESPECT for others regardless of their abilities and model this behavior.
  • ADMIT when you make MISTAKES.
  • Make time to PLAY with your kids.
  • Don't do things for your children that they can do themselves. EMPOWER THEM by LETTING THEM DEVELOP AUTONOMY.
  • GIVE them some RESPONSIBILITIES around the home and CHOICES about which responsibilities they will have.
  • NOTICE GOOD BEHAVIOR and thank them for it.
  • USE REWARDS at least as often or more so than punishments. These help to get through frustrating times.
  • INVOLVE your children IN YOUR LIFE. Don't shield them from it or they will know and will resent it.
  • RESPECT any PSYCHIC SKILLS that they develop, even if you do not understand them.
  • PROVIDE appropriate TRAINING and SUPPORT for any special talents they have - physical or metaphysical.
  • APPRECIATE their STRENGTHS.
  • PROVIDE CREATIVE OUTLETS for your children.
  • Be OPEN to Learning FROM them.
  • EXAMPLE OF AN EFFECTIVE PARENTAL REQUEST of an Indigo Child: "I need you to help me get to the doctor on time. We have to go in five minutes to make the appointment, so do everything you need to before we go, like go to the bathroom if you have to. Also, since grandma is coming later we need to pick up your toys either now or as soon as we get home. You decide which."

Top 10 Tips for Parenting Indigos

  1. BE HONEST
    Give complete explanations as much as possible for their intelligence and maturity.
  2. DON'T MANIPULATE
    No guilt trips. They don't work with Indigos.
  3. SHOW THEM RESPECT
    They are only smaller in age, but often wiser in spirit. Don't talk down to them, they will resent it. Show respect. Treat them as equals as much as possible. Let them help to create rules and the consequences. Make sure they have limits that will protect them.
  4. EMPOWER THEM
    Let them develop autonomy by doing as much as they can themselves. Let them choose clothing. Teach them to bathe themselves at a young age.
  5. RESPECT THEIR PSYCHIC SKILLS
    Help to develop these metagifted talents with practice, classes, and encouragement.
  6. TEACH THEM ENERGY SHIELDING and GROUNDING SKILLS
    Indigos are very sensitive to emotions. They will have severe mood swings and the moods are often caused by picking up on the energies of others around them. Training in various energy healing techniques can help with this.
  7. TEACH THEM RELAXATION SKILLS and MEDITATION
    These skills will help them be better able to handle life, find balance, and connect with the spirit world.
  8. RESPECT THEIR EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL SENSITIVITY
    which is bound to be extreme and seem unusual, but they're NOT kidding and they may need your help to tolerate these feelings.
  9. FIND ALTERNATE THERAPY FOR ADD AND OTHER DIFFABILITIES
    Don't give them medication such as Ritalin, etc, for ADD or other 'diffabilities'. Find alternate means of working with these behaviors, such as nutritional supplements, flower essences, behavioral modifications, and allowing student choices in learning.
  10. HELP THEM DEVELOP AWARENESS OF THEIR INDIGO NATURE AND THEIR MISSION IN LIFE
    The Indigos are all here for a reason. They have unique behavioral characteristics so they will be better able to help bring in the new energies and help improve the world. Until they realize this, they may have great difficulty dealing with their humanity and handling the difficulties of being oversensitive and different. If they learn there is a reason for their differences, they will be better able to handle them and work towards their mission of planetary ascension.

Celestine Prophecy Wisdom on Assisting Children to Become Whole Adults
Information from Redfield, J. & Adrienne, C. (1995). "The Celestine Prophecy: An Experiential Guide", NY: Warner Books, pp. 227-230. Based on the 8th Insight: Interpersonal Ethic ~ We must uplift every person that comes into our lives to the best of our ability. "With children it is extremely important to their early security and growth." p. xvii

  • Be there for them.
  • Treat these little people as spiritual beings with their own destinies to fulfill.
  • Give them respect.
  • Acknowledge that children have rights: to know the truth, to be cared for, to be taught how to be an adult
  • Insist on certain behavior that is for their best interst, health, and safety.
  • Set clear boundaries while they are under your supervision.
  • Be clear where you stand on issues.
  • Be open to their individual needs.
  • Share your own spiritual process as much as is appropriate to their age level (parenting only).
  • Give explanations of choices you are currently making, as appropriate to their maturity level.
  • Be willing to learn from them.
  • Discuss family issues or problems. Keeping troubles to yourself denies your child the truth of what's going on and any wisdom you have on the subject (parents only).
  • Give children meaningful roles and chores in running the household (and/or classroom. Ie- picking up the floor, watering plants).
  • Don't be too quick to rescue. Children are more capable than given credit for. Let them learn from their mistakes. Don't be critical. Ask what happened, what they felt about it or learned, and what they would do differently next time.
  • Remember that people move ahead to new levels only in a supportive environment.
  • Be open to a child's point-of-view.
  • Be a good listener.
  • Encourage a sense of humor in children that is not based on ridicule of others.
  • Give specific praise and encouragement often.
  • Don't forget children may be mirroring your issues. Be willing to notice how their behavior may be telling you something about yourself.
  • The most important thing you can do to support children are to listen to them, take them seriously, and acknowledge their personal worth.