Are children more likely to experience Paranormal?

ladybirdirl

Picking up on something in a recent thread around children & poltergeists, I got to thinking....


Would it be more prevalent/usual for children to have paranormal experiences than it owuld be for adults

My own view would be yes it would

a) because young children don't have a frame of reference for thinking paranormal beliefs are odd/weird they are more likely to be 'open' to having an experience and embracing it rather than ignoring it &

b) I would have thought if a ghost/spirit/whatever wanted to influence someone I would have thought it would be easier to deal with a little one &

c) young children (before they figure out how to manipulate us adults) generally don't lie about what they experience - they just say what they say/feel/see

Any thoughts/ experiences /ideas anyone?

Ladybird

stormkeeper

I'd be inclined to agree; children aren't tainted by "adult experiences", and I do believe that their innocence towards the world (when you consider all the problems us grown ups have, they haven't to worry about that for many years yet!) allows them to be more open-minded towards the paranormal on the whole. They especially haven't heard the "it's not real!" or "there's nothing there!" lines as much as we had, so they find it easier to believe.

ladybirdirl

Also I can't spell - I'm very tired after hard day's work (all togehter awww:rolleyes: )

Please will one of the mods change the title to read children...........thanks

LB

Riamfada

Oh not ... its the Childred!! RUN!

Seriously, has any parapsychologist actually done an experiment on kids to see if they are more suseptible? Would that class as child cruelty?

stevenmu

I haven't heard of any experiments having been done related to children in particular. I don't think it would be classed as child cruelty, there are ethical guidleines available for scientific research involving children, but there are many tests that could be carried out which should be fine. There might be a perception though that because children are more likely to be easily led, that any research involving them would be suspect.


Anecdotally, children certainly do seem to experience paranormal events more. There was a poster here before (and I think she still haunts these parts on occasion) who worked with special needs children and was quite experienced in the paranormal, and she certainly seemed to feel that they did.

Certainly, like you said, there is a common perception among many paranormal researchers/groups that children are certainly more open to paranormal experiences. There are many suggested reasons for this.

Children are more open and more willing to believe certain things than adults, they are also less likely to fear being ridiculed, or at least less aware of the potential for it, like you said they have don't have the same frame of reference for what is paranormal and what is not.

There's also a line of thought that the spirit within a child has been in the physical world for less time and therefore the childs consciouscness (composed of both physical and spirit) is less bound by the physical. As we grow older our physical mind takes over more and more and we 'use' our spirit less and less.

Another line of thinking is that puberty can bring on changes and can increase certain senses and abilities (this often ties in with theories about poltergeists).

Another concept, which is a big topic in it's own right is that of indigo children and crystal children. I've some good links about these but can't seem to find them at the moment, but for now, two that summarise briefly are

http://www.thecrystalchildren.com/crystal.html (by Doreen Virtue)
http://www.crystalinks.com/childrensic.html (crystalinks)


edit: Damn! Apparantly I can't spell either, 'chilren' indeed

Zillah

Statistically children are massively more likely to be involved in seemingly paranormal events.

Although the more cynical amongst us might point out that children are also far more likely to indulge in fantasy and misunderstand what is going on around them.

JC 2K3

When I was like 6 my cousin told me there were invisible aliens in the back garden and that I had to fight them.

The next 20 mins were spent punching and kicking thin air.....

Point being, kids believe anything and strongly so. You could tell them ghosts existed and the next day they'd probably come back to you and tell you they had an encounter with one. Doesn't mean they actually encountered one.

meanmachine3

i would say that 99% of all mediums/pyschics had their first paranormal experience as kids so therefore the answer to ladybirds question is yes.

ladybirdirl

Zillah wrote:

Statistically children are massively more likely to be involved in seemingly paranormal events.

Although the more cynical amongst us might point out that children are also far more likely to indulge in fantasy and misunderstand what is going on around them.

True Zillah, but that can't answer every case can it? Also perhaps the kids are in fact understanding properly & it's adults whose sensibilities are polluted by society norms,religion or whatever. I don't know that I buy into the full 'indigo children' phenomenon but I do think there's something to it.

Dave!

Yeah, children have very active imaginations and often claim to see/hear all sorts of fanciful things.

ladybirdirl

DaveMcG wrote:

Yeah, children have very active imaginations and often claim to see/hear all sorts of fanciful things.

