junk for children - books, movies, tv

[meemee]

i am curious about how you feel about having ur child read/watch junk.

well i guess junk anything really. the key being just for fun and nothing else.

if u do introduce junk at what age do u do it. or think it is appropriate to do.

do you think it is worth it for the fun value?

do you think the focus on 'educational' is a little over rated?

i am trying to figure out my personal philosophy with my 4 year old and would love to hear your views on this.

[warriorprincess]

I cringe, really cringe, when my kids read pure dreck (with DS, Goosebumps books, DD, Disney Princess books) but I keep my mouth shut. Not worth the battle.

I don't think everything has to be educational, but there is better written fiction out there.

[MamaBug]

I try to encourage good books to read, but as my boys don't LOVE to read, I also think letting the choose within reason is good as long as they are reading. In lieu of novels I also get them lots of books about animals, space, etc

[Autumn Breeze]

My son LOVES his books about Sharks, and other animals, but he also LOVES to have me read Dr. Suess and other "fluff" books.

I don't think any book a child is interested in reading "Junk".

[UnschoolnMa]

My kids choose their own media. I've never tried to push just "educational" material on them. We read Natn Geographic to Better Homes and Gardens, we watch SpongeBob and Animal Planet, we've listened to symphony and to AC/DC.

It's all good.

[mata]

I'm with UnschoolnMa. And I don't think many things are "junk" per se-I mean, Spongebob is brilliantly funny! I wish he had been around when I was a stoner.

[crazycandigirl]

Originally Posted by AutumnBreeze

I don't think any book a child is interested in reading "Junk".

ITA with this. I love to read and watch things that are educational for me and DD, but we also love simple quick "no deep thought" books and movies as well. Sometimes it is good to be silly and light, and not too thoughtful and deep. There is something to be learned from everything we take in, it just depends at how you look at it.

[somerset]

I think its subjective. One person's junk may be another person's gold. I think its best to find a balance and even with things that are play you can find value in it.

Like, Captain Underpants is just funny. But if the child is reading then how can one complain? If its below their reading level (or the level they should be on for their age) just have them supplement it with harder things. To me, there is an intrinsic value in play. Humans are playful animals.

[Thalia the Muse]

Like, Captain Underpants is just funny

Captain Underpants actually has some pretty sophisticated vocabulary! And I agree that there is plenty of room for "just fun." Really, there are a lot of levels on which a book/movie/tv show/game can be a learning experience, whether it's obviously "enriching" or you're just getting practice decoding words, recognizing archetypal plot devices, discovering the difference betwen European and Japanese animation styles. Jim Trelease the reading guru says that he's polled adult writers and holders of higher degrees -- and most of them simply devoured "junky" series books and comic books as kids. That's how they developed a love of the printed word.