Not sure I'd use it for bedtime reading but yeah deffo a good idea to make sure kids know what things are really like for kids in other parts of the world.
I'm not sure about your idea of reading it to a class of kids but I can see that it wouldn't be a bad thing to read it to your own. Or give it to older kids to look at as part of a life skills lesson or something. Some kids in primary are already well aware of the realities, they've lost siblings or parents, they're cold and hungry at night themselves - I can imagine this book being really frightening. Also the privileged kids might not be emotionally mature enough and it's safer to judge as a parent. I think this would freak Olivia out but she'd be able to read it herself. It's quite morbid and I think for me that would have been awful, I was already preoccupied with death because of my sister (a mistake on my mother's part) and I remember being very distressed by Watership Down when I was 9 or 10. We'd also lost our family dog that year so it played on my grief. I feel very protective of your imaginary primary school class!
I think in context it could be a valuable teaching tool. Say in conjunction with other activities, maybe fundraising efforts for a buddy school overseas. A lady my mum knew went over and started a school in an African country and would teach her grade 3s about them and the issues they struggled with. My primary school did the forty hour famine so it's not like kids are entirely wrapped in cotton wool anyways. I think as long as you can include a solution of sorts to the problems you present them it's fine. Plus kids can usually handle a lot more than adults assume! I would also start teaching about sex and consent right away, from reception onwards. Regularly, too. Always reinforcing. I'm not a coddler ...erm wait no I take that back if it involves cats.. But felines aside I like to be stern with children (clear boundaries, ie don't touch me without permission and I'll do the same for you), and straight talking. I like to be fun too, but not *too* fun or they start to cling and don't respect when you say no to playing with them...ahhh
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Haha, I think it's a seriously intense book for kids but I do really like it. I remember the kids who were the most enthusiastic about the 40 hour famine stuff were generally the ones that didn't realise that shit was happening on their doorsteps. The really safe ones who felt shocked that not everyone lived how they did. In a way I think they're the best able to deal with stuff like this because it's not close to reality for them
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Ah yes I can imagine magical thinking from a childer would be hurtful after losing someone, a bit less so than from an adult though because children don't know better so olivia was just thinking your sis had gone off to some awesome magical place rather than empathizing/understanding the other aspects. I have had people justify my illness in godbag terms and it boiled my blood...very different situations of course but i tend to find those god related 'explanations' for suffering to be victim blamey and generally unhelpful! I used to believe in heaven (it was where the carebears lived! I couldn't wait to swim in clouds!) and used to say nanna was weeing on us from heaven when it rained.. Ha oh children.. It would be fun to be dumb like that again :p
I will be teaching George about consent starting now, I already make sure to tell him what I am doing with him "now I am changing your nappy and putting some cream on you" etc, which is what the baby manuals say to do ;) we ain't raising no future rapist!! (sounds harsh to say about my own
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i'm not sure i'd show that to a kid. maybe a year 6 or 7. the kids in sam's family are given cards for christmas which tell the story of children in third worlds, or children in our comunity who arn't as fortunate as we are, and tells them that the money is going to help those children, and how. they do things like the 40 hour famin, etc etc. i remember when i was younger, we learned the story of the burned stick. and european invasion in australia since grade 4, but it wasn't portrayed to the true horror of the events. we also sponcered a few kids in africa in primary school (gold coin donation, from each of us, once a month went to the kids, and we were spoken to about their lives). in maybe year 7, we had to do a drama thing on 'sunday bloody sunday
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Not sure I'd use it for bedtime reading but yeah deffo a good idea to make sure kids know what things are really like for kids in other parts of the world.
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I would also start teaching about sex and consent right away, from reception onwards. Regularly, too. Always reinforcing.
I'm not a coddler ...erm wait no I take that back if it involves cats.. But felines aside I like to be stern with children (clear boundaries, ie don't touch me without permission and I'll do the same for you), and straight talking. I like to be fun too, but not *too* fun or they start to cling and don't respect when you say no to playing with them...ahhh ( ... )
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I will be teaching George about consent starting now, I already make sure to tell him what I am doing with him "now I am changing your nappy and putting some cream on you" etc, which is what the baby manuals say to do ;) we ain't raising no future rapist!! (sounds harsh to say about my own ( ... )
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