May be true Dave, but I don't think it's appropiate to just dismiss anyone's experiences, be they adult or child

Ladybird

Dave!

Nor do I, but I think that children's experiences should be taken with a pinch of salt on account of their wild imaginations.

ladybirdirl

Not to be dis-respectful but that doesn't make sense Dave, you say you don't dismiss it but you take it with a pinch of salt...is that not thre same thing??

LB

Dave!

Not really... I mean, if your child came into your room in the middle of the night and said that there's someone under their bed, you would probably (I'm assuming) think "ahh isn't that cute", and then show them that there isn't anybody there. If your 19 year old son did the same, then you'd likely lock your door and call the Gardaí. Children and adults are different.

kshiel

DaveMcG wrote:

Not really... I mean, if your child came into your room in the middle of the night and said that there's someone under their bed, you would probably (I'm assuming) think "ahh isn't that cute", and then show them that there isn't anybody there. If your 19 year old son did the same, then you'd likely lock your door and call the Gardaí. Children and adults are different.

Thats the point I feel, when your child brings up such conversations most adults tend to say "its ok honey its only ..............." and yes I would have to agree with the whole imagination bit, its really amazing to watch or see a child at play or even conversation with them for a while and see the logic they come up with.

Although I do think they can be more prone to a paranormal experience through their innocence, been that they intend to speak and act to exactly what they are seening, and I think it would be unfair to say that all experience could be put down to just imagination. Its us as adults that tend to take the joy out of such experiences as they grow up and we place our views and take on things on them. Such is life.

Ziycon

I believe that children are more likely to have an paranormal experience as they havent been conditioned to believe what society sees as normal beliefs. When your growing up your told ghosts don't exit so you never think twice about it till you get older. You believe what your parents say because there your parents, but we are conditioned from a very young age to fit into society with what we are told to believe and not to believe and by what we see on the news or tv programmes and advertisements, its all around you when growing, subliminal conditioning.
As you get older you get conditioned to ignore paranormal things as you've been told they "don't exist" so your less likely to have a paranormal experience the older you get.
So in conclusion i do believe children are more open to paranormal experiences, for example think about the night terrors or imaginary friends you had as a child.

hiorta

It does seem that some children can distinguish what is shadowy to adults.
There is a natural bond of love between children and their grandparents, so when a child informs Mum or Dad that they were speaking to (deceased) Grandpa last night, then this could be one of two things - truth or imagination.

But when a child tells of speaking with a deceased Grandparent whom they had never met or known, but could point them out from photographs, then this leaves 'truth' as the likely option, especially if the topics were immediately relevant.

The imagination faculty seems to be the function of the mind that is closely engaged in mediumistic work, Spirit folk sort of 'back-projecting' some visual info upon it.

As a natural ability, the imagination is to be encouraged in the young - some types of educational input can often damage it, distorting it with imagery from unproven doctrines.

ladybirdirl

DaveMcG wrote:

Not really... I mean, if your child came into your room in the middle of the night and said that there's someone under their bed, you would probably (I'm assuming) think "ahh isn't that cute", and then show them that there isn't anybody there. If your 19 year old son did the same, then you'd likely lock your door and call the Gardaí. Children and adults are different.

Hmmmm.............really don't agree. Yes children & adults are different. I would not think it appropiate to say 'ah it's cute' if my child (of any age) decided there was someone in the room, then again I'm not a mom. I do think your reference is lacking in compassion to many children/pre-teens/young adults who would believe they have had experiences, which I find surprising given ( I think) you're an enthusist

LB

Dave!

ladybirdirl wrote:

Hmmmm.............really don't agree. Yes children & adults are different. I would not think it appropiate to say 'ah it's cute' if my child (of any age) decided there was someone in the room, then again I'm not a mom. I do think your reference is lacking in compassion to many children/pre-teens/young adults who would believe they have had experiences, which I find surprising given ( I think) you're an enthusist

LB

You mean you've never, when you were a child, ran crying into your parents' room cos you thought there was someone under your bed, or the boogie man was in your closet? I know when I was young -- presumably traumatised after seeing a scary cartoon -- I used to think that there was a giant crocodile under my bed, and I was afraid to look under. I used to try my hardest not to accidentally let my hand fall down the side of the bed, in case the crocodile takes it!

