SO JLimbergs banned book post

ShansBride

At what age is everything fair game?  I mean I don't think anyone would judge a mama who didn't let her 2 year old read a scary or sexual book (or wouldn't read it to him), but what age is it not okay to say no 5? 10? 15? when they can read themselves?

I obviously have my own thoughts and we will do what we feel is right with our kids, but I am just curious what others think.

JLimberg

I think- actually read the book first.  It was clear that none of the mothers in protest actually read The Giver....  If you think the content of the book is beyond your child- that's your choice.  But I for one would like to challenge my child.  I would like them to read and become just as voracious for knowledge as I was in school and then come to me if any subject matter becomes too intense.  Although, I'll be anticipating this discussion because I will have done my homework...  I won't just grab ahold to any tidbit of information that my conservative chain-mail-sending friends shove down my throat.  ::Stepping off bitter soapbox::

cc605

Like I said in the other post, I think you should make a judgement call on the child and their maturity level. I think by 7th grade pretty much all 'classic literature' and anything in the YA section is fair game. Now would I want my 7th grader reading something like the Vagina Monolgues or that Anne Rice sleeping beauty book where she is a sex slave, no. I do plan on having open communication with my children about sex but those are books that are more appropriate for an older audience.

fuzzylogic

It all depends on the child. I had a very high reading level and several times had the librarian refuse to check out books to me because she said they were too hard for me to read. The woman knew nothing. What a joke. A 5th grader with college-level reading skills doesn't want to read freaking Bernstein Bears.

My parents let us read whatever, and if we needed to discuss something ,we could. I will probably follow suit. My dad and I would read books together in the summer, and discuss it (King, Crichton, that kind of stuff). I would do the same with my child. It would get me reading more, too

Dannyand Allison

cc605:

Like I said in the other post, I think you should make a judgement call on the child and their maturity level. I think by 7th grade pretty much all 'classic literature' and anything in the YA section is fair game. Now would I want my 7th grader reading something like the Vagina Monolgues or that Anne Rice sleeping beauty book where she is a sex slave, no. I do plan on having open communication with my children about sex but those are books that are more appropriate for an older audience.

This, couldn't have said it better.

ShansBride

cc605:

Like I said in the other post, I think you should make a judgement call on the child and their maturity level. I think by 7th grade pretty much all 'classic literature' and anything in the YA section is fair game. Now would I want my 7th grader reading something like the Vagina Monolgues or that Anne Rice sleeping beauty book where she is a sex slave, no. I do plan on having open communication with my children about sex but those are books that are more appropriate for an older audience.

this is how I feel too. I want my kids to want to read (which both do already) and I want them to love to read.  I don't want them to feel like things are off limits, but I also don't want them reading something that is going to keep them up all night scared out of their minds or reading things way over their maturity level.