[HPforGrownups] Night fears from Harry Potter

[Pam Hugonnet]

No: HPFGUIDX 4399



Peg Kerr wrote:

> I started reading the HP books, like so many of us did, by reading them
> to my children, specifically my oldest daughter Fiona, now 7.

I've been reading the books to my 7 year old also.  She's enjoyed  them
thoroughly.  They have provided a great opportunity to improve her critical
reading skills.

> But I was wondering . . . how about you other parents out there who have
> read Harry Potter to your kids.  Have you encountered any night fears
> due to the books?  How have you handled them?
>

So far we've not had nightmares-- and we do our reading right before bed,
but we have had some very heavy subject matter--and subsequent fears--come
up.  Like Harry's parents being killed.  How lonely Harry must be.  How
could it be possible that a grown-up (Voldemort) would want to hurt a boy.

We've handled them by talking about them exhaustively--not only in the
context of the books and the stories but also by talking about ourselves and
our family and safety issues in the community.   We're up to the second Task
in GoF and she's very curious to read ahead to find out who dies--like you,
I warned her that this book is sadder and scarier than the others, but I did
not tell her who died.

I find that 7 year olds have very active imaginations and they are
especially prone to fears and anxiety.  It may be because they are finally
able to project hypothetical situations onto their own lives (if this can
happen in a book or a movie, it could happen  to me).  I think you are doing
the right things for your daughter and giving her the support she needs to
climb up  this particular developmental step.

drpam