6 Strategies to Protect Your Children’s Reading List

What do your kids read? Do you pay attention to the books your kids choose from the library? Maybe you’re just thrilled that they like to read. Unfortunately, these days you can’t take things at face value. You must watch what your children read. 

This is my warning to parents. We are in a war. The evils of the world can tempt your children. People want to twist their innocent minds with warped ideologies in books. Children’s books can contain explicit content, perverse language, and LGBTQ themes. Recently, Macmillan Children’s Books shared a post about LGBTQ themes and woke themes in some of their recommended books. 

How should you protect your kids?

Here are six tips to help you: 

• Use our Age-Appropriate Book List. 
• Utilize Common Sense Media.
• Search for books in curricula like the Good and the Beautiful or Sonlight.
• Communicate openly about this topic with your children. 
• Discuss disturbing content if they accidentally read it. 
• Discuss the good books that they enjoy!

Technology < Literature

During these days of AI and constant technology access, it’s vital that the younger generations start reading. Books can educate, bring joy, and expand our minds. Plus, physically engaging with text stimulates a child’s mind. Therefore, your children must engage in good literature.

Like monitoring TV shows, parents must monitor reading choices. Yes, children must read books. However, these books must be age-appropriate and well-written. Finding these books might become overwhelming to parents. That being said, keep reading for helpful tips and tricks. 

Stop, Drop, and Search

What can you do to find quality, non-woke literature for your kids? First, it’s about making a choice. Do you want to protect your kids? Do you want to stand up for their innocent minds? I’m sure you do, so you must become aware of today’s literature standards. Be on the watch and remember not all publishers want to protect your children’s minds. 

As the parent, you need to do the work to protect your child’s mind. As mentioned, use our Book List to help you. Common Sense Media gives ratings and content warnings for all types of media for children and their parents. Also, you can use curricula like Charlotte Mason or My Father’s World. If you want to save money, access their Literature lists and find the books at the library for free. Use the resources at your fingertips and invite your kids to help you search for books, too. That way, they can pick the stories that they’ll love. 

Conclusion/Communication

Before I close, I want to add one more comment. At Nxt Era, we focus on the pillar of communication as one of our four pillars. Explaining the darker side behind books can help you build open communication with your child. Tell them to watch out for woke themes and inappropriate content when reading. Educate them and gird them in critical thought. Approach them in love if they accidentally read inappropriate content, not fearmongering or condemnation. Show that avoiding these topics protects their minds and gives them access to truly good books. Also, discuss the books that they love. This inspires good conversation and critical reading skills. Talk about the characters that they love or why they would like to experience the story for themselves if they could. 

Finally, I want to leave you with a few recommendations from our Book List (all of which I have read): 

• The Complete Brambly Hedge by Jill Barklem
• On Noah’s Ark by Jan Brett
• The Dragon and the Stone by Kathryn Butler
• Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
• Resistance by Jennifer A. Nielsen
• Endlewood by Alissa J. Zavalianos

Now you hold the tips and tricks to help your children on their literature journey. Protect their minds and give them the confidence to stand up for themselves. Educate yourself and communicate with your kids. I believe in you!

Find our Full Book List here!

- NxtEra

Written by Bethany (@thebookwormgirl_bethany)