Should You Let Your Kids Read Whatever They Want?

Guest Post by Alaina Peterson

Who cares, right? Books are books!

     Well, sure. Books ARE books. If you’re going to choose between reading as a family and not reading as a family, choose reading. But when we take that extra step with kids, when we are intentional about what we put in front of them and what it means to them as they develop their sense of who they are in the world, we show them windows into other people's worlds and mirrors of who they are.

     Again, when it comes to reading with kids, the most important thing is also the simplest: just do it. Reading as a family creates a time for children to be physically close with parents and siblings but also address important topics that might not come up inside the home apart from reading books together.

     Questions about each other, about how God wants us to approach situations, about our own values – these questions flow naturally when we choose the right books. Kids’ love for language and reading and their love for family time can be fostered through quality books.

     Okay, done. We read together. Eric Carle, the Magic School Bus, Junie B. Jones, all the classics. Done. But guess what? There is SO much more to be had from literature when we stop to think about a few things.

Who is represented in this book?

     If it was similar to my childhood experience, the characters probably look a lot like this:

Are these characters our kids should look up to? Who are the “heroes”? Do all the people in the story look like me and come from my culture, or does the book show diversity in its characters?

What are the roles each of the characters hold?

     Who are the characters who are always in trouble and what do they look like? Are all of the heroes boys/girls? Who needs “saving”? If there is a family in the story, how does the family function?

Is there anything in this book that provokes us to talk about Jesus?

     Now, I am definitely not saying that all of your books should be Devotions for Kids, Jr. Bible, and the kids’ version of a Francis Chan book. What I am advocating is that you really look at books before you buy them. Walmart has some cute books, but very few 2.99 paperbacks will provoke you and your children to talk about Christ-like character in the way that quality books will.

     I challenge you to check out library books where the characters look and act VERY different from you! Your child can experience the world and its people through reading books written in Black English, Chicano English, books with children from China and India. Talk about God’s love for all people as you read! It is amazing the conversations that you can have with children when you explore something new together. Here we go, personal recommendations. Each of these shows a diverse group of people, gives deep and often spiritual topics to discuss, and are also just fun to read!

Book Recommendations

Ages 5+

• Last Stop on Market Street by Matt De La Peña, Illustrated by Christian Robinson
• Jack & Jim by Kitty Crowther
• I Love Saturdays y Domingos by Alma Flor Alda
• Tree of Cranes by Allen Say
• Do Like Kyla by Angela Johnson
• The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson

Ages 8+

• Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
• The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
• The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
• The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

Ages 10+

• The Cay by Theodore Taylor
• Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
• The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

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Alaina Peterson served as a Site Director at COCUSA in 2016. Alaina and her husband Luke are currently studying at the University of Illinois where Alaina is majoring in elementary education with a minor in Spanish. You can get in touch with Alaina on Facebook.  

4 Books Series to Read Aloud With Your Kids

     Reading good books out loud can bring a family together. Good books can give you great conversation starters. They can help promote the values and character you want to instill in your kids. Books let you dive into epic stories and explore tough topics where a movie would be too intense for kids. And if the books are exceptionally good, they give kids the chance to stay up past their bedtime!

    We love reading at our house. Our bedtime routine culminates with reading books out loud as a family. Here are four series that we've read recently that I would recommend as great read-a-louds to any kids:

The Chronicles of Narnia

by CS Lewis

     This is a longstanding classic story set and for good reason. Lewis has a knack for presenting his stories with wit and humor. He presents biblical themes and truth in a fun, engaging, and creative way.

The Little House Books

by Laura Ingalls Wilder

     This is a non-fiction series where the author shares stories of her childhood. Some of the things she lived through and experienced are amazing. They help my family appreciate what America was like 150 years ago. Every time I read Little House on the Prairie (the second book in the series), I am amazed by the things that happened to Laura and her family.

The Mysterious Benedict Society

by Trenton Lee Stewart

     This is one part mystery and one part puzzle/brain teaser. While it's not a series from a Christian author, it still promotes a ton of great qualities.  It's helped my family learn that you should do good when it's in your power to do so. These are definitely books that you can’t stop reading once you start.  

