Welcome to the Chinese zodiac for kids and parents!
About the Dragon Child
This high-spirited and innovative dynamo was born to achieve great things, to lead by right and by might, and to push himself and his ideals to the limit of his boundless abilities and energies. Forceful, fearless, optimistic, and idealistic, this rather intense child is born with a sense of mission. As he matures, he will attach his devotion to those things and people who reflect the glory of his own passions and principles — among beloved parents, elders, teachers, even fictional heroes, he will identify idols deserving of his allegiance, emulation, respect, and obeisance.
Incandescent, independent, and resilient, the Dragon child will never fall prey to a foe — he stands his ground and has no qualms about protecting himself with his fists, if it comes to that. A sucker for a knight-in-shining-armor moment, the Dragon seeks out injustice and inequity to become the schoolyard vigilante about whom stories will be told for years. This child is born with a healthy sense of ambition and with a strong desire to be of use. Don’t hesitate to load him up with responsibility — he will rise to the occasion and relish the opportunity to be your indispensible agent. The Dragon’s need for appreciation and adulation is profound — praise for his many accomplishments, both small and large, helps to fuel his inner fire.
The Dragon constitutionally always gives a sincere, 100% effort, working hard to earn respect from parents, teachers, and friends. When he makes mistakes or miscalculations, he will be his own harshest critic — your reproach will never come as swiftly as his own self-chastisement and amends. It is important as his parent to know that life is mythic in proportion to this child — he wants nothing less than to be a hero, your hero in fact. And he’ll never let you down — all he asks in return is love, faith, and your pride for his worthy feats of honor and daring.
The Dragon life is fabled with big wins and dramatic losses — rarely anything in between. This kid lives by the “play big or go home” rule — his dreams and goals may seem inhuman to you, but they are very real and attainable to him. Don’t underestimate a Dragon — as the zodiacal guardian of wealth and power in Chinese mythology, the Dragon possesses an abundance of natural magnetism and “star” power. You’ll see this child’s name in lights one day — in whatever field of endeavor he chooses, he will always have a notable contribution to make in his own inestimable way.
Personality Traits
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Natural Gifts
The Dragon has an unimpeachable honesty (occasionally brutal honesty, true) — he is direct in his communication style and is incapable of falsifying emotions he doesn’t feel. His sentiments are authentic and come straight from the heart — there is no guile or manipulation in his words. This honesty extends to his deeply felt sense of duty and obligation. The Dragon does not easily waver from his aims and responsibilities, setting high standards for himself and others with whom he associates. His is a destiny of power and duty, and even as a child, the Dragon willingly and capably assumes responsibilities that would be entirely inappropriate for children of other signs. This child is capable of accomplishing extraordinary things in his life — today the schoolyard, tomorrow a far bigger stage.
Making Friends
Your Dragon child will never lack for an adoring entourage — he is just too dazzling and magnetic not to hold a posse in his sway. In his interactions with friends, he provides the motivation, the inspiration to take action, and the mesmeric leadership to produce more than sufficient momentum to complete the mission — friends will need to hop on the swiftly moving train or get out of the way. He’ll drive himself and his cohorts to the brink occasionally, but what a ride!
Best boon companions: The clever Monkey is the most alluring of partners-in-crime, and this duo will be unstoppable. The Rat brings a very complementary set of savvy skills to bear in a friendship with the pioneering, but utterly guileless, Dragon. Their chemistry more often than not leads to great things. The sagacious Snake, among all the potential playmates of the zodiac, can succeed in balancing out the Dragon’s excessive projective energy by virtue of his wise approach.
Let’s be honest, there is plenty of room in the Dragon fan club, but the Ox and the Dog are likeliest to ruffle the Dragon’s scales — Ox and Dragon, both natural leaders, will cross swords as each attempts to assert his authority; and the Dog will quickly tire of the Dragon’s usurpation of equality.
Parenting the Dragon Child
Help create a stepping stool from of a stumbling block: Help him contain and direct his abundant energies effectively, as his enthusiasms blaze like the sun and have the potential to burn him out. Watch for a tendency to unchecked fanaticism as his ideals begin to take shape in his teens.
Never say die! The Dragon does not accept defeat gracefully, but even he will be conquered from time to time, and must therefore learn when to admit that he’s trounced or blocked from his objective. When angry or frustrated, the Dragon can employ undesirable tactics to stay the course, including application of brute force and intimidation of others. Because they will exhaust all resources before admitting failure, Dragons can become their own worst enemy — help your Dragon child identify when he’s reached the point of diminishing returns. Sharing your advice and perspective might not work, but it is worth a shot, even if you only succeed in arousing his headstrong “Damn the torpedoes!” nature.
All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others: To outside observers, the Dragon acquits himself as if he is above/beyond the law, suggesting the rules he strains so hard to enforce somehow don’t apply to him. He can be tremendously difficult to oppose, and stand-offs in childhood could leave you breathless. He possesses a domineering personality, and as his parent you must watch for and curtail the Dragon’s tendency to bully or dominate less dynamic and assertive children. Intractable, even irrational, when angered, blessedly his anger fades as quickly as a late spring snowstorm.
Your divine child: Having a special mission is essential to the unfolding of the Dragon’s life myth — a cause to fight for, a Herculean task in his sights, an ultimate wrong to rectify. As the sense of this life purpose begins to emerge, help support it in any way you can. This necessity is at the core of his will and sense of self — to ignore or declaim it would be a tremendous mistake. From his pet projects to his colorful daydreams, and even in the execution of mundane household chores, his pursuits are sacred missions — never wound his pride by teasing him for the seriousness and sincerity with which he pursues any of them.
