Several years ago, Reiki guided me to add children’s Reiki classes to my teaching repertoire. My initial interest was sparked by my adult students, many of whom shared stories about their children’s interest in Reiki. They told me that the children asked a lot of questions about it; how it worked, what it did, how it helped, and, most importantly, could they learn Reiki too? In retrospect, I realize those conversations with the adults were Reiki’s way of nudging me into creating a class for children, although at the time I had serious reservations about doing so, mostly because I had little classroom experience teaching young children.
At that time, my teaching background had been with adults, college-aged and beyond. But, although I was unsure, Reiki was not, and its “nudges” became more frequent and more difficult to ignore. And when I finally surrendered and opened myself to Reiki’s infinite wisdom, I remembered that, as a gift from Spirit, Reiki is for everyone. Those of us who practice Reiki know that there is nothing that it cannot improve or benefit – and that it can do no harm. We offer its loving energy to our animals, our plants, our Earth, our homes, so why would I question sharing it with children? I began to delve deeper into the possibility of teaching Reiki to children, and learned that children who utilize Reiki in their lives tend to exhibit improved coping skills, are more self-aware, compassionate, and able to deal more effectively with stress. Additionally, they report feeling calmer, more centered, and better able to concentrate. (1, 3)
As I continued to gather information about these benefits for children, I envisioned our world filled with a new generation learning and practicing Reiki, and knew this was the next step on my personal Reiki journey and my ongoing commitment to help facilitate the emergence of the New Consciousness on Earth.
Initially, the path forward proved challenging. At that time, there was little available information about children’s Reiki classes, and I simply did not have the knowledge base for preparing a Reiki class specifically designed for youngsters. Fortunately, Reiki’s loving guidance was ever-present and eventually led my search to a Reiki Master who specialized in teaching children’s classes (2). Her program was in alignment with my goals for the class, which included being interactive, informal, and, most of all, fun! After contacting her and obtaining the basic class materials, Reiki and I began the task of creating and implementing my personal version of a class for children, and as we progressed, it truly became a labor of love. Even the energy surrounding the preparations was filled with joy and anticipation, and I clearly sensed divine guidance.
After crafting an outline and plan for the class that was aligned with my goals, it was time to schedule and promote it. The advertisement described the class as an “opportunity for children to learn Reiki as a life-enhancing skill. The course is designed to be fun and interactive, and includes the Reiki 1 attunement, which provides the ability to channel Reiki energy for their benefit as well as others.”(3) The promotion also described the class content, which included but was not limited to: the chakra system, the human energy field, self-care and healing, guided meditations, and creative activities. Ample time was included for practicing on each other and, of course, having fun with their newfound abilities.
Although I was optimistic that the class would be filled, I was unprepared for the overwhelmingly positive response. Enrollment was full within days, and a few students were placed on a waiting list for future classes. Because I prefer the intimate group energy of a smaller class and its ability to promote open discussion and sharing, I decided to limit the enrollment to six students, ranging in age from 6 to 12. The class was a resounding success and remains one of my fondest memories of teaching Reiki. The children were refreshingly open, enthusiastic, and relaxed. They demonstrated a natural ability for working with the energy and effortlessly accepted its presence as a natural part of life. Best of all, they were remarkably receptive (and fearless) channels for the loving energy of Reiki, and – they had fun! When the class ended; one little boy exclaimed, “We want to stay! Can we do more?” Another asked, “When can we come back?” Clearly, Reiki had helped me to achieve the “fun” goal, and I was deeply grateful for the opportunity to introduce children to this miraculous gift.
Since that memorable day, there have been additional children’s classes, and each one carries joyous energy, filled with excitement, enthusiasm, and profound appreciation for the blessing of Reiki. I have learned so much from these children; they have reminded me of Reiki’s beautiful simplicity, and of the joy that is found in everyday life if we remember to view it through the eyes of a child. I hope this article may encourage other Reiki teachers to consider adding children’s classes to their repertoire. In my experience, teaching Reiki to children has been one of Reiki’s greatest gifts, and a wonderful legacy for the future.
* In the next segment of this article, Kathleen describes the specifics of a children’s Reiki class, including the attunement process, the activities, and how it differs from an adult Reiki class.
1. https://www.naturopathicme.com/benefits-reiki-children/
2. http://www.reikikids.ca/
3. https://universoulheart.net/reiki-rocks-a-childrens-program
© 2018 Kathleen Johnson
Article by Kathleen Johnson
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Kathleen Johnson is a Holy Fire III Reiki Master, Usui Reiki Master, Kundalini Reiki Master, and a Certified Crystal Healer. She is also a Past-Life Soul Regression Therapist, and an Angelic Soul Activation Practitioner. As a Spiritual Teacher and Mentor, she assists others in discovering their unique path to wellness, wholeness, and authenticity.
Kathleen is the Founder of UniverSoul Heart, LLC, a holistic healing and wellness practice based in Pennsylvania, USA. Her education includes a B.A. in Psychology and an M.A. in Criminology, as well as extensive postgraduate studies in Mental Health Counseling and Transpersonal Psychology. Although she taught Reiki for several years, this changed in 2020 when Reiki’s guidance redirected her focus to working with individuals during this pivotal time in humanity’s history.
Kathleen is committed to raising awareness of the benefits of Reiki and holistic wellness. To that end, she has been a co-host as well as a presenter and sponsor for the Reiki Rays Annual Summit since 2017. She has also been a featured guest in numerous radio interviews and also hosted “UniverSoul Heart Radio with Kathleen Johnson- Sensible Spirituality for Everyday Living” on Transformation Talk Radio. Most recently, she co-hosted Seasons 1-3 on the “Beyond the Reiki Gateway” podcast, and in January 2025 was interviewed by MysticMag, in which she shares healing insights and revelations during her transformative journey as founder of UniverSoul Heart. In February 2025, she was a guest on “The Way 126” podcast to discuss Reiki and its benefits.
In her personal life, Kathleen is a passionate advocate for animals and Mother Earth, and as such, committed to a compassionate plant-based lifestyle. In 2021, she became certified as a Plant-Based Nutritionist through Cornell University’s Nutrition Studies Program. She is the mother of 4 grown sons and grandmother to two beautiful babies, who each clutch a substantial piece of her heart in their precious little hands.
Kathleen’s articles about Reiki and Spirituality have been published on Reiki Rays, Reiki News Magazine, and Medium.com. Her eBook “Let Reiki Guide the Way” is available on her website.
Kathleen can be contacted at kjohnson@universoulheart.net.
I am torn on this concept.. I knew someone who was attuned at a young age, and without contact with her reiki master over the following years, she became hurt and overwhelmed with what she felt from others. She took on a lot of others emotions and heavy energies and ended up with issues of her own as a result.
How do you teach the children to protect themselves from things like this?