The Wingfeather Saga

by Andrew Peterson  

     This series started almost comical, but continues to get better and better. Instead of direct correlations to biblical themes (like The Chronicles of Narnia), there are general ideas of Good and Evil, helping others, and watching out for your family. Start with Book One - On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness.

     Reading with your family is a great way to building lasting memories and learn valuable lessons along the way. Head to the library, grab a few good books, and enjoy a family evening by diving into a story together!

Reading for Closer Relationships with Your Kids - Web Catch of the Week

     Last week as my wife and I were cleaning up at the end of the day, I heard the sound of pages ripping coming from our family room. When I entered the room, I saw my son sitting on the floor tearing pages out of books. I quickly stopped him and told him it was wrong to destroy books. When he asked me why it was wrong, I had to pause and think. Why is it important for us to keep these books in good condition? Besides taking care of the things that have been given to us, I wanted him to understand the important role books play in our lives. Realizing I didn’t know how to explain this, I wanted to learn more about how reading impacts kids' development.

     Dr. Perri Klass, Medical Director of Reach Out and Read, outlines the importance of reading with our kids in her article, “Bedtime Stories for Young Brains”. Beyond the brain and language development that occurs when a student reads or is read to, I really appreciated Klass’s focus on how reading creates a face-time, skin-to-skin connection between a parent and a child. Her article helped me understand that my kids both return to the same books over and over again because there is a security in the routine of reading Dr. Suess’s The Grinch together— even if it’s for the third time that day.

     Every night before going to bed, I read a few stories from The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones with my kids. It’s a resource we also use at Camp because it does a great job of helping kids see that the Bible is all about Jesus. Besides reading for mental development, Sally Lloyd-Jones explains in her blog post “Teach Children the Bible is Not About Them” that reading the Bible to our kids helps them (and us) become a part of God’s “magnificent story” to His people. It’s liberating to think that I don’t always need to explain or over-explain time and time again the stories we are reading together as a family. Sometimes, it’s beneficial to simply let God’s stories speak for themselves, because there is power in the Word of God.

     What about you? How do you incorporate reading into your family time? What are your kids’ go-to books when it’s time to read? Leave a comment and let us learn from you!

Forget the Red Carpet - Make Your Own Awards Show

     February is awards season, which also means it's the month that I find out about all the movies and music I missed last year. The lists of nominees always make me think, "when did that movie come out?" or "I've never heard that song before" and "I need to pay more attention."

     But when it comes down to it, I just don't care. I don't care who's nominated, whose speech ran long, or who wins best-breakout-whatever. I don't usually watch a movie or listen to a song because they were nominated for an award. Like most of you, I make those choices based on recommendations from my friends and family. 

     Award season is the perfect chance to make our own lists of favorites and share them with everyone in the family. Your kids definitely have their favorite movies, TV shows, and music, and they would love to tell everyone about them! Forget the red carpet, and make your own awards show with your kids. Here's a few ideas to get your family started.

1) Make your lists.

     Give your kids a few categories, and let them pick their top 3 in each. If your family loves movies, you could make categories like "Funniest Movie," "Best Animated Movie," or "Movies My Friends and I Like." If you've got a family of readers, make categories for books like "Longest Book I Read Last Year," "Saddest/Scariest/Happiest Book I Read Last Year," or the classic "Favorite Book." You can make similar categories for music, tv shows, restaurants, games, etc.  

2) Present your favorites.

     This step can be as glamorous or as informal as you'd like. You can go all out decorating the family room to look like an awards show, or simply post your lists on the fridge. Give each member of your family the chance to present their lists while everyone else gives their full attention. The undivided attention will help each of your kids to feel loved, listened to, and appreciated.

3) Experience the winners together as a family.

     After the presentations are over, make time to experience each person's favorite book, song, movie, or show together as a family. Even if it might not be your personal favorite, you'll learn more about your kids and what makes them tick. Take advantage of the teachable moments in each of their picks, and talk to your kids about the messages and lessons that they communicate. Your kids will be thrilled that you took the time to share in their favorite things.

What movies, shows, or music do your kids like? Leave a comment and let us know what you would recommend to other parents, and what you would avoid. Let's learn together how to listen better to our children and enjoy the things that they love.