Navigating Children Having Experiences with Spirits in the Home

Children are open. They see everything when it comes to Spirit.

Yes, sometimes kids are simply talking to imaginary friends during play. But many times, they’re actually interacting with energies in Spirit. As children, we begin to suppress our natural ability to sense Spirit—especially when we express these experiences and are told it’s “not real,” that we’re “just imagining things,” or when we’re met with fear or discomfort from adults. We start to feel like we’re doing something wrong.

Then, as adults, many of us find ourselves on the path of remembering. Reawakening. Relearning how to strip back the doubt, the fear, and the negative connotations that were layered over those early, innocent connections.

When I worked as an employee at a metaphysical store, I often saw parents come in, armed with sage, incense, crystals, and oils—anything with protective or banishing qualities. They’d head straight for the spiritual tools section or approach me or other staff members for guidance.

They’d usually share something like:

“My child is talking about a man in the corner,”

“They’re hearing whispers,”

—or—

“They were talking to someone who wasn’t there, and it was spooky.”

This was especially common with very young children—around three years old and up—who had just developed the verbal skills to clearly communicate with their parents.

My first question was always:

“Is your child scared?”

If they were, I’d follow up with:

“Were they scared before you brought it up, or did they become scared after seeing you react in fear?”

Because if there was no prior sign of distress and no consistent spirit activity in the house, it was very possible the child picked up on your fear. This isn’t about blame—it’s a completely understandable response. Seeing your child interact with something unseen can be unnerving.

And while I don’t have children of my own, through years of experience I’ve noticed: when we react with fear or try to shut these experiences down, children not only start to distrust their own gifts—they start to feel wrong, unheard, and often lose confidence in themselves overall.

Instead, I always suggest:

Take your child’s lead.

If they’re not scared, and they seem happy or playful during these interactions, there’s no need to be concerned. Unless they’re telling you something negative or harmful is happening, their experience may just be a normal part of living in a spiritually active home.

Because here’s the truth: every home has spirits.

These might be ancestors, land spirits, spirit guides, or a host of other benevolent energies.

Now, I never want to disregard a parent’s fear. We all deserve to feel safe and comfortable in our homes. That’s why I recommend setting energetic boundaries to help maintain a high vibration. That way, only benevolent spirits can remain.

Some simple practices for spiritual hygiene include:

Cleansing the space with sage, incense, or herbal sprays made with essential oils like rosemary, lavender, or frankincense.

Using protective crystals like selenite, obsidian, or black tourmaline.

Regularly clearing your own energy as well as the energy of your children.

This doesn’t have to be elaborate. What’s more important is the intention: that your space is protected, your family is safe, and you’re open to communication with your child in a grounded, loving way.

This kind of approach also empowers the child. It teaches them that they’re not alone—that you’re a safe place to talk to—and that they can take action when they feel uncomfortable.

For example, I had a family member whose daughter—around five years old at the time—was upset by a man in spirit who stood quietly in the corner of her room. He wasn’t doing anything harmful, just standing and watching, which understandably made her feel uncomfortable.

There was no other spiritual activity in the house, but even benevolent spirits can sometimes overstay their welcome if no boundaries are set.

I sent them a piece of selenite—a beautiful, high-vibration cleansing stone—to keep by her bed. I also made a cleansing spray with witch hazel and child-safe essential oils. The scent was gentle, and she was given the spray to use anytime she felt uneasy. She could hold the crystal and say, “Please leave now,” and spray the room, especially the corner where she sensed him. This gave her control and confidence. After that, her experiences became much less frequent.

When It’s Something More

Now, things shift a bit when the communication becomes negative, or the child is experiencing ongoing distress that seems to be affecting their well-being.

At that point, we have to ask:

Is this spirit-related?

Or is it possible the child is reacting to emotional energy in the home—such as high stress, trauma, or tension?

Homes are like sponges. They hold energy. And if there’s a particular room or area where arguments, illness, or painful experiences have occurred, that energy can take on a presence of its own. Sometimes it feels sentient—not because there’s a spirit present, but because that emotional residue has built up over time.

This is why I recommend tending to emotional and energetic environments equally. Kids are deeply sensitive. They may not always be reacting to “spirits” in the traditional sense—they could be picking up on the mood of the household, or needing more emotional support and attention.

When to Call in Support

If it becomes clear that there’s ongoing negative spirit activity in the home, or your child is deeply distressed, it’s time to call in a professional.

Reach out to a practitioner who has experience with spiritual and ritual cleansing. This could be someone from any tradition or denomination—what matters most is that they have genuine experience with clearing negative energy. Just like any skilled trade, experience and integrity matter more than the specific method.

In summary:

• Trust your child’s experience.

• Don’t feed the fear if there’s no reason to.

• Create open, safe conversations.

• Support the energy of your home.

• And when needed—don’t hesitate to get help.

Children are naturally intuitive. When guided gently and supported with love, they can learn to navigate their spiritual experiences with confidence and clarity.