Should children’s Books Contain Social Issues?
“Egmont has acquired a picture book aimed at helping young children understand dementia or memory loss in elderly relatives.” (Docherty, 2019) This book aims to try and help children understand what is happening to families facing the effects of dementia. Some may see this book as particularly helpful for children of a family not using a care home. This is due to “the personal costs [that] have been documented in terms of physical stresses and strains and the constraints caregiving places on day-to-day living.” (Innes, 2009) However, others may argue that children should be shielded from the issues that adults face.
Another question is what is an appropriate way to discuss this with children. The idea of discussing topics like dementia and death are often daunting for parents. “Children often have difficulty talking about unpleasant topics. However, open discussion can help the child deal with difficult or embarrassing topics and dispel irrational fears.” (Blatt, 2018) Arguing that by discussing the topic children may become more open and understanding about social and family topics which may affect them in the future. Many new children’s books contain stories with LGBT parents as well as more ethnic diversity, as an attempt to teach children that being different is ok.
In an article for the Guardian Graves (2019) asks why children’s books are seeing a shift towards more diversity in recent years. Despite only 7% of children’s book being written by authors from minority groups both authors and publishers are starting to see that by excluding minority groups that they are affecting the mindset of children. In an interview Rizik-Baer (an early childhood education advocate) recalled an experience with a child “ ‘¿Por qué somos rubias?’ she recalled asking the girl, who was dark-haired like her. (“Why are we blonde?”) The girl’s response — ‘Because we’re smart’ — broke her heart and helped change her career trajectory.” (Graves, 2019) The response of the child suggests that by excluding diversity in children’s books the children that belong to these minority groups miss out on key skills for development such as self-confidence.
However, these books and teachings are not always welcomed by parents as demonstrated in the 2019 stricks outside Anderton Park School. The school had included a new curriculum based around the book “no outsiders” which sparked protests from parents. “They said the underlying message of the school’s equality teaching — namely that it is ‘okay to be gay’ — was at odds with the religious view of the majority Muslim parents and other faiths.” (Haynes, 2019) Whilst the government approved that the teachings were age-appropriate, the backlash from parents show that no matter how many books are written on these subject some children will never read them as their parents won’t allow it.
What children read is mainly controlled by the adults around them, therefore a book that one group of parents may feel is appropriate for their child is different from what another parent may consider appropriate. However, the general idea of these books is to empower children with the skills to deal with these issues in real life when they are adults. As more diversity and social issues are included children feel more represented and feel more like they belong within that community.
Blatt, S. (2018) Overview of Social Issues Affecting Children. MSD Manual, Consumer Version [online] Available at: <https://www.msdmanuals.com/en-gb/home/children-