How can children be helped to remember that Krishna protects everyone?

Answer Podcast

Hare Krishna.

So how can children remember and experience Krishna’s protection?

I would say that at different phases in life, we go through different kinds of situations that require different forms of protection.

For example, when a baby is small and crying, it’s not that the parents should simply think, “Krishna will protect”—the parents themselves have to protect. In such situations, Krishna often protects through his representatives, such as parents, caregivers, or elders.

Among all species, human children require the longest period of protection. In contrast, some animals, like fish, lay eggs and the young start fending for themselves soon after birth. In many bird species too, the parental care is minimal. But in human society, it’s arranged by nature that children need long-term, consistent protection. That’s one of the reasons for pair bonding—a stable family structure—to support the prolonged development and protection of the child. Unlike animals, humans marry and form families precisely to fulfill this need for extended responsibility.

So, in childhood, Krishna’s protection comes primarily through his representatives, especially the parents, and also through others such as teachers or spiritual guides.

Now, childhood is also the phase where our imagination is not yet restrained by reason, logic, or skepticism. For instance, in Christian traditions, children believe in Santa Claus. While Santa Claus may not be real, the exercise of imagination during childhood can be emotionally and even spiritually beneficial.

In our tradition too, we have the Panchatantra, the Hitopadesha, and many pastimes from scriptures like the Bhagavatam. If we hear Krishna’s pastimes during childhood, those extraordinary activities of Krishna can fuel our imagination. And that fuel can later become a strong foundation for faith as we grow.

Sometimes people who have watched too many horror movies in childhood grow up with deep-seated fears, because those impressions are etched in their imagination. Similarly, if a child hears the pastimes of Krishna or Rama and those become the building blocks of their inner world, that can positively shape their consciousness for life.

As we enter the teenage years, life often becomes turbulent. That’s why it’s so important to have built a supportive environment earlier. If our parents and community help us develop healthy friendships, those can serve as a huge protective force. In teenage years, we often seek belonging—we’re drawn to certain friend groups because they’re popular, or they make us feel accepted.

But not all friendships are good for us. If popularity and goodness align, that’s ideal—but often they don’t. So, if we can recognize which friends actually help us grow—even if they are not the most popular—and we choose to invest in those relationships, they can become another form of Krishna’s protection.

Sometimes, it’s not direct instruction but side-by-side association that helps most. Friends may not preach to us, but just by being around them, we feel supported in staying on the right path.

If we grow up in a devotee community, these spiritually nourishing friendships are easier to form, and we should make conscious efforts to maintain them.

Lastly, I’d say it’s extremely helpful if, during our formative years, we find a personal connection with Krishna—through a talent, interest, or service. For example:

• Someone might love acting in devotional dramas,
• Another might be drawn to singing bhajans,
• Another may enjoy helping in the temple or learning shlokas.

This personal connection becomes an anchor—a way we naturally remember Krishna and feel close to Him.

There is a concept called “secondhand faith.” For instance, if our parents practice bhakti and we follow simply because of them, our faith is secondhand—it’s been passed down to us. That’s not a bad thing; it’s a blessing to inherit a positive legacy. But eventually, secondhand faith must become firsthand. We must internalize and personalize what we’ve received.

In some religious traditions, children are baptized early, but later, as teenagers or adults, they make a conscious choice to commit to the faith. Similarly, in our tradition, initiation (diksha) is meant to formalize that personal commitment. Though initiation may happen later in life, the real shift happens when we start experiencing Krishna directly, through our own realizations, efforts, and experiences.

When that happens, faith becomes pratyakṣa-avagamam—directly realized. That becomes our deepest protection. Even if other external supports fade away, that internal connection will remain and carry us through.

Thank you very much. Hare Krishna.