One Key to Helping Kids Choose Good Books

Hello fellow parents,

How can we help our kids learn to choose good books? 

My friend Nichole and I had a conversation about this on Facebook the other day, and I wanted to let you in on it (with her permission of course). 

I asked, "How can I help you in your life . . . as it relates to books or otherwise?" and "What are your bookish problems?"

Nichole Currently, I have a son that is interested in scary stories but still has nightmares. My bookish problems are finding a "spooky" genre that isn't really spooky. Or finding ways to broaden the 8 year old's interests. Most books he's interested in are at an older reading level. Diary of a Wimpy Kid - not a fan of the way that little kid talks and behaves. Goosebumps - not appropriate (in my opinion) for my son. Scary stories? They just feel Satanic in nature and I don't know how to break him away from all of that. This is probably entirely too personal and definitely needs to be prayed long and hard about. But he keeps coming home with this books from school library and it's driving me crazy!
[. . .]

February 1 at 11:04pm

Alysa Stewart ooh, that is super good food for thought! I'm going to be thinking about your situation for sure! First thoughts: I like the idea of expanding his interests. It seems like it would work better than offering non-scary books or telling him to stop. What about expanding into biology (blood, guts, gore, human body/how it works) and/or into historical (instead of ghost stories, true stories from the past) or maybe he's drawn to [the genre] because many spooky stories reference real life heavily, but then throw in a surprise. So maybe contemporary realistic fiction. Maybe he likes scary stories because they have lots of foreshadowing and suspense --> like fairy tales. I always think that if you can't stop a kid from reading scary stories you can point them to Poe, because at least then they're reading classics. hahaha! What do you think? Why do you think he likes them?

Like · Reply · 1 · February 1 at 11:37pm

Nichole  I love your ideas!!! I think he could get into fairy tales if I approach them right. Real fairy tales, though, not the Disney versions. I'll have to send you a private message about the other stuff. I'd love your input. You are most definitely my go-to book resource! I just love your posts and your blog!

Unlike · Reply · 1 · February 2 at 9:46am

So this was a little over a week ago, and I messaged Nichole to see how it was going and if there was anything else I could do to help. 

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  9:26pm
  

  Nichole 
  

  
  

  
  

  Yes, absolutely [you can share our conversation on Everead]! It's actually going really well. I did what you suggested and started asking him about other things that might give him the thrill or the adrenaline or whatever it was that the scary stories were giving him, and he's currently really liking the crocodile hunter (he loves the show, but he read a book about him first). He's brought home some really great choices from library at school. He's also really liking the "I Survived" series. And he's super into WWII and history, so we're trying to explore that genre as well.

  
  

  He still struggles with friends talking about scary stories and movies and things... But I think he realizes he can be interested in other things and still get that same feeling as he is reading. Just not in a negative way.
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  9:27pm
  

  Alysa Stewart
  

  
  

  
  

  Cool! Benjamin (who is 7) brought home one of the I Survived books from the library at school today.

  
  

  Well that's awesome! And wow that was quick! haha

  
  

  I guess it's still ongoing, a bit, as you said, friends at school haven't changed their tastes and conversations yet.
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  9:28pm
  

  Nichole
  

  
  

  
  

  I was preparing for a MUCH longer and more difficult battle. But it really worked out on his end. At least in our house. I think the friends thing is going to always be that way -- his standards are different and he's going to run into that his whole life. But he's learning how to change the subject and stand a little more stronger on his own two feet.
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  9:29pm
  

  Alysa Stewart
  

  
  

  
  

  Awesome! How are the nightmares? Any better, or don't know yet? Were nightmares an occasional problem, or a regular thing?
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  9:43pm
  

  Nichole
  

  
  

  
  

  They come and go... He's always had them, but they've become less frequent as he's gotten older. However, if he was exposed to something (sometimes the kids in computers class get on iTunes on the iPads even though they're not supposed to, and kids will show him movie trailers that scare him), he usually has a nightmare.

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Talking with kids openly about making good book choices is very important. I would even say it is critically important. I talked about it in a previous post as well. 

I think talking with kids about their reading is part of being a thoughtful, intentional parent. Isn't it funny how sometimes we expect something to be a big battle with our kids, but it turns out they welcome our insight? I think one of the keys to helping kids respond well is to demonstrate love and respect through our words and actions. When kids (or adults!) know that you love them and have their best interests at heart, they find it easier to take advice.

If you think this post could be helpful to someone, please share it on Facebook (where it all started) or some other way. Your sharing might be the way another parent finds it!

If you have thoughts to share or questions, leave a comment, below. Talk to you soon. 

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