How much do you censor your child's reading? For the most part, I allow my son to choose and read whatever books he wants.
I would like to introduce you to three of my 6 year old's favorite book series:
(Note: Book covers and titles are affiliate links)
Stink --the main character is given this charming nickname by his older sister, Judy Moody, (she has her own series, "for girls", if you can stomach such gender distinctions), Stink loves to use lots of super silly-willy words.
George Brown, Class Clown -- George periodically lets out an uncontrollably enormous burp which magically causes him to act incredibly silly... until another burp comes along.
Captain Underpants -- a school Principal's alter ego is that of a superhero who prances around in his tidy whiteys.
Do you sense a theme?
I understand there are parents out there who really try to edit what their children read based on whether or not the content is "appropriate." (A word which means different things to different people.) In general, I'm not one of those parents. Part of this is due to my laziness. My older son is a voracious reader, am I supposed to pre-read every single book first? But mostly, my attitude stems from the fact that I want my kids to enjoy and read books that interest them. And if that means books that heavily feature burps and underpants, so be it. Plus, I just love hearing Kiddo giggle uncontrollably while he is reading.
I think there is overwhelming evidence to support the fact that my stance on this issue has been successful in helping me raise a child who loves to read.
Now, of course, I don't think Kiddo should be reading, at the age of 6, To Kill a Mockingbird, or Night. Although both are terrific books, they're just not age appropriate (there's that word again!). But I think you'll agree that burping and underpants are a far cry from racism and the Holocaust.
When I was a kid I read everything, (seriously, I had no social life, all I did was read) and probably a lot of books my parents would not have thought "appropriate." So, I just don't think it will damage kids to read books in which not everyone is couth and properly dressed. You wouldn't believe some of the garbage I read -- including all the Sweet Valley High books, which I read in the corner of the library because I was too embarrassed to check them out. Boy, did I love those books. But seriously: gar-baaahhhge. However, somehow I managed to grow up, earn a PhD, have progressive ideas about gender roles and know that it is not a good idea to burp at the dinner table.
Right now he loves burping and underwear, but I'm confident he'll read War and Peace one day, too. Well.... at least Tom Jones.
This is a potentially huge topic and it's obvious I have not covered all the points or gone into depth, but I'm curious: do you, or do you plan to control your child's reading?
UPDATE: I should comment that I don't choose these types of books as read alouds. When choosing chapter books to read aloud to the kids, I pick out books that I will enjoy, too.
(Note: Book covers and titles are affiliate links)
bioluminescence says
I have a girl, and I still read whatever she wants. Of course, some books tend to stay accessible to her but out of sight until they are due back to the library, as a concession to my own sanity.
Most American men don't read for pleasure. I used to tell moms of boys all the time when I worked in a bookstore--If you want your son to grow up to be a man who thinks reading is fun, you need to let your little boy read books that he thinks are fun.
I personally hate gross out humor but love gross history books. We love the picture book The Flight of the Dodo, which features target pooping.
MaryAnne says
Okay, somehow my reader stopped getting your posts on this blog. Weird.
I am completely with you on reading books in the corner of the library in middle/high school because I was too embarrassed to check them out! And no, I don't intend to control my child's reading. If they want to read something, they will, and I'd prefer that they not feel they have to hide it from me!
Steph says
Love this post! When I was a teacher I noticed it was hard for boys to find books they truely enjoyed reading and really, isn't that the point? So Captain Underpants was a mainstay in my classroom. I appreciate anything that encourages reading.
I don't plan on censoring when it comes to my kids. I plan on using common sense. I'm currently reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone to PBug (who's five) and there's no other way to describe it: she's hooked. But I plan on taking it slowly through the series because there are some pretty adult themes later on. There will come a point when she will choose what she reads and I won't disallow any books. What I will do is raise her with common sense and good critical thinking skills so that questionable material won't have a negetive influence on her values.
Sherry says
Great post! I am very selective about what I will read to Gerrick and try to personally only expose him to the highest quality literature, but I have always told myself I won't censor what he wants to read to himself (to a degree! He won't have my permission to read Harry Crews at 10!) He's been eyeballing those Goosebumps books for years now. He knows that I won't read them, but that he's welcome to read them himself whenever he wants to try.
