-
Welcome
to BookAndReader! We LOVE books and hope you'll join us in sharing your favorites and experiences along with your love of reading with our community. Registering for our site is free and easy, just CLICK HERE!
Already a member and forgot your password? Click here.
Books you'd never let your kids read....
- Thread starter Rosie
- Start date
Litany
Active Member
My parents never censored my reading. I don't have children, but I'd rather they read what they wanted. At least they'd be reading and not watching tv, or sending poorly written text messages in to Nickelodeon. If you outright forbid a child from doing something you only make it all the more appealing. If you don't want them to read a certain book you can't hide it away forever, and if you tell them not to read it, you'll have to tell them why. In telling them why you'll have to mention whatever dreaded thing it is that you don't want them exposed to, and that will only spark their curiosity even more. Just let them read it and then be there to answer questions. It's not like reading one book about wizards is going to turn a whole generation into satanists, and so what if it does? At least it gets them out of house and socialising.
Very good! I agree! We don't need to be afraid of other people ideas, and we don't want to foster that in our kids. I don't NECESSARILLY think that forbidding something is going to just make kids want to do it, though. They're not THAT dumb 
So I wouldn't let my kids read something just because for that reason. But as I see it, the main reason parents forbid their kids from reading or watching things is because they're afriad they'll get "crazy ideas" from it. But as I see it, ignorance of those "crazy ideas" isn't at all the way to combat them.
So I wouldn't let my kids read something just because for that reason. But as I see it, the main reason parents forbid their kids from reading or watching things is because they're afriad they'll get "crazy ideas" from it. But as I see it, ignorance of those "crazy ideas" isn't at all the way to combat them.
Ice
New Member
I was allowed to read almost anything when I was younger, though I do remember buying Jean Auel's The Valley of Horses when I was ten and my Dad wouldn't let me read it 
Finally got to read it when I was 12/13
I'd let my children read pretty much what they wanted too. I agree with Litany in that I'd much rather they were reading than watching tv etc
Finally got to read it when I was 12/13 I'd let my children read pretty much what they wanted too. I agree with Litany in that I'd much rather they were reading than watching tv etc
Litany
Active Member
Ice said:I was allowed to read almost anything when I was younger, though I do remember buying Jean Auel's The Valley of Horses when I was ten and my Dad wouldn't let me read it
And it sent you into a frenzy of blood lust?
If I found my (non-existent) kids with porn mags (for example) I'd probably just be glad they were showing an interest. Maybe this means I shouldn't be a parent.
I didn't have many guidelines as a kiddy. Basically I knew not to do things that I wouldn't like to happen to me, and if I did, not to get caught. I grew up watching horror films and reading anything that I happened to find. Found a porn film when I was about 5, didn't grow up into a sex offender. Did spark some interesting conversations. I don't think growing up to be a good person is about the outside influences you're exposed to. I think it's about how you're taught to deal with them.
Ice
New Member
Litany said:
That's the only book I wasn't allowed to read, and I think that my dad considered it to be 'questionable content' for a ten year old.
Litany said:
I'll agree with that, I saw films that were definately of 'questionable content' when I was younger and I don't think I've turned out too bad (though Phil may disagree
)Not too sure about letting my children read porn though, I guess it would depend on their age, personally I think its a load of crap
Ashlea
New Member
I had a friend who, when she turned 12, suddenly discovered that the kama sutra and a few other choice works had suddenly appeared on the bookshelf. Quite possibly the best parenting I'd heard of.
I don't believe in censoring what kids read, but you have to be aware of what they're reading and discuss it with them.
I don't believe in censoring what kids read, but you have to be aware of what they're reading and discuss it with them.
VTChEwbecca
kickbox
My parents didn't censor what I read, either. They mostly just let me know that if I wanted to discuss something with them, I was free to come to them. I'm not planning on ever having children, but if I did, that is the track I would take.
Just getting kids to read these days is such an accomplishment with all the other distractions around, I'd hate to ruin it by forbidding them to read something.
Just getting kids to read these days is such an accomplishment with all the other distractions around, I'd hate to ruin it by forbidding them to read something.
Martin
Active Member
I only started reading about 4 or 5 years ago, so censorship was never an issue.
Anyway ..
Rant over.
Cheers, Martin
Anyway ..
I don't get that - what the hell is wrong with TV. If you're gonna say that TV will make you stupid, then Feck Off, because that's just not true. I'm studying English right now, and I never opened an English book until I was 20 years old - all my skills in/with the English language I've gained through TV. Of course I don't want my kids to just sit there and watch the TV for 9 hours straight, but TV is not the boogie-man it's made out to be by many booklovers.
Rant over.
Cheers, Martin
Litany
Active Member
I don't appreciate being told to 'feck off' just for thinking that it might actually be a good thing that a child would want to read a book rather than spend the whole day vegged out in front of the tv. I watch tv. I don't feel that it's a particularly evil thing. But it's also not a baby sitter or a substitute for an education, which is what a lot of parents today seem to assume. Maybe you could over react just a little less next time.
M&O
New Member
Books you won't let your kids read
Some of it depends on the kid. My oldest child is 9, and we have read the first Harry Potter together. I have read all of them. Although I won't say I'd never let her read the others, I do want her to wait for a while because they do get progressively "darker" and I don't think she's ready for them. On the same line of thought, I wouldn't want her to read sexually explicit books either, so no Harlequin romance novels are on her bookshelf.
