Until about the age of seven or eight, children live with one foot in this world and one in the world beyond — a sacred season we call the ages of openness. It’s the inspiration behind The Little Guru Guide: The Ages of Openness Parenting Guide, created to help you honor and protect this fleeting window when children are still deeply connected to their inner wisdom, imagination, and spiritual memory.
You may have felt it yourself — the way they speak of things they shouldn’t know, the way they stare into the space between, the way their play often seems like prayer.
It’s not your imagination.
Many cultures and spiritual traditions believe children are born remembering. They carry the imprint of where they came from — and for a short time, they remember.
They speak of stars and ancestors, of animals and dreams, of invisible friends and ancient feelings. They remind us of what we once knew, before the world asked us to forget.
A Thin Veil
Science may call it imagination, but the mystics have always called it memory.
Until the rational mind fully forms, children are wide open — emotionally, energetically, and spiritually. The veil between worlds is thinner for them.
Their questions are cosmic.
Their fears, often unspoken.
Their wisdom, uncanny.
They know how to pause and listen.
How to wonder out loud.
How to connect with life in its rawest and most radiant forms.
They don’t need to be taught reverence.
They are reverence.
This tender, luminous period is what we at Little Guru & Co. call the ages of openness. It’s also the inspiration for The Little Guru Guide: The Ages of Openness Parenting Guide — a resource for families who want to honor and protect this window before it fades.
What We Can Learn From Children in the Ages of Openness
At Little Guru & Co., we believe in honoring this sacred time — this short but powerful window when our little ones are still whispering with the stars.
Our role isn’t to mold them, but to witness them. To learn from them. To protect that openness for as long as it lasts.
And perhaps — just perhaps — to remember our own early knowing.
In our parenting guide, we speak of simple practices that help preserve this openness:
Slow down.
Children do not bloom faster when rushed. Protecting white space in their days allows imagination to thrive.
Creating sacred rhythms.
Morning rituals, bedtime stories, even family meals can become anchors of presence.
Nurturing wonder.
Instead of always offering answers, reflect questions back. Wonder together.
Guarding the environment.
Both energetically and physically. Limit overstimulation, choose non-toxic clothing and toys, and surround them with beauty whenever possible. A nurturing environment doesn’t just shape daily rhythms — it builds lasting security. Research shows that strong early attachment, supported by consistent care and safe surroundings, fosters resilience and emotional wellbeing throughout life (NSPCC – Attachment in the Early Years).
Reflecting reverence.
When we treat the natural world with awe, our children learn to do the same.
Science Meets Spirit
Modern neuroscience confirms what spiritual traditions have always intuited: before age seven or eight, the brain functions in slower theta and alpha waves — the same states we enter during meditation or dreaming. This makes children extraordinarily receptive. They absorb not just information, but also energy, tone, and environment.
Research on childhood brainwaves supports this, showing that these theta and alpha states shape how children perceive, learn, and remain open to the unseen (Medium – Understanding Brainwaves in Children).
To call it simply “imagination” is to miss its depth. These states are where memory and creativity intertwine, where intuition is strong, and where the sense of the sacred comes naturally.
Our Ages of Openness Parenting Guide draws from both science and soul — giving you age-by-age insights, printable affirmations, and reflective prompts to help you nurture your child’s natural wisdom while also grounding them in safety and belonging.
🧬 The Science of Imagination: Why Play Shapes the Mind
Imagination isn’t just whimsical — it’s foundational to how children learn and grow. Studies show that imaginative play strengthens problem-solving, creativity, and social-emotional skills, helping children build a lifelong capacity for resilience and innovation (American Psychological Association)
Why This Window Matters
The ages of openness pass quickly. By the time children approach eight or nine, cultural conditioning grows stronger. The rational mind sharpens, and the veil between seen and unseen begins to thicken.
But the way we show up now — with presence, patience, and reverence — helps ensure that their early knowing doesn’t fully fade. Instead, it can become a foundation they carry with them for life.
Imagine your child entering the wider world with a strong sense of self, a deep trust in their inner voice, and a lasting memory of being honored for who they are. This is the gift of honoring the ages of openness.
An Invitation
At Little Guru & Co., we see childhood not as something to “get through” but as a sacred chapter that shapes everything that follows.
The Little Guru Guide: The Age of Openness Parenting Guide
If you feel called to protect this sacred window and nurture your child’s light, The Little Guru Guide: The Ages of Openness is here for you. Inside, you’ll find:
✧ Poetic reflections to help you see your child with fresh eyes
✧ Research-backed insights into developmental stages
✧ Printable affirmation cards for daily connection
✧ Journaling prompts and keepsake activities to capture memories
Free download • No purchase required
Parenting is not about perfection. It is about presence. And it is about remembering, alongside your child, what it means to live with wonder.
🌙 Explore The Ages of Openness Parenting Guide today — and step into this sacred season with reverence.
🌿 Continue the Journey
If The Open Window reminded you of the tender beauty in your child’s early years, you may also love our reflection on Guardians of Wonder: Preserving the Innocence of Childhood
It’s an invitation to protect childhood wonder — not by sheltering children from life, but by honoring their natural rhythm of discovery and play.
