2 Simple steps to raising smart readers
A free guide to igniting curiosity in kids for culturally responsive parents and educators
Protecting your kids - an alternative to book banning
At some point, your kiddo is going to come across some incel garbage on YouTube, a messed up meme at school, or some random supremacist advertisement full of misogynist horrors.
And you won’t be around to unpack how problematic it is and protect their impressionable little brains.
So you could do like I did for the first few years of their lives. Obsessively pre-screen all the media they could ever consume.
I never censor my kids’ reading, but I used to read every book they read, asking about the problematic tropes I found in each story.
(Mostly gently! But okay, occasionally with a long rant about subtle bias and the violence of erasure.)
As they venture out into the world without me, I want them to celebrate intellectual freedom - to explore whatever they are curious about, without me lurking over their shoulders.
That’s why I spent so many of those early years coaching them on how to read during our bedtime stories together.
Kids need skills to notice problematic messages in the media - even (especially?) when you’re not around
You want your kids to feel safe picking up controversial political novels, terrible dinosaur robot erotica, and thrilling sci-fi fantasy as they grow and explore the world.
But you don’t want to raise kids who absorb all the bullshit books and movies tell us about saviorism, white supremacy, ableism, and misogyny.
So instead of prescribing which books to read, banning libraries, or hovering over them for the rest of your life - show them how to get curious about the stories we consume.
Asking questions like…
Are the makers of this book writing from lived experience?
Who benefits from us reading this story?
Who’s voices are missing from this story?
Foster your kiddo’s responsibility to not just consume more, but consume critically.
Step 1: Model Critical Reading For Kids
You’ve got dinner to prepare and your kid just slipped ten dollars worth of pennies into the vents of your car. You don’t have the time to walk them through each and every single book!
So I made this easy for you.
Download this free guide by Raising Luminaries to get started. Use the questions and guidance to get your kiddo thinking about different perspectives, who’s missing, and how the stories they read reflect the culture we live in.
Join the The Luminary Braintrust parenting support group to support my work on Raising Luminaries aaaand get access to even more workshops, trainings, and tools to make the endless tasks of parenting and advocacy much easier
Step 2: Listen to Real Kids
I have a weird ick. It’s adults who recommend children’s books without testing to see if they are actually engaging for real children. Ageism! It’s gross!
Now that my kids are getting too old to review picture books through the lens of a little kid, I’ve teamed up with a with young reader in our community who can give her perspective on whether a book is actually fun and interesting to read.
Everybody, meet Isabela, our #OwnVoices kid’s book reviewer. Isabela volunteered her review on the book ‘Hooray For She, He, Ze, and They!’ through her perspective as a trans 7-year-old.
If your kiddo has strong feelings about a book that represents an identity they are proud of, leave a comment on Isabela’s post and share with us - what books do your actual kids recommend, and why?
Showing up for your community despite fear and uncertainty
How do you hold space for your kids and community while living under the shadow of impending doom?
Join our parenting workshop to be the caregiver you kids need - even when the world feels like it's falling apart.
'Parenting Through Uncertainty' is the second in the series of our 'Parenting The Path of Least Resistance Workshop' Series, Hosted by Raising Luminaries & Come Back To Care.
Register by October 16 to receive a recording or attend live for a bonus Q&A session. Donations welcome, but sliding scales and free attendance are available if cost is a barrier for you.
Makign Space for LBT & Ignition Notes Supporters: What does support look like for you?
Bonus hangouts for the lovely folks who support my work here and in the Luminary Braintrust. We’ll unpack our current challenges, brainstorm ways to support each other, and get excuses to say ‘no’ to the bullshit that keeps draining us.
Tuesday, October 8th - 2p ET | 1p CT | 12p MT | 11a PT
Thursday, October 24th - 6p ET | 5p CT | 4p MT | 3p PT
Tuesday, November 12th - 2p ET | 1p CT | 12p MT | 11a PT
Thursday, November 28th - 6p ET | 5p CT | 4p MT | 3p PT
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