As far as banning them on the basis of ideas, I think it is generally better to just know what she is reading, and read it myself if need be to talk about it with her. I don't think outright forbidding a book really works: I remember being about 12 and asking my mother if I could read a book of hers, Forever by Judy Blume. It has some sexual content, but it's not pornographic and it's not really a big part of the book. She said no, but all that meant was that I hid from her while I read it.
I have to admit that this is only true to a point. I wouldn't keep her from reading books on other religions or atheism-- but if she came home with a book with a name like "101 Satan-worship rituals you can do at home," I think I would take action of some kind. "How to build bombs for fun and profit" might be another one that gave me pause.
Some of it depends on the kid. My oldest child is 9, and we have read the first Harry Potter together. I have read all of them. Although I won't say I'd never let her read the others, I do want her to wait for a while because they do get progressively "darker" and I don't think she's ready for them. On the same line of thought, I wouldn't want her to read sexually explicit books either, so no Harlequin romance novels are on her bookshelf.
As far as banning them on the basis of ideas, I think it is generally better to just know what she is reading, and read it myself if need be to talk about it with her. I don't think outright forbidding a book really works: I remember being about 12 and asking my mother if I could read a book of hers, Forever by Judy Blume. It has some sexual content, but it's not pornographic and it's not really a big part of the book. She said no, but all that meant was that I hid from her while I read it.
I have to admit that this is only true to a point. I wouldn't keep her from reading books on other religions or atheism-- but if she came home with a book with a name like "101 Satan-worship rituals you can do at home," I think I would take action of some kind. "How to build bombs for fun and profit" might be another one that gave me pause.
I guess I want to raise my kids so that they can recognize junk when they see it. Then censorship won't even be an issue. I'd love to watch my daughter (if I have one) walk past the sluty teen magazines and trashy novels and head straight for C.S. Lewis or Tolkein etc. Wishful thinking, I know But I fully expect my kids will be bringing home crap via books and movies. I think the best thing to do would be to watch it with them! Or if they're reading it, talk with them about it. But for petes' sake don't ban it from them. The thing that's helped me grow the most is probably reading books by authors who's philosohpies I didn't agree with. Going to a christian school, I encountered a number of people who wouldn't read Frued, for example, because of his athiest views. There's nothing more ridiculus then being afraid of other people's ideas.
It seems most people are afraid of exposing their children to sexually explicit things. For example: My parents were extremely religious and controlled everything I read and watched. However my father let me watch the movie Braveheart when I was 12. He fast-forwarded through the sexual bits, but let the violent ones play. I look back at this and chuckle.
Has anyone else noticed the double standard of sexual "sins" vs. non-sexual (violence, for example) "sins" in film and literature?
But I fully expect my kids will be bringing home crap via books and movies. I think the best thing to do would be to watch it with them! Or if they're reading it, talk with them about it. But for petes' sake don't ban it from them. The thing that's helped me grow the most is probably reading books by authors who's philosohpies I didn't agree with. Going to a christian school, I encountered a number of people who wouldn't read Frued, for example, because of his athiest views. There's nothing more ridiculus then being afraid of other people's ideas.It seems most people are afraid of exposing their children to sexually explicit things. For example: My parents were extremely religious and controlled everything I read and watched. However my father let me watch the movie Braveheart when I was 12. He fast-forwarded through the sexual bits, but let the violent ones play. I look back at this and chuckle.
Has anyone else noticed the double standard of sexual "sins" vs. non-sexual (violence, for example) "sins" in film and literature?
VTChEwbecca
kickbox
Martin said:
Martin, I don't think TV makes one stupid, but I am certain that it stunts the imagination. I watched some tv as a child, not a lot, and most of it Star Trek or the like. I can say I did learn a lot from watching Star Trek, and I did go on "away missions" in my backyard, but nothing has gotten my imagination rolling like a good book does. My other huge complaint about tv is the ads....every 5-10 minutes, children are bombarded with messages telling them they need this and they need that (well, all tv watchers are bombarded). So children grow up thinking they need all sorts of things, which really should be wants or not even necessary. In addition, unless you're watching a channel that promotes educational or such content, the media often portrays stereotypes to extremes. So children who watch a lot of tv are subjected to these stereotypes and often incorporate them into their way of thinking.
I think tv does have some good things to offer, and I certainly don't mind sitting down in front of the tv for a documentary or a football or hockey game, but the average programming frustrates me.
If I were to have children, I would be far more worried about what they're viewing on tv than what they are reading. Not that I wouldn't monitor both, but I am sure that I would regulate tv viewing in some way.
I understand why you're frustrated with book-lovers putting down the tv, but I live with a husband who works in the television business. I know their ploys, and its only increased my distaste for the medium. So my hatred comes more from an inside knowledge than from the fact that I think books are better.
Thanks, Chewbecca, you've just made my day, and I agree with you completely. Ironically, my soon-to-be husband is also in the television business and I can agree whole-heartedly that its also sent my opinion of television (as a whole) down the tubes. If anyones interested, i've found the list of the 100 most challenged books from 1990-2000. I think you might be surprised to see what's on here.
http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedbooksweek/bbwlinks/100mostfrequently.htm
VTChEwbecca
kickbox
Rosie said:
If anyones interested, i've found the list of the 100 most challenged books from 1990-2000. I think you might be surprised to see what's on here.
http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedbooksweek/bbwlinks/100mostfrequently.htm
My husband and I always laugh about the fact that I hate the tv business, while he worked for a tv station (now he works for an ad agency...even worse
. As to the challenged books, I'm always amazed by some that get challenged. I think the most ironic is that Farenheit 451 gets challenged....when its a warning of the dangers of censoring books! I love to check out the banned books list from time to time and make sure that I've read as many of them as interest me.