It’s important for children to learn to take ownership of their own reading decisions. Early on in school, we focus on helping them select the books that are “just right” for them. We want the reading process to become independent, not just the reading of the text, but the ability to choose a book that they can understand and enjoy.
As they get older, it’s important to enlist them in the process of deciding which books they are comfortable reading, not just based on their ability to comprehend, but also based on the content of the book. When the Hunger Games was at the height of popularity, I sat down a group of my fourth grade students and asked them to share their thoughts on whether the series was appropriate for elementary school students.
Their observations were remarkably insightful and I think many of them are relevant to the current discussion about Harry Potter. I’ve kept their statements the same as in my original Hunger Games post, but I’ve altered some of my observation and analysis to correspond more with Harry Potter.
Kid Raised Issue 1: When kids watch or hear something that is not okay again and again, they might start to think it’s okay.
Adult’s Take: As I’ve read through the Harry Potter series I don’t have as many concerns about desensitization towards violence, because the books very much show how painful death affects those around them. But I do worry more about things like abuse being normalized, since Harry’s situation with the Dursley’s is usually handled with some humor, whereas the same incidents encountered in real life would clearly be abuse. I also worry about the continued requirement that children and teens remedy their own problems with limited or no assistance from adults. There’s also a continued theme that children cannot be believed about serious matters. Children should feel that they have some adults in their lives who they can turn to and who will believe them no matter what.
Kid’s Issue #2: Sometimes, I’m totally okay with the level of violence or scary stuff. But then something happens that’s more violent or scary and it’s not like I can just unread that.
Adult’s Take: This is definitely an issue with the Harry Potter series. Children who have read Books 1-3 think that they are fine with the story, but it takes several more turns towards darkness and the violence and scariness factor increases markedly at the end of Book 4.
Kid’s Issue #3: Sometimes I’m totally fine about something and I tell my parents that I can handle it because I really believe I can. But later, I have nightmares or I get really worried and can’t stop thinking about it.
Adult’s Take: Kids are counting on us to set boundaries for them, to help them decide what they can and can’t handle. It’s a big burden to place on a child’s shoulders – Are you okay with this? While I certainly want them to be able to make that judgment for themselves someday, for pre-teens they simply may not be ready to choose what’s best for them.
Kid’s Issue #4: Sometimes kids do things because their friends are doing it even if they know it’s wrong or not the best idea. Lots of kids are reading this now and it can be hard to be left out. Sometimes I make bad decisions for myself when I don’t want to be left out. I might not be honest with my parents about how something makes me feel if I want to be allowed to keep doing it.
Adult Take: Kids need our help knowing how to deal with peer pressure, even if it’s in dealing with a cool book. Making sure your kid knows whether or not they can read it and your reasons will help. Going over things they can tell their friends is even better. If you’re dealing with a particularly peer-pressure prone child, consider taking the blame for them, you are the grown up after all.
Things kids can say:
I’m saving that for later.
I’m not really interested in that kind of book.
My parents won’t let me.
I think I’ll like it better when I’m older.
I’m really into (insert name of age appropriate book here) right now, so I’m going to be reading that.
Sounds interesting.
It is really rewarding and wonderful to see children begin to be able to make these kinds of observations for themselves. Ultimately, they will become the sole judge of what books they are comfortable reading. But in between now and then, the one of the best things we can do for them is to engage them in conversations, share our reasoning so that they can understand how we make decisions and help set limits that will keep them comfortable.
