< Return to Talk
06.09.08, 18:51 PM General Topics
17 replies
Opinions: Someone here mentioned reading "The Secret Garden" to her 1st grader. Lots of my friends are reading novels to their kids that they aren't ready to read independently. Is there any specific point to this? I'm saving my favorite classics for my dd to read when she's ready to read independently. She started "The Secret Garden" when she was six and she had no interest so we put it away until she's ready to read on her own. Anyone have any reason I SHOULD be reading this stuff to her? She reads a ton just more casual - Babysitter's Club, Pippi Longstocking - than classics. [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
General Topics 06.09.08, 06:51 PM Flag
 

Dear UrbanBaby community,

Thank you so much for being a valued member of the UrbanBaby community. We wanted to inform you that we are shutting down the site on July 6th. We are grateful for your participation and support that has helped make UrbanBaby such an important resource to parents for many years.

If you have any questions or concerns, you can email us at urbanbaby-support@cbsinteractive.com.

Thanks so much,

UrbanBaby Support

»
I read my kids Stuart Little, the Secret Garden, and other books long before they could read on their own. They loved to listen to the stories and I know they'll love to pick the books up themselves when they can read it themselves [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.09.08, 06:53 PM Flag
»
We enjoy reading as a family, I like sharing the experience of the story for the first time with DC. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.09.08, 06:53 PM Flag
»
my children, now 9 and 6, have loved when i've read chapter books to them. My Father's Dragon was a huge hit. So was Desperaux (sp?) i have boys [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.09.08, 06:54 PM Flag
»
Amen, sister. I think it's a status thing. Why rush when there are so many cute, thoughtful and entertaining age-appropriate books? Clementine, Ivy & Bean, Mercy Watson...just to name a few. Big mistake to jump the gun and push books they're not ready for. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.09.08, 06:55 PM Flag
»
lol. I wouldn't call the Secret Garden a status piece of literature. It's an enjoyable book but hardly the childhood version of Ulysses. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.09.08, 06:57 PM Flag
»
Status is the wrong word. It's just kind of unoriginal, I guess. That's what was available when we were seven, but now there's a whole range of books that are more geared towards that age. And I still think status comes into play for parents who love to be able to say what literary happenings are going down at bedtime. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.09.08, 07:00 PM Flag
»
np: You have such a chip on your shoulder. We read all sorts of things with DS, including Captain Underpants and recently the book version of the latest Indiana Jones movie. We also happen to love some old classics. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.09.08, 07:02 PM Flag
»
There is nothing wrong w/ reading a book to your child that was available when we were seven, or even when our grandmothers were seven. I think you are reading too much into the suggestion - most people don't discuss bedtime reading selections unless asked. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.09.08, 07:03 PM Flag
»
I personally think you haven't read the book in a long time or didn't enjoy it as a child. This was one of my favorite childhood stories and I would love to share it with my kids when they are older. I don't care if there are other books geared for this age - they'll read those too, but I sincerely hope my dcs enjoy The Secret Garden like I did. Has nothing to do w/ status. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.09.08, 07:08 PM Flag
»
I personally enjoyed having The Secret Garden and the Narnia books read to me at a young age. Maybe this doesn't float your dd's boat, and that's okay. No point in forcing her to listen to it, but some other dcs may enjoy the book. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.09.08, 06:55 PM Flag
»
Narnia...forgot about that one. When's the best age to start? [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.09.08, 06:57 PM Flag
»
depends on the kid. I loved it at age 5, but I don't think my own 5yo ds could sit through a book that long. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.09.08, 06:59 PM Flag
»
op: no - i wasn't reading it to her. she was reading it on her own and got bored. i read a little and could see how it would be a tough beginning for a six year old. i'm just trying to figure out if she's missing something by me not reading it to her. it's not like she doesn't read on her own and needs to be exposed. i'm just wondering why so many people read above their kids' levels instead of letting the kids read on their own. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.09.08, 06:58 PM Flag
»
np: For enjoyment - both of their enjoyment. If you aren't both enjoying it, then you shouldn't do it. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.09.08, 06:59 PM Flag
»
because perhaps the kid's reading abilities haven't caught up w/ their listening abilities. It's not rocket science. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.09.08, 07:01 PM Flag
»
There is such a wealth of books for that age group, I'd rather not take up her time with books like Secret Garden that she could pick up later. These "younger" books will probably not be revisited once she grows older. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.09.08, 07:13 PM Flag
»
You continue to read to your children after they can read on their own. I read my daughter Little Women when she was in 3rd grade. I feel some older books are unlikely to be read by children at the age they are appropriate for the reading because the content may be of less interest at that age--Anne of Green Gables is an example. It's a book with extensive vocabulary and complicated sentence structure (the first page is one sentence). I would read classics like this to a child around 7 or 8 years old. (Robert Louis Stevenson is another author that comes to mind to read to a slightly older child.) [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 06.10.08, 03:08 AM Flag
Refresh » New Post »
Select Category
close [X]

close [X]

Select a Category (only 1)

category
Stages
Regions