[blparent] Sensoring reading?

[Robert Shelton]

I really agree with Jo Elizabeth on this one.  In our society, by the time a
child is 12 years old, they've seen all kinds of things which might be
better postponed, in some cases, forever.  Reading and talking about it,
say, to a favorite aunt, is extremely healthy.  The complexities of an adult
world will be there soon enough.  The sooner a young person learns to deal
with them, the better, because it can't be avoided.

In an analogus direction, I never had an internet policy (other than not
installing or downloading (bleep) on the family computer, but I was usually
around when my boys were surfing.  They needed to understand that the
internet was like life -- complex, interesting, and often ugly.  As long as
they were open with me and understood the risks, I considered knowledge
healthy.  

I think this worked for us because I had time to be there for them, which
will not be true for all parents.  I still think that the lesson is the
same.  You can't protect your children forever except by giving them the
tools they will need in order to make good decisions.  If you always make
the decision for them, then they never learn.

Just my $.02.

-----Original Message-----
From: Jo Elizabeth Pinto [mailto:jopinto at msn.com] 
Sent: Saturday, August 06, 2011 11:57 AM
To: NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List
Subject: Re: [blparent] Sensoring reading?

Good morning.  A lot depends on your nephew--does he openly talk about 
things, does he read well and understand what he reads, is he prone to 
nightmares or being easily influenced by dark thoughts.  I know nothing of 
him, but my stepson wants to read Stephen King, and his dad and mom and I 
think that as long as he's reading, it's better than nothing.  It keeps his 
mind going, but then, he knows it's just fiction.  Our hope is that 
eventually, he'll broaden his reading choices.  So maybe letting him read 
the books isn't so bad, because like you said, if you forbid it, then it 
adds an element of mystery that will make him want to get his hands on those

books even more.

Jo Elizabeth

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself--nameless, unreasoning, 
unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into 
advance."--Franklin D. Roosevelt

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Pipi" <blahblahblah0822 at gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, August 06, 2011 10:50 AM
To: <blindparenting at googlegroups.com>; "NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List" 
<blparent at nfbnet.org>; <blv-moms at googlegroups.com>; 
<singleblindparents at googlegroups.com>
Subject: [blparent] Sensoring reading?

> Hey y'all,
> After a conversation with a few people last night and this morning, I'm 
> curious.
> A bit of background: My nephew and I were watching Stand By Me last night.

> He said that he wanted to read the book. Red flags went up in my mind. He 
> is 12. I know that he'd be fine reading half of Different Seasons, by 
> Stephen King, which is where the novella of stand by me is, but I can't 
> remember about the other half of the book. I think he'd enjoy shawshank 
> redemption as well.
> People I spoke to said they were reading IT and other Stephen King books 
> at anywhere between 9 and 12.
> I remember still reading the baby sitter's club books at that age.
> A friend pointed out that if my nephew wants to read the books badly 
> enough, he'd find a way. I understand this point, but then think that he 
> really wouldn't have the access to them.
> His 2nd point was that as long as a kid is willing to discuss the books 
> with someone and is openly talking, then it could be a great thing.
> What are your opinions? Would you or do you allow your kids to read books 
> above their age rating? Is this anything like sensoring TV and video 
> games, or are books different?
> Pipi
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