Brimful Curiosities says
That's the same reason my mom always bought my brother Popular Science magazines and the World Record Books. She was just happy he was interested in reading something. I also think that books like Captain Underpants helps boys bond and give them something "cool" to discuss with their friends.
I also read the Sweet Valley High series and in grade school all the Babysitter Club books. Yes, garbage! But, I think it is important to encourage reading for enjoyment, and I don't plan to micromanage my childrens' reading.
thelittlefluffycat says
Reading is the big thing, here. Lots of times we've read series together, but lots of times we didn't.
Don't forget to show them Artemis Fowl (tween criminal mastermind in a world filled with dwarves and elves) and Gary Paulsen's books!
Raising a Happy Child says
Interesting topic. I don't plan to control my daughter's reading, but I am a bit concerned that she is already exposed to too much, so to speak. She is very sensitive to inappropriate behavior (OK, to the behavior that is deemed inappropriate in our family, such as lying, taking things without permission, using bad language, bullying or sneaking behind parents' backs), and she is confused when this same behavior is presented as "cool" in some of the books she came across. I do believe, however, that values are formed at home and not just by indiscriminate reading, so I am not concerned that she will follow bad role models from the books.
Thanks for joining WMCIR!
Ellen says
in theory i agree w you but the junie b jones books give me almost physical pain. and michael is the one actually reading them aloud, i'm just in the same room occasionally tuning in by accident and then regretting it. why do they have to exist? why?!?!?
that being said, i let him take out one from the library this week only objecting under the excuse of that he already has a jbj book out from the library, but then giving in like the sucka i am.
learning ALL the time!!/Susan says
I agree...great post!...and an interesting topic.
For the most part, I do not censor what my girls read, and they read A LOT! I will tell them if I believe that something might be too scary or that they might not be ready for the topic area yet. They read a lot of chapter books that are pretty easy read series, but they also read more "high quality" books. Plus I read aloud to them and we do audio books in the car. I try to take a well-rounded approach to reading...I feel that their loving to read and reading for pleasure is so important!
Fun Mama - Deanna says
I plan to pay attention to what my daughter reads. I don't think that pre-pubescent children should read sexually explicit material, and I think themes that require maturity to understand should be read when the child is older. For example, I LOVE Harry Potter, but won't read it to her until she is much older (she's 4). It was pretty frustrating when I had YA reading groups when I was at the bookstore and we would discuss Harry Potter, and parents would get mad at me because their 4 year old child couldn't follow what I was saying. Not my fault.
Fanny Harville says
I agree with you that kids should be encouraged to read what they like. I remember feeling some shame when my mom called the Judy Blume and Babysitters Club books I liked "drivel." With older kids, it can be a great moment for a conversation about literary values, about why some things are considered "quality" lit by some people and others aren't.
And yet... I've been resisting giving my 6-yr-old son Capt. Underpants. I should probably get over it. I am wary of books (aimed at boys OR girls) that construct hyper-conventional gender roles (like Fancy Nancy for girls).
Bona Fide Mama says
I will read whatever to whomever at my house... but I must admit that after the first Captain Underpants book I was not very enthusiastic to pick up another. I don't mind potty humor and twaddle but all of the books are the same. They are run together in my mind.
Have you tried the Wimpy Kid series? They are FABULOUS!
Melissa Taylor says
I try not too - Although I can't stand certain books (like Junie B. Jones) I think those kind of annoying books still count as reading and that's good.
However, I have made my daughter wait on books that are too mature or make her scared and give her bad dreams. I think these books are opportunities to talk about making good choices with our minds and what we put in them!
On this post I do tell parents a few books I don't recommend and got a few good arguments against my opinion. 🙂
http://imaginationsoup.net/2011/03/what-to-buy-in-aprils-scholastic-book-orders/
Tracey M. says
I saw the Underpants series in our library! I made a note of it for when J gets older. He's just learning about underpants in potty training 😉
I too love to hear J giggling while I'm reading and I just blogged about "I Love You, Stinky Face" which we laughed all the way through (reading it several times in a row). Fun!
