Children and Safety at public ritual Having two young children myself who are just starting to join me at public rituals where children are welcome, and taking part in family rituals in our own home, child safety is an issue that I as a mother must be keenly aware of. Not only where my children are and what they are doing but with other people at the ritual who may not be aware of my children and where they are. There are the obvious issues, Small children and Pointy objects do not mix, wands and Athames, other objects such as swords, should be kept away. As mentioned in the reading it is so easy for some inattentive persons Wand or Athame to cause a child serious injury. Candles as well are not good for small children, and as mentioned for older children (and yes even an inattentive adult) blowing a candle out the wrong way can cause wax to splash up in a persons face. Using a snuffer is certainly the way to go. Now an issue that I must admit before this course I had not considered is the fire pit / bonfire. Not the obvious concerns about younger children and fire, that's a given. But older teens (yes again ..adults too) and the dangers of smoke inhalation. (Bad me! volunteered on FD should have thought of this one but it escaped me) Now Spell work, yes children are a distraction, I attend a circle where children are often present. Even though they are well behaved children, they are children. I agree wholeheartedly that children (at least young children) should only attend celebratory ritual. Children are energy sponges they pick up on the energies around them absorb them and then let it all out, amplified and chaotic. During a celebratory ritual where a lot of positive happy energy is flowing this is ok, (even then it can be overwhelming for a sensitive child) Ok Skyclad rituals, yes this one is again obvious, A child should not ever attend a skyclad ritual that is not a family ritual. I'm sorry but predators are everywhere, I personally was raised by a pedophile that was a much loved well respected ~*Schoolteacher*~. I don't have hangups about nudity and I live in a community where nudity is common, there are beaches and places where it is the norm. But I would never have my children in these places and the same goes for skyclad ritual. My personal opinion on safety is that there should always be a person with first aid knowledge and a basic first aid kit at any ritual. I have the first aid knowledge needed to treat an injury and save a life, the knowledge doesn't help if there's not a first aid kit there to use. Now that's a big old list of don'ts, here are some do's :: when planning or hosting a ritual that you know children are attending keep it light, entertaining, and short. The family KISS rule applies... *Keep it Short and Simple.* Involve the children in anyway you can, give them a task no matter how small it may seem, let them feel like they are a part of what is happening around them. Parents Do always know where your children are, be responsible for them. If you are taking part in a ritual be sure you have a responsible person to watch them while you are occupied. Above all DO enjoy these moments, record them in photographs write them into your journals, these years fade away too fast and are gone. Treasure the memories. *smiles the above is a post taken from an article I wrote please forgive and ignore the references which I forgot to remove *sheepish grin*