Sadly, many people think their children are incapable of understanding old books. It is likely that attempting to read “Little Britches” or “Betsy-Tacy” out of the blue would yield frustration and confusion. But we do our children a terrible disservice if we deny them a treasury of language, culture, and, above all, excellent storytelling simply because they have had the misfortune of being born in a time when i-Pads are considered default entertainment.
Keep Reading!
Maria Montessori referred to the stage of development of young children as the “absorbent mind.” Indeed, they are sponges for language and ideas. For that reason, the best way for them to get acclimated to antiquated language and concepts is to dive in. Pick up a good book and start reading aloud. Think of books from your own childhood if you don’t know where to start, and there are recommendations to guide you. In the words of St. Augustine, “Tolle, lege.”
But won’t the children be confused?
Beyond the language, there are any number of facts of lifestyle in other times and places that take some getting used to: horse drawn carriages as a mode of daily transportation around town, shillings as currency, telegrams for communication, medical treatments of yesteryear. Resist the urge to try to explain every unfamiliar word or practice. And discourage frequent interruption for questions (not advice you’ll often get, but it makes a difference!). A kind but firm, “Let’s keep reading to find out!” will suffice to keep the ball rolling. Too many explanatory interludes or the entertainment of too many questions is dull and boring.
Think of how strange and new the world is for children generally (when they are not distracted by mind-numbing passive entertainment). They are—by necessity—capable of picking up on clues and piecing together a comprehensible narrative about what this world is and what is happening in it. Within a fictional universe with some antiquated language, it is no different. But we have to give them enough information to start to understand. Just keep reading!
Let Questions Come Later
Make no mistake, children will be perplexed by some of the content. They will have wrongheaded ideas about how things work or what the major plot points were. Fear not! What is more remarkable than temporary confusion is how much they can understand. Children at surprisingly young ages can follow epic tales with complex and unfamiliar diction, because that is how the human mind works if we give it the opportunity.
Of course, having a conversation about the broader plot and the details of daily life in a particular story is often beneficial. The conversation does not have to occur immediately, though. Weeks or months later, children may spring a question on us about something we read that they didn’t understand. That is not a problem. Let them puzzle on it.
We don’t have to wait to talk about whatever unfamiliar content we just read, though. Within a few hours or days, adults can ask a few follow up questions or provide some explanation. But it is ok to simply let a story be enjoyed without drilling reading comprehension and history lessons. Those will come with time and be much more enjoyable when not forced.
The switch from passive entertainment to the mental exercise of old books requires effort. But it is worthwhile effort that will, if you persist, give your family culture texture and color. While a PBS kids’ show predictably progresses in the canon of currently approved lifestyle choices, language, and themes, there is very little to ignite further thinking. You (and your child, even if they don’t realize it) already know how every episode is going to end. Those well-worn neural pathways wend their way once more, cut off from deeper maps of meaning and defining narrow limits for what we can conceive of as possible and desirable.
Put forth effort now to plant the seeds of a life worth living.
Revisit Beloved Books in the Family Library
It is unlikely that one pass through an old book will be the end of it. Your children will not remember the plot and all the historical details, and they don’t have to. When you realize that they forgot all of the Jewish holidays recounted in “All of a Kind Family” and they were too young to comprehend “Little House in the Big Woods” when it was read to their older siblings, this is not evidence of failure. It just means you can read it again soon!
Developing a family library and planning to reread good books gives everyone permission to forget a few things and look forward to the next reading. And you can think of it as a gift for yourself. You have the assurance of a wonderful book to read without the legwork of tracking it down or working through it the first time. The books can become old familiar friends, encouraging the growth in childlike enjoyment in your own heart as much as your children.
Turn off the tablet and the TV. Put away the latest ugly children’s book about bad ideas. You can give yourself and your family the gift of old books, good books that have stood the test of time. Your children can handle it if you give them a chance.
