Each time it gets me thinking and I can't help but wonder. Would I let my tween daughter read Twilight? Would I just let her watch the movie? Would I let her read the books and watch the movie? Would I read the books first?
It seems like each time I have girls in the store talking about Twilight, they are younger and younger. Maybe it's my imagination, but they just seem so young! Perhaps it's because I likethe books and I feel ashamed? Although, on the other hand, I loved Harry Potter (more than Twilight) and never felt one ounce of embarrassment over obsessing about Harry and his adventures at Hogwarts.
Back to the point though. Why would I not let my daughter read Twilight? There are several reasons why, 1.) It starts out young and innocent, but quickly morphs into a more adult relationship, which leads me to my second point, 2) The subject of pre-marital sex is there in the "will they, or won't they" sense, and 3.) What kind of message are we sending to young girls? To give their lives to a boy?
Now for the reasons I would let her read Twilight... 1.) It's just fantasy, and as long as she understands that, I am fine with it, 2.) I would rather her be reading then watching tv or worse, messing around on the internet, and 3.) Knowing myself, I would be reading it right along with her so it would be great mother/daughter bonding time! Oh wait, and one more (SPOILER! Stop now if you haven't read it!) 4.) The fact that Bella and Edward waited until they were married to have sex sends such a positive message to young girls.
So, my conclusion is I would let my tween daughter read Twilight, although I would want to read it first and perhaps restrict the final installment, Breaking Dawn for when I felt she is mature enough for the sex scenes.
How about you? What age is too young? There are girls aged 8 and 9 currently reading the series, do you think that is too young?
7 comments:
Hmmm. Interesting topic. I'd say that 8 or 9 is a little too young. Especially when they start to think about sex and such - if I had a daughter that age, I wouldn't let her read it. I think you're doing the right thing by allowing your tween daughter to read it, but leaving 'Breaking Dawn' off limits for the while.
Up to 'New Moon' there isn't really much about sex, and at that age, most girls have heard about it anyway, and it doesn't go into too much graphics on it than some other books.
Thought I'd just drop my two cents =)
Cheers!
Robyn
I think I would let like a 10 or 11 year old read them but there's no way I'd let a tween read the Sookie Stackhouse novels. Those are like hard core with the vampire sex and graphics
I do think girls who are a little too young for the Twilight books are reading them because "everybody else is." Even crazier I've seen these same young girls reading The Host, which is marketed as an adult not even a teen book.
I used to read a book a day in elementary school and I'm not talking See Jane Run stuff. I used to read a bunch of books that were way above my reading level.
My parents started buying me V.C. Andrews books when I was in the 5th grade so I think that would make me about 10 or 11.
Most kids my age wouldn't pick up a book that thick and I think the same goes for Twilight. Maybe all these girls obsessing over it haven't actually read the book (which is much more detailed) but rather saw the movie and just think that Rob is the hottest thing since Paul Walker?
Out of all the kids in my family that have read/watched Twilight they are all "older", like 14 and up.
I don't think I'd have a problem with my tween kid reading it because I do plan on instilling morals and values in my children and explaining to them the difference between real and fake.
I don't know what the appropriate age should be but I agree that it is better than having them watch TV, right?
But then think about women our age and thinking Jacob (who is total jail bait) thinking that he is hot. My friend told me that after the New Moon trailer came out and when I told her that he was only 16/17, she freaked.
BTW, I am 30 & I heart Edward/Robert Pattinson. Thankfully he is in his mid 20's. LOL
My sister-in-law is a gifted teacher and the mother of one of her students asked if she should let her 4th grade daughter read the books. My SIL read them and concluded she thought it would be ok to read the first book, but the others the student should probably be older. She thought it wouldn't be fair to the girl to let her start on the books, but not finish them.
Personally, I wouldn't let me daughter read them at 8 or 9, but at 12ish, I think it would be okay. However, I was very sheltered by my parents and really resent that now. I don't want to be that kind of parent. I think when you forbid your kid to do something, it makes them want to do it all the more and it isn't healthy.
yikes I'm conservative I think, because I wouldn't want to let them read it until high school! :)
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