Anna@The Measured Mom says
Ah... Sweet Valley High. Yes, I believe I read every single one too. Garbage is right! Not sure how I feel about letting my kids read Captain Underpants books. My daughter hasn't show an interest :), but she has three younger brothers... I guess I'll weigh in on this in a year or two! One thing I don't do is let my kids check out all the TV-based fiction at the library. You know, like the Rugrat and, Scooby Doo books. Because I just can't stand reading crummy books over and over again. I will read them at the library, though.
Erica MomandKiddo says
I totally agree with you about that TV based fiction! Arg! The thing about books like Cpt. Underpants, is that while they may not be everything we wish them to be, they aren't going to change our children's characters. My son didn't turn out like the boys in CU, just like you and I didn't turn out like the girls in SVH. 🙂
Anya says
Interesting topic! My son doesn't really care for these books, he picked them up and put them right back, but then again he's "Dragons and Wizards" kind of guy. I do read reviews before buying books for kids- mostly to find titles that would interest them the most , and generally keep more "mature" content out of reach (they are only 8 and 5 after all). I won't offer "burp and poop" books to kids myself , but if they pick it up, I won't pry it out of their hands either.
Erica MomandKiddo says
That's how I feel, too. I won't pick it out for him, but if he choses it, he can read it. I find he's not even interested in reading content that I would consider too mature. He's his own best censor!
SilentPocketWatch says
I must disagree. While I am not religious myself, the following phrase holds an element of truth; "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." If he or she is raised with good taste, and knows well what it is and what it is not, he or she will not depart it.
SilentPocketWatch says
Excuse me; depart from it.
Erica MomandKiddo says
Thank you for you comment! I agree, parents should do what works for them.
Michelle says
I so agree with you in letting them choose their own books (within reason . . . no Stephen King for a 5 year old!); it's the process of choosing that matters. While I was in graduate school studying English Literature, one of our party games was to compare notes on our "inappropriate" reading as children. (Not surprisingly, we had all been voracious readers.) Mine included all of the Agatha Christie murder mystery novels when I was about 9 and Roots at 12. I pulled those books and many others off my parents' bookshelves without ever thinking to ask whether or not it was okay, just like many great writers read their way through their own parents' libraries. (I'm no great writer, but in this I feel a kinship with them). And speaking from my perspective as an adult, I am so grateful to my parents for always encouraging me to read pretty much whatever captured my attention. When I was a senior in high school I purchased Margaret Atwood's just-published The Handmaid's Tale because I had read a few reviews and it sounded interesting--my first independent purchase of serious, adult literature. Many years later, I took that time-worn book to a signing for Oryx and Crake and told Ms. Atwood the story of my book. She looked at me thoughtfully and asked, "What did your parents think about that?" and I was as proud then as I am now that I had no idea. It hadn't even crossed my mind to wonder. That freedom is a gift I hope to give my son as he starts this year and next to read on his own. Bring on the underpants!
Erica MomandKiddo says
Thank you for sharing your experience, Michelle. Happy reading to you and your son!
Angela Tuson says
I just loved this post, thank you. I always feel satisfied reading or hearing (same thing) people's ideas that exactly match my own. I'm a children's librarian, and I've found Captain Underpants an invaluable tool for 'bumping up' reading level: it combines pictures and text in a pre-graphic novel way (showing how speech can be bubbled etc), it makes people laugh (my mother and I thoroughly enjoyed The Perilous Plot name changes and spent a happy Xmas Holiday once changing politicians names in front of the news and sniggering), and it has a sophistication-step. I can explain that, I think. "Harold and George were usually responsible boys. Whenever anything happened, Harold and George were usually responsible!" Most of the children who attend the library where I work in South Africa are English Second Language users, and a joke like that - on those phrases involving the word 'usually' is a step that needs to be taken in order to make sense of the text. But they 'get it', and take that step, and are immediately ready for more complex texts. Thank you Dav Pilkey!
Erica MomandKiddo says
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Bridget Haig says
My son was 6 years old almost 7 when Harry Potter came out, he wanted to try a read it himself. He did and he's been reading ever since. I always tell parents as long as the book is age appropriate that's all that matters.
Erica MomandKiddo says
Exactly!