Why Kids Need Mythology
An eclipse inspires creative genius, cultural empathy, and questions about being human
There were no clouds overhead, but the sky was turning a dark, saphire blue. The light was dimming. Darkness was descending around us as we sat on our front porch in midday.
We waited…
The kids noticed it first…
Instead of the normal bits of sunlight peeking through the leaves of the bushes and making a leaf pattern in the shadows on the walkway in front of our house, we saw hundreds of tiny crescent moon shapes dancing on the walkway…
Then we noticed the birds were growing quiet. There was a hush all around us…
Maybe Helios or Sol was angered…
Ancient civilizations and storytelling
What stories did ancient people tell to explain an eclipse?
We can easily imagine the fear or awe an eclipse might have inspired: the sky growing ominously dark, casting the world around into near-total darkness. Only a hint of the sun’s glow shooting out angrily from behind the moon as the world was plunged into darkness.
Ancient people might have imagined an angry god, threatening to take away light and cast earth into despair… if he (or she) wasn’t appeased with gifts or sacrifices.
A powerful person in that civilization might have seized the opportunity to claim they possessed supernatural powers to control nature and asserted they had a direct line to the gods if they foretold that the sun would return. They might become a hero, a magical being, perhaps god-like.
During the last solar eclipse in 2017, the kids and I pondered the origins of myth (my kids were still homeschooling) as we sat watching our world grow dim. We questioned if losing the sun temporarily felt to ancient peoples like losing the internet feels to us.
We spent the day discussing mythology.
The Power of Myth
Mythology played a central role in ancient civilizations. It was a means of entertainment but also a foundational element in culture, religion, ‘scientific’ theories, and governance.
The kids and I were so inspired by the eerie quality of the light during the eclipse, we challenged ourselves to come up with a rudimentary mythology of our own to explain it:
Would we focus on the awesomeness of nature and a god that needed to be appeased? Would we focus on powerful beings who wanted to control others or become heroes?
Or would we focus on a mythology that viewed the eclipse as a sign of nature out of balance or a warning sign from the gods that we needed to look inward to our own state of balance?
Maybe, like Norse myths, we could develop a mythology that included the afterlife and offered guidelines on how to live to achieve a place at Valhalla.
Many myths explain natural phenomena, especially those related to harsh climates and seasons. Often myths use tales of gods’ actions to explain nature.
Norse Mythology
Norse mythology emphasizes Ragnarök (the fate of the gods and the world) and integrates stories of the seasons and harsh weather with fate. There are tales of gods and giants and heroes representing values like bravery, loyalty, and honor in battle.
Greek Mythology
Maybe the kids and I would look to Greek mythology as inspiration for developing our mythology around the eclipse.
We could compare the descent of darkness to human traits, the origin of the world, and invent a message the gods were sending us.
We could use it to develop a set of moral lessons to teach wisdom or justice (or inflict control and power in the name of justice if we chose to develop villainous gods in our mythology).
We could create an origin myth complete with descriptions of the eclipse as a ‘scientific’ origin theory to tell for generations.
We could expand on our mythology with each new cosmic event and develop an entire cast of gods to explain the world so that next time an eclipse, earthquake or other inexplicable event happened, we would have a story that gave it context and quelled people’s fears (or enhanced them depending on which type of gods we developed in our mythology).
Hindu Mythology
We could also look to Hindu mythology which explains the cosmic order and provides a spiritual philosophy for people.
We could integrate a set of rituals, practices, and festivals into our rapidly developing ‘new’ mythology, recognizing that we are telling ourselves a story to help us understand and make sense of the universe and those very things we cannot understand.
As we talked, the sun grew brighter again.
The birds began chirping again. The crescent moon-shaped shadows dancing on the walkway returned to their normal leaf pattern.
The Sun God smiled on us again and we felt all was right with the world again.
But in the meantime, we’d started storytelling.
We were having too much fun to stop now. What started as musings on a darkened afternoon became a several-month project.
The Value of Mythology in Ancient Civilizations
Myths are more than stories.
They were an integral part of culture, religion, and governance in early civilizations.
They reinforced a set of core values and a shared identity for a community over many generations.
They were a source of pride when people celebrated their gods as heroes in victory over the elements or enemies or one’s lower self.
Myths often gave moral guidance. Hindu mythology in particular gives a detailed and highly developed explanation of the soul’s journey and includes religious ceremonies.
Educational and Moral Lessons
Myths frequently contained moral lessons, explaining the consequences of virtues and vices. They were used to teach ethical lessons and enforce social behaviors to both children and adults.
Many myths incorporated aspects of historical events, geography, and the environment. The retelling of myths to each generation was an educational tool to help people understand the world and the history of their people.
Psychological and Emotional Support
Myths provided explanations for natural events (like eclipses), life events, and existential questions. This helped people understand their world and their place in it, and helped calm their fear of the unknown.