Fact is kids have active imaginations and often claim to have seen ridiculous things. Adults dismiss most of these claims as absurd because they usually are. But I'm sure the odd time a kid will say something that will click with a paranormal enthusiast adult and they'll make a big deal out of it.

stormkeeper

I remember as a child that I had an experience about a monster being under my bed, and the funny thing is that it had sound, and these days none of my dreams have sound in them, so I've been wondering if that were real, or not... and that's among other experiences I've had as a child, such as an OBE, and I also knew what to look for in the library, and I was only 10 as well, and I don't think anyone told me what an OBE is either!

ladybirdirl

DaveMcG wrote:

You mean you've never, when you were a child, ran crying into your parents' room cos you thought there was someone under your bed, or the boogie man was in your closet? I know when I was young -- presumably traumatised after seeing a scary cartoon -- I used to think that there was a giant crocodile under my bed, and I was afraid to look under. I used to try my hardest not to accidentally let my hand fall down the side of the bed, in case the crocodile takes it!

Fact is kids have active imaginations and often claim to have seen ridiculous things. Adults dismiss most of these claims as absurd because they usually are. But I'm sure the odd time a kid will say something that will click with a paranormal enthusiast adult and they'll make a big deal out of it.

Ok, I think you're missing my point.

a) no I never thought there was something under the bed...if there ever had been, I would have been one of those kids who would have gone and investigated it, not ran screaming...and being 1 of 7 if I thought there was something there, I'd have wanted to keep it for myself anyway:)

b) no dispute that kids have active imaginations.. in fact that almost proves my point. I believe that in many (not all I'm sure) cases it could be that what we as adults conditioned by religion/societal norms/fear/whatever call an 'over active ' imagination could in fact be a latent paranormal expertise and in fact might (as stormkeeper attests to) be a true experience.

c) my original point was 'is it more prevalent' for children and tbh I'm amazed that someone such as yourself with an interest in paranormal would dismiss a whole group of people with a sweeping generalisation such as that. Of course it's likely that some children are just afraid of being away from their parents/on their own but there may also be a core whose talent is emerging and that's what I am trying to get at.

Ladybird

Dave!

ladybirdirl wrote:

Ok, I think you're missing my point.

a) no I never thought there was something under the bed...if there ever had been, I would have been one of those kids who would have gone and investigated it, not ran screaming...and being 1 of 7 if I thought there was something there, I'd have wanted to keep it for myself anyway:)

Well each to their own! I suspect that most kids would get scared and tell an adult, and the adult would go in and confirm that there is nowt under the bed except a pair of smelly socks!

ladybirdirl wrote:

b) no dispute that kids have active imaginations.. in fact that almost proves my point. I believe that in many (not all I'm sure) cases it could be that what we as adults conditioned by religion/societal norms/fear/whatever call an 'over active ' imagination could in fact be a latent paranormal expertise and in fact might (as stormkeeper attests to) be a true experience.

It could, but there's no reason to assume that it is without evidence!

Kids have more "paranormal" experiences, and kids also have more active imaginations than adults. Ergo, kids have latent paranormal expertise...??? What?!

You don't think it's more likely that their imagination would be related to their paranormal experiences, than that they have more expertise than adults?

ladybirdirl wrote:

c) my original point was 'is it more prevalent' for children and tbh I'm amazed that someone such as yourself with an interest in paranormal would dismiss a whole group of people with a sweeping generalisation such as that. Of course it's likely that some children are just afraid of being away from their parents/on their own but there may also be a core whose talent is emerging and that's what I am trying to get at.

Well Zillah pointed out earlier that it's statistically more common for kids to have paranormal experiences, and I have no reason to doubt that. But it's more pertinent to understand WHY they have more experiences than adults, than to verify that that is indeed the case. I would be more inclined to put it down to imagination than expertise.

What reason/evidence have you got that a "core" group of children have emerging talents, whereas you say most don't? I mean, where are you getting that from?

BTW, I'm afraid I don't have much of an interest in the paranormal! My cynical comments in the Paranormal and Spirituality forum will probably confirm this

stormkeeper

DaveMcG wrote:

What reason/evidence have you got that a "core" group of children have emerging talents, whereas you say most don't? I mean, where are you getting that from?

I'm vaguely reminded of something I read at some point regarding "Indigo Children", but I can't elaborate further at present, but there's the "core group of children with emerging talents" right there.

