Disclaimer: This is an opinion piece and as such you have the right to disagree with me.I also retain the right to disagree or ignore your opinion, as well as change my own opinion at anytime upon further enlightenment/parenthood.If we go back not so many years ago, little Joyzie was but a child and a reading monster with dreams of devouring the entire library.Little Joyzie's parents, while good intentioned, said "not so fast! there are some books we don't think you shouldn't be reading at your age".So while she was never punished for reading anything that her parents had "banned" she was discouraged from certain books.What books you might ask?Well here are a few:
The Giver
All the Harry Potter books
the "Series of Unfortunate Events" books
Ok that's about all I can remember.I didn't say it was a long list.
What did wee Joy do whenever she was told not to read a book? Bwahahaha!She (in most cases) wanted to read that book even more.While anyone who knows me can attest that I'm not exactly the most rebellious. I'm not exempt from the 4th "Law of Children" which states: Everything the parental figure puts off limits will be the coolest most awesome thing ever! (in your head) So like goats sneaking in drugs from Mexico; I sneaked in all sorts of books my parents either outright told me not to read, or just contained content I knew they'd disapprove of.The only book I didn't read as a child that they told me not to? The Giver, I read it as an adult.Come on it had an old man on the front.It's not exactly the sort of book kids gravitate towards you know?
However, Abhorsen is a book about necromancy and is one of the coolest, awesomest, most best books ever.It's the kind of book that seemed to prove the 4th Law of Children correct.Hollywood is obviously run by idiots or illiterates since this book has not yet been made into a movie.It would be BAD ASS.Plus it's a trilogy.Can you say cash cow?Granted they would probably ruin the story.Ok, back on topic; sorry mom and dad for my outright disobedience, but it should clear your conscious to know that I'm not a necromancer; nor do I dabble in the occult.
So should you worry about what your children are reading?
Should you sensor them by banning books?
Should you read everything that they read before hand so that you know what they're being exposed to?
Will it even make a lick of difference if you do?
My answer to all of those questions is no.As my own story demonstrates banning books makes it almost certain that they'll read them.So unless this banning is reverse logic being used to make your children get into reading; I would discourage you.I also wouldn't bother reading everything your child reads.My mother would have had a heck of a time trying to do that. I read constantly.You'll probably get pretty bored of the box car children after awhile too.
You might be saying "but it's my child. I want to protect them from filth".I sympathize; however, your children will eventually be exposed to all sorts of nasty.Most likely your child won't be reaching for "50 shades of grey" on their own.Books aren't the same as movies and TV, where things can just be seen.It's pretty unlikely that your 5 year old would accidentally read a steamy sex scene.Maybe you have teenagers who would pick up something explicit.
Well, whatever the content is I can 89% assure you of two things: 1) they probably won't understand the parts you're worried about. 2) If they do; how much safer could you get than to learn about something from a book?Would you rather they hear about it from a friend who doesn't know what they're talking about? Maybe you want to be the one to tell them yourself. I can dig it.Guess what?If you've set up an open environment with your children by doing things, such as not banning books, they're 100% more likely to come to you and ask what a simultaneous orgasm is.Then you get to have that awkward parent/child moment of explanation that turns into a hilarious story told at parties when they're an adult. D'aww~ Heart warming!
Really you're still concerned?Well in that case at least do this; keep an eye out.if you think you don't want your children reading something, then read it first.If you read it and still don't want them to read it then explain to them why.Your child probably does not want to read about rape.Dear god I hope they don't!Don't be overly concerned about a fascination with monsters in your 8 year old or even an obsession with war in your 14 year old.Kids go through some weird phases.You might just have a future monster make-up artist or war historian on your hands.
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