Religious and Spiritual Purpose
Many myths, like Hindu mythology (which, in a deeper understanding, is also a philosophy, religion, and spiritual path), are deeply woven together with religion and explain the origins of gods, rituals, and the universe. They play a key role in religious ceremonies and practices to this day and reinforce spiritual beliefs.
Governance and Social Order
Myths often granted divine right or heroic lineage to leaders, legitimizing their rule and authority. Many societal norms were rooted in mythological stories, providing a divine justification for laws.
Creative Expression and Entertainment
Myths have always inspired artistic expression, from literature and theater to sculpture and painting. The retelling of them as stories, songs, and theater was also a form of entertainment.
Inter-Cultural Exchange and Influence
There is evidence of cultural exchange through myths that share elements (think Greek and Roman). The sharing of myths between neighboring or interconnected cultures is a symbol of the exchange of ideas and practices.
The Relevance of Myth Today
Mythology can act as a learning tool, teaching kids about human experiences that transcend culture and time.
It can provide insight into modern issues too. Through myth, kids learn how past civilizations handled challenges in nearly every aspect of life: environment, history, social order, community and identity, and religion.
Why Study Myth
Through our homeschool study of myths, our kids discussed the ways these stories impacted earlier civilizations.
Our kids read almost the entire set of Hindu mythology-based comic books about Ram and Krishna and other gods. They read Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series inspired by Greek mythology. We read books of Norse mythology aloud.
We compared myths to see the similarities and contrasts in mythologies from different cultures.
They theorized about how each type of myth filled the social, cultural, religious, entertainment, artistic, and emotional needs of that society.
Our study made the kids more aware of the deep-seated need humans have to ‘make sense of’ our world.
We drew parallels with the history of scientific thought and how scientific theories have evolved over centuries.
We discussed different forms of governance and control and noted the power myth has over the mindset of a society.
We questioned the power stories have to enhance emotional understanding and empathy.
It gave us a new perspective on the blurred lines between myth as a story, as history, as science, and how we use myth today in our modern lives.
Practical Value in Studying Myth
I was reminded of our adventures into myths again this week when I sat on the front steps to watch the eclipse.
I watched the dancing crescent moon shadows through the leaves again…
It brought back a flood of memories and the realization that our study of myth had a deep impact on my kids. It is part of conversations we have had over the years. And is still part of the conversations we have today.
The study of myth can lead to a deeper understanding of and interest in:
Creative writing and storytelling
Philosophy, religion, science, anthropology, theater
History of science
Systems of governance
Development of critical and creative thinking
Empathy and emotional understanding
How to Use Myths in Teaching Your Kids
Make myths accessible and relevant by creating or inventing a real-life scenario like the eclipse as a point of engagement.
Have kids create stories for how they would explain natural events. Develop a ‘cast of characters’, i.e., gods for your mythology.
Read kid-friendly myths while developing your own story so each plays off the other to get kids engaged.
Use arts, crafts, drama, and creative writing to enhance kids' engagement with myths.
Design a ‘family tree’ of the gods in your newly invented myth or draw pictures of them and describe their attributes.
Ask kids open-ended questions as you go along to inspire them to think about the different ways myths impacted early civilizations and why they were so vital.
Takeaways
Mythology is powerful. It gets to the core of something human.
As humans, we tell stories to ourselves to help us understand the world, ourselves, and our place in it. Learning about myths is a gateway for kids to make connections between past and present.
We use modern myths today…
Ask your kids if they think superheroes are the gods of our modern mythology.
If they are, what do they tell kids about our modern world? Heroes? Villains? Tackling the elements? What questions do they answer for kids today?
And what does helping your kid write their own myth give to them?
The stories we tell shape our world, our values, and how we relate to each other.
Studying mythology isn't just a school lesson—it gives kids (and all of us) insight into what it means to be human.
If you’re still reading, here are some reading suggestions for kids:
Norse Mythology
Ages 5-7:
Norse Myths: Tales of Odin, Thor, and Loki by Kevin Crossley-Holland
The D'Aulaires' Book of Norse Myths by Ingri d'Aulaire and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire
Ages 8-11:
Norse Mythology for Kids: Tales of Gods, Creatures, and Quests by Mathias Nordvig
Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series by Rick Riordan
Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman
Greek Mythology
Ages 5-7:
Greek Myths for Young Children by Heather Amery and Linda Edwards
The Orchard Book of Greek Myths by Geraldine McCaughrean
The D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths by Ingri d'Aulaire and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire
Ages 8-11:
Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan
Goddess Girls series by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams
The Heroes in Training series by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams
Hindu Mythology
Ages 5-7:
Amma, Tell Me About Hanuman! by Bhakti Mathur
Ganesha's Sweet Tooth by Sanjay Patel and Emily Haynes
Ages 8-11:
The Little Book of Hindu Deities: From the Goddess of Wealth to the Sacred Cow by Sanjay Patel
Arjuna: The Gentle Warrior by Shoba Narayan
Prince of Fire: The Story of Diwali by Jatinder Verma