Our children’s reading list, when should we censor? When should we NOT censor our children’s reading list? As an educator, an avid reader, and a mommy to two kiddos, Anna Krafve Pierce offered some terrific insight.
Anna challenged me to think deeper about how parents decide what their kids get to read or watch.
Anna and I agree often. But not always. My mom used to say, “We taught our kids to think for themselves and were surprised when they didn’t agree with us.”
Scandalous to Christians
Personally, I wanted the big books influencing our culture on my children’s reading list. Hold the big books, read them, and examine them for yourselves. That was my message to my kids.
For instance, reading about Charles Darwin or Rachel Carson didn’t cut it. Instead, we read those books together, often out loud. Naturally, the journalist in me likes first source material. (For First Liberty’s Lathan Watt’s Book List for liberty-loving kids,click here.)
I never worried about ideas polluting their brains and hearts. For example, my children read Robert Louis Stevenson and they didn’t become pirates.
We were highly entertained by Harry Potter even when many of my Christian friends were scandalized by Rowlings’ series. I confess, though, we never read anything with villains more evil than Voldemort because, well, I’m a chicken about anything scary or evil. In Anna’s childhood, censorship happened because I’m a wimp.
Trust Your Parental Gut
When I put Anna on the spot to find out if she agreed with me about censorship, lo and behold, she did not. What Mom asks her daughter spontaneously on air if she agrees with her parenting! (To receive our free weekly interviews about companionship and authentic conversation, click here.)
“It’s tricky,” she responded. (Don’t ya love how she gave me a gentle clue she was about to offer me correction! For more on starting tough conversations, click here.)
“I censored my kids’ books for the first time recently,” she explained. “I would not want to expose my kids to something on purpose that would tempt them.” She read a ton herself. But she says stories from adults who are open about their life struggles causes her to be alert with her own kids.
Our Children’s Reading List: Censor With Understanding
Parents need to trust their gut when it feels like a book might be wrong for their child, according to Anna. Each child has different frailties and tolerances.
“Each child’s heart is different. If you notice your child worrying about a story, it’s time to rethink the book’s message.” For instance, with toddlers Anna suggests paying close attention to stories about ghosts or fairies. She shared a recent example with her own child.
“It wasn’t a pretend story that made our lives sillier, or happier, or funnier, or a little spookier (in a fun way). The book started to become a bit of an obsession,” she says. “And it was just one page in the book. It didn’t seem healthy to me. That book kind of disappeared.”
Teaching Discernment in Older Kids
Some children easily forget a dramatic moment in a book, while others may obsess with fear or concern. Two children in the same family can have different needs and interests, according to Anna. Being specific about what is healthy for each of your own children makes sense to me.
When is it time to censor? I love Anna’s perspective about teaching discernment.
“If my child was older, I wouldn’t make the book disappear. I would look at him and say, ‘Okay, why does this book make mommy uncomfortable for you? Why does it make me uncomfortable for your sister?’” She is confident about kids’ ability to think through their decisions, especially with good coaching from mom or dad.
Prudish or Prudent?
Each family knows their own kiddos the best. It’s presumptuous to assume we can judge what other people’s kids need to read. As grandparents we sure don’t want to be prudish. Each family can make prudent decisions for themselves. Prudish? Prudent? You know you’re a reader when you use words like prudish and prudent.
Coming Soon: Beauty Beyond Bones
I confess, Beauty Beyond Bones’ Caralyn used the word, prudent, when I interviewed her. I’ve been obsessing about the word ever since. If you’ve missed her amazing blog BeautyBeyondBones, you’re in for a treat. Caralyn began her blog to document her battle with the eating disorder, anorexia.
Chain-breaker? Freedom fighter? You are going to love this champion as much as I do. Watch for her wonderful, victorious wisdom right here soon. I can’t wait to share Caralyn insight with you, dear reader. Don’t you just love the way reading brings us together!
Book Cover Preview! Yay! Double Yay!
for this beautiful design!
Next, we want to send a big shout out to the amazing Derinda Babcock. Thank you, Derinda, for creating a beautiful cover for our first Camp Krafve book.
In The Well, The Art of Drawing Out Authentic Conversations we share over 40 principles Jesus exemplified in his community-changing conversation with a lone woman. The book comes out in March. I can hardly wait!
To see my very own author page on Elk Lake’s author list, click here. There, I mention Janet McHenry, Martha Hook, John Trent and Josh McDowell, to name a few of the influential authors in my life.
Thank you, Derinda, for all your hard work and creativity! To find the books this accomplished artist and author has written herself, click here. For more from Elk Lake Publishing, click here.
The Adventure of Reading
Every book is a world of adventure. Sparking your child’s imagination to love books is a treat you don’t want to miss. (To sign up for our weekly blogs chalk full of creative ideas, click here.)
Does your child resist reading for fun? Is reading a chore? For more about people we love who learned read for fun late in life, click on our conversation embedded above. (To find all our podcasts, click here.)
Reading is an excellent way to travel the globe and imagine a better world, especially when reading with kiddos we love.
May we pray together!
Father, you granted us an amazing capacity to communicate. Books give us one way to share ideas. When we pray, we converse with you. Because you love companionship with us, you designed us for community. You surround us with talented and faithful people. You know our frailties and love us unconditionally with joy. All this happens because of your divine and sacrificial love. We praise you. Help us know the best, brightest ideas to pass on to the next generation. Bless us now because that is your heart’s desire. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
We LOVE to hear from you!
Do you let your kids read the books typically censored by other Christians? Do you let them read the dumbed down, funny stuff that passes as children’s literature? (Is that a loaded question or what? Feel free to disagree with me. My kids do it all the time!) What about abridged versions of the classics, how do you share the classics with your kids and grands?
Cathy Krafve, Columnist, Speaker, Blogger, Podcaster, and Christian Writer, invites your stories, ideas, and questions at CathyKrafve.com. Truth with a Texas Twang.
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