[HPFGU-OTChatter] HELP! Any fellow parents of young Potter fans out there....

[Sam Edwards]

Hello Andromeda,
                          I've only recently caved in and let my three-year-old watch the first film, having been pestered about it for months. She's more than coped but I'm in no rush to let her see the next two and we won't be reading them for years. She's used to wicked witches in Disney films being killed off but I'm not sure how long my "it will be alright in the end" will apply in Harry Potter. It works for most kids stories. 
I can appreciate why you're worried. I once took a college course on Human Development which covered death and bereavment. I have a vague memory of being taught that kids don't really understand the idea of death being permenant until around seven, although they can experience grief much younger. How has she coped with the idea that Voldy killed Harry's parents? Or that Sirius and Remus were prepared to kill Peter Pettigrew? Does she respond to talking about any of the moral issues raised in the books? Could you use Dumbledore's end of term speech about doing what is right rather than what is easy to help her understand what's going on? 
You'll know best how she reacts to upsetting things, in stories and in real life.
If you don't feel that she's ready to cope with the material in the books then why not let it end with Harry winning the triwizard tounament until she's a bit older. I don't think Harry is going to get much short-term peace for a while yet so it might be a good idea to leave it until she's a bit older. Do you read fanfic? Perhaps you could look out some kiddie friendly ones to tide her over?
 
Good luck with it and let me know how you get on! I'll be in that position myself all too soon I'm sure
Sam

lavaluvn <lavaluvn at yahoo.com> wrote:

HI everyone, I have a bit of a dilemma.  My six-year-old daughter 
has gone and become a Harry Potter fanatic, which naturally thrilled 
me at first.  I've really enjoyed reading the books out loud to 
her.  My problem is that we've just reached the last part of GOF and 
Cedric is going to die (tomorrow night, yikes!) and OOTP lurks in 
the near future.  Has anyone else out there read Books 4 or 5 to 
their young children?  I'm tempted to put off OOTP indefinitely, if 
I can get away with it.  I've done a little judicious editing of 
language now and then, but not cut much out, and now I don't know 
what to do with the heavy stuff that's coming.

Anyone have any ideas, recommendations, anecdotes that might help...?

Thanks much!

Andromeda






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