Joya loves crystals. She is drawn to their energies, their beauty, colour and form. We have many crystals at home and I personally love the raw ones but Joya really loves the tumbled stones, which I am totally okay with as they’re easy to hold and have no sharp edges or fragile parts. Tumbled stones are just perfect for kids and Joya already has her very own little collection of all kinds of soft tumbled rose quarts, agates and other crystals.
We recently went to the Museum fรผr Naturkunde in Berlin and they have an amazing collection of crystals and minerals. This is Germanyโs largest mineral collection and it contains approximately 200,000 specimens, representing 65 % of all known minerals! In the display collection, visitors can feast their eyes on 1,077 different mineral types!
I already collected crystals but it was after our visit to this amazing museum that Joya’s interest was really sparked! And now be both collect crystals!
We absolutely adored this part of the Museum fรผr Naturkunde in Berlin. There are also many other exhibitions like The World of Dinosaurs, Evolution in Action and Masterpieces of Taxidermy. If you’re ever visiting Berlin with kids: this is an amazing and fun place to check out!
The awesome museum shop also sells a few crystals! I bought a lovely piece of amethyst (our birthstone) and a beautiful piece of raw celestite! Joya, ofcourse, wanted some tumbled stones and picked out a few gorgeous clear crystals.
Back in Holland we went to Giethoorn, a very famous little village which is actually super close to our home! Thankfully, because there’s this amazing crystal-shop located there and we go “hunting” for crystals there a lot! At this place (De Oude Aarde) is a little museum and a huge shop but there’s also the possibility to crack your very own geode!
First you pick out a geode (a rounded rock formation with crystals inside) and with a little help of an employee of the store you can crack it open into two neat halves using this huge device, you can see it on one of the pictures below.
You never know what’s inside the geode, it’s always a fun surprise to open then up and they make the best souvenirs, so if you’re ever around Giethoorn then this is a real fun place to visit!
These geodes look just like ordinary rocks but inside of them lies a hidden beauty, created by nature millions of years ago! A geode is a hollow rock with a cavity containing crystals growing inward, formed around a gas bubble in lava flow. The most common geodes contain white quartz or calcite crystals.
This is the one Joya picked out. Time to crack it open!
Cracking a geode isn’t easy! So people from the store will help you with it!
And there it is… A perfectly cracked geode! With a lot of magic inside!
We really had a blast cracking our geodes! It’s all about the element of surprise and the hidden beauty of nature that makes geodes so fascinating!
Joya, sitting on a very large piece of rose quartz, wearing a little jumpsuit from Bang Bang Copenhagen, and sneakers by Zara.
Amethyst is the stone for February, and we all happen to be born in this month. Joya on the 19th, I myself on the 27th and Joya’s brother Jayden is born on the 28th of February. This makes us 3 pisces and we share the same birthstone: the gorgeous purple amethyst.
Jayden has a few pieces of amethyst in his bedroom, on his desk and near his bed. And Joya and I have amethyst necklaces, among other things. We both have the same very delicate gold filled chain necklace (see below) with a tiny piece of amethyst, it’s a simple, yet gorgeous necklace by S For Sparkle and made with natural amethyst!
A birthstone makes the perfect gift! I bought a pair of vintage peridot earrings for my dear friend Aline, who’s birthday is in August. She loved them! If your ever searching for the best gift ever for someone you love: get her something with her birthstone! Success guaranteed! True story!
The gorgeous amethyst necklaces we both own, isn’t is pretty? Available with all birthstones, at Always Fits!
Want to know what your birthstone is?
Below are some good beginner crystals for kids; however, children are instinctively drawn to the perfect crystal just for them. Let them explore and choose the crystal that they think will be best for them. The world of crystals and gemstones is a wonderful way for kids to explore the raw beauty of nature and the processes and energies involved in creating such beauty in all shapes and colours.
Amethyst
Amethyst is a very popular crystal for kids because of its purple colour. It has a calming a peaceful energy, which is ideally suited for kids. Amethyst is known as the stone of spirituality and contentment; it bestows stability, strength and inner peace. Amethyst provides clarity and enhances intuition and understanding. Amethyst assists in calming the mind, reducing stress and allows restful sleep. A suitable crystal to place in a pouch under kids pillows at night.
Agate
Agate occurs naturally in many colours but is also often dyed brilliant bright colours which kids are attracted to. Agate is a stone of strength and courage, it is ideal for kids as it helps ground and stabilise emotions and physical energy. Agate helps with the acceptance of oneself and to see the truth. Its healing and cleansing qualities eliminate negative energy, soothing and calming the mind, body & spirit.
Clear Quartz
Clear Quartz is the most common crystal and is therefore a good choice as a first crystal for kids. Clear Quartz provides clarity in thinking and awareness. It is also a powerful healing stone for any condition. Clear Quartz awakens the mind and body, amplifying and transmitting energy. It connects to the higher self and removes negativity.
Rose QuartzRose Quartz is a beautiful pink crystal with a very gentle and loving energy. This gentle energy helps kids learn unconditional love, forgiveness, and compassion. It creates harmony in relationships and help kids to express their emotions. Rose Quartz brings a deep inner healing, enhancing self love, self trust, self worth and self confidence.
Green Aventurine
Green Aventurine helps kids promote a positive, easy going attitude towards life. It brings joy, happiness and emotional tranquillity and promotes health and well being. Aventurine promotes compassion and empathy, calming our anger. It stimulates our mind, creativity, motivation and independence. It protects us against electromagnetic energy and environmental pollution.
Carnelian Carnelian is from the family of Agates and it ranges in colour from orange to deep dark red. Carnelian allows kids to enhance their concentration and self belief. It’s warm and joyous energy attunes with the inner self helping to open the heart. It is excellent for stimulating creativity. Carnelian helps anchor you in the present reality, aiding concentration and allowing you to trust yourself and your perceptions.
Tiger Eye
Tiger Eye is brilliantly shiny crystal of brown and yellow, just like a Tiger’s Eye and kids love this. Tiger Eye can help kids with confidence, strength, courage, protection and good luck. It sharpens the senses, promotes intuition and helps one to be practical, centred and grounded. It enhances clarity, good judgement, clear perception and insight, aiding in good decision making.
These are Joya’s favourite crystals. Her amethyst necklace, a few slices of pink agate and her rose quartz tumbled stone which she always puts under her pillow before sleeping. She told me it helps her relax and dream the very best dreams. So cute and so true, I think.
