BodyWizard said:
That said: I've read all the Harry Potter books (including the new one) and I find absolutely nothing to be concerned about in them. The "magic" is all total fantasy, but there's a wealth of positive lessons to be gleaned from them. I think Rowling is to be congradulated: if more parents read 'em, they might stand a better chance of speaking a language their kids understand.
To the credit of the book, I will say that I may be biased by what Hollywood conjures up in their interpretation of those fantacies into images. The innocent young minds fantacy imagery and the adult Hollywood manufactured imagery can be quite contrast. It is in the contrast that the 'innocence' of the fantacies can be lost...IMO
You're young enough to remember the BW (no punn intended) version of The Wizard of Oz. Well a while back they came out with the colorized version. My stepdad at the age of 60 or so had yet to even see the BW version. SO I went out a bought it and thought we could have a 'family viewing' of it. Now had at the time a 16, 14 and 3 year old. I thought that, to my recollection, it would be 'family viewer friendly'. I mean after all I saw it as a kid of 4-5 or so and did so time and time again during those times of the year when it would run. I do not recall, though, viewing it 'with' my parents.
Well shortly into the story, as I'm sure most recall, Dorothy has befriended the Tin Man, The Cowardly Lion and the Scare Crow and they are on their way 'following the yellow-brick-road'. I cannot recall exactly the chronology, but the enter into the woods ('lions and tigers and spooks oh my'). Shorty down the yellow brick road into the woods, the Wicked Witch of the West comes from out of nowhere and starts shooting fire balls from the rooftop of a shake at the Scare Crow, putting him on fire. That was some scarey, powerful scene (just to name one).
At that instant I look over at my daughter's eyes-wide-open, taking in all of this. I can see the 'purity and innocence' diluting with the milli-seconds passing. She is entranced by it...fear, shock, awe, whatever. I litterally dive in front of her, as if dodging a bullet to save her life. I tiny bit may have slipped into her recollective imagery system and I regret it still. In some sense I feel like I let her down.
Did my mother approve of me viewing this sort of thing. Were her standards too low. Was she ignorant to it or did she just assume it is "The Wizard of Oz" after all. You know..."follow the yellow brick road" and "we're off to see the wizard" and "there's no place like home".
How many of us still carry some 'phobic fears' that were established in childhood. How many of us have no recollection of why or how they came about. I go back to my:
Careful little eyes what you see
Plus, they're crackin' good reads...but if non-stop, wall-to-wall Biblical indoctrination is your cup of tea, you'll probably have your kids reading the 'Left Behind' series, instead; might as well give 'em Stephen King, IMO....
I go back to my confession regarding Hollywood dramatic interpretation bias. Indeed, reading, regardless, is very good for our kids. We certainly need to be aware of what they are reading as well. I would be happy if they read any of those that you mentioned...just to get their minds working. Yes, it also may make for a level field to open dialogue with our kids were we reading along with them.
Don't know if The Wizard of Oz was a book that was made into a movie. I would guess that there would still be an maintenance of innocence commensurate with the reader's level in that case as well.
but seriously, this whole thing is BE A PARENT.. can't stand the fact that there are many parents out there that think that they have to be the child's buddy..
But, the fun has just begun.....:rofl: I remember when I was in sixth grade....*sigh; hangs head*