Dave!

I don't know anything about Indigo Children, but a quick look at wikipedia suggests that there's some doubt in your claim...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigo_children#Scientific_and_critical_interpretations

stormkeeper

I did say it was vague... besides, Wikipedia isn't the only source of information out there.

ladybirdirl

DaveMcG wrote:

Kids have more "paranormal" experiences, and kids also have more active imaginations than adults. Ergo, kids have latent paranormal expertise...??? What?!

Again with all due respect, that's not what I said.


Also what evidence have you got there isn't such a group of children

stevenmu

We can't ignore the fact that children have active imiginations, but this is the paranormal forum and the topic as I understand it is about genuine paranormal experiences and whether children are more likely to experience them or not, so can people please stick to this topic.

Dave!

ladybirdirl wrote:

Again with all due respect, that's not what I said.


Also what evidence have you got there isn't such a group of children

The burden of proof is on you, not me! Watch this: there is a giant invisible spaghetti monster in the sky -- what evidence have you got that there isn't?

stevenmu wrote:

We can't ignore the fact that children have active imiginations, but this is the paranormal forum and the topic as I understand it is about genuine paranormal experiences and whether children are more likely to experience them or not, so can people please stick to this topic.

Dunno if that's directed at me or not, but if it is -- I am sticking to the topic! The OP suggested that children experience paranormal phenomena more than adults, and I'm just saying that what might appear to be paranormal is often merely an over-active imagination. I don't think that's unreasonable.

stormkeeper

DaveMcG wrote:

The burden of proof is on you, not me! Watch this: there is a giant invisible spaghetti monster in the sky -- what evidence have you got that there isn't?

Actually, the burden of proof is on both sides. You cannot claim something doesn't exist without proof, and then turns around and says that someone has to prove something does exist... that's an unfair argument.

Dunno if that's directed at me or not, but if it is -- I am sticking to the topic! The OP suggested that children experience paranormal phenomena more than adults, and I'm just saying that what might appear to be paranormal is often merely an over-active imagination. I don't think that's unreasonable.

It can't always be attributed to an over-active imagination though. there is not one simple and single answer for something... the world isn't black or white but varying shades of gray. There's got to be more there than just an "over-active imagination". I mean, where does all this originate from? I find it astounding that adults are like this to children to be honest. It's this sort of attitude which merely makes it propogate even further... so eventually, the child doesn't believe in stuff that happens to them, that could have a genuine paranormal explanation.

Dave!

stormkeeper wrote:

Actually, the burden of proof is on both sides. You cannot claim something doesn't exist without proof, and then turns around and says that someone has to prove something does exist... that's an unfair argument.

Don't be silly... The burden is always on the person making the claim. Otherwise you could claim anything and people would be expected to believe you! There's a giant invisible spaghetti monster in the sky... disprove it... You can't! It's impossible to disprove something like that.

The burden is always on the claimant -- ask any scientist in the world.

stormkeeper wrote:

It can't always be attributed to an over-active imagination though. there is not one simple and single answer for something... the world isn't black or white but varying shades of gray. There's got to be more there than just an "over-active imagination". I mean, where does all this originate from?

Prior experiences? Cartoons? Stories? Interaction?

stormkeeper wrote:

I find it astounding that adults are like this to children to be honest. It's this sort of attitude which merely makes it propogate even further... so eventually, the child doesn't believe in stuff that happens to them, that could have a genuine paranormal explanation.

Well if paranormal claims had any solid evidence behind them, then I imagine people would take them infinitely more serious, and kids wouldn't be dismissed like that.

stevenmu

DaveMcG wrote:

Dunno if that's directed at me or not, but if it is -- I am sticking to the topic! The OP suggested that children experience paranormal phenomena more than adults, and I'm just saying that what might appear to be paranormal is often merely an over-active imagination. I don't think that's unreasonable.

It's not directed at anyone, just at the direction the thread is going. It is very reasonable to point out that children do have active imaginations and many paranormal experiences may be down to that. But that point has been made at this stage. This is the paranormal forum and there is no burden on anyone here to prove that paranormal events occur (it's a little different if someone makes a specific claim like being able to predict lotto numbers). The topic is making the assumption that genuine paranormal events do occur, are they more likely to occur to children. Now that we've all agreed that children do have active imaginations I think we should stick to the topic.