| The term, 'Indigo children' refers to a popular | | | | is not the result of sociological shifts in the ways |
| belief within the New Age community that most | | | | kids are raised, or television, or the foods they |
| of the children being born today are part of a | | | | are eating (or not eating), or any number of other |
| new stage in human evolution, and that they | | | | factors that are different from when their |
| posses certain specific traits designed to help | | | | parents (like me) were born? |
| them deal with the challenges humanity will face in | | | | On the supporter side, the Indigo Children theory |
| coming generations. Proponents of this theory | | | | is primarily put forth by intuitives, astrologers, and |
| believe that many of the children diagnosed with | | | | others working in the area of consciousness and |
| ADD and ADHD are actually part of this new | | | | energy healing. However, many experienced |
| generation, and that their education and care | | | | childcare workers, social workers, and teachers |
| needs to be handled in a certain way so that they | | | | say they also recognize these trends, and have |
| can manifest their gifts to their highest potential. | | | | come to believe in the Indigo Child theory to |
| According to Lee Carroll and Jan Tober, editors of | | | | some extent, even those that do not subscribe |
| the first major book on the subject, the following | | | | to other New Age beliefs. Part of the complication |
| is a list of common traits of Indigo children: | | | | of sorting through this subject is that so many |
| - They come into the world with a feeling of | | | | people have latched on to it to support there own |
| royalty (and often act like it) | | | | individual agendas. Problems arise from the fact |
| - They have a feeling of "deserving to be here," | | | | that lists like the one above are 'scrubbed' of any |
| and are surprised when others don't share that. | | | | reference to the children's energies and intuitive |
| - Self-worth is not a big issue. They often tell the | | | | abilities, because the authors are trying to reach a |
| parents "who they are." | | | | broader audience outside the New Age |
| - They have difficulty with absolute authority | | | | community, particularly the parents of ADD and |
| (authority without explanation or choice). | | | | ADHD children, in order to offer them alternative |
| - They simply will not do certain things; for | | | | options (besides Ritalin, that is.) That is a worthy |
| example, waiting in line is difficult for them. | | | | goal, but without some of the psycho-spiritual |
| - They get frustrated with systems that are | | | | descriptions of what defines an Indigo child, there |
| ritually oriented and don't require creative thought. | | | | often doesn't seem to be enough details to |
| - They often see better ways of doing things, | | | | assess the trends claimed. |
| both at home and in school, which makes them | | | | These details do emerge in the more |
| seem like "system busters" (nonconforming to | | | | energy-oriented descriptions of Indigo children. The |
| any system). | | | | term 'Indigo' came from an intuitive who |
| - They seem antisocial unless they are with their | | | | attempted to classify human energy systems |
| own kind. If there are no others of like | | | | according to the colors of their auras in the 1980s. |
| consciousness around them, they often turn | | | | She observed that many of the children being |
| inward, feeling like no other human understands | | | | born at that time had a kind of energy pattern |
| them. School is often extremely difficult for them | | | | that she had not seen before. Over time, she |
| socially. | | | | (and other intuitives) saw more and more of |
| - They will not respond to "guilt" discipline ("Wait till | | | | these children being born, until it hit the current |
| your father gets home and finds out what you | | | | levels, where most children born are believed to |
| did"). | | | | be Indigos. Many claim this generation has a |
| - They are not shy in letting you know what they | | | | warrior-like spirit that is unique. As intuitive Doreen |
| need. | | | | Virtue puts it in her book The Care and Feeding |
| First the skeptical view. As many have noted, this | | | | of Indigo Children, "It's almost like they are in boot |
| list is general enough to apply to almost any child, | | | | camp being prepared for combat." |
| at least some of the time, so doesn't really seem | | | | While many people are uncomfortable with certain |
| to indicate a new stage in evolution. And additional | | | | aspects of this theory, and especially with the |
| questions arise from the fact that many | | | | expectations being placed on these children, it is |
| proponents of the theory think at least 90% of | | | | gaining greater credence in the mainstream |
| children born in recent years are Indigo children. If | | | | because of the solutions put forth by its |
| that is the case, what are they being compared | | | | proponents - that our schools need to be |
| to? When are they not around their 'own kind'? | | | | overhauled to deal with today's children, that |
| And, even allowing that this generation exhibits | | | | drugging our kids is NOT an answer, and that |
| some specific traits, where is the proof that this | | | | today's children need to be properly prepared for |
| is part of a new incarnational cycle? Who says it | | | | the world, and problems, they are going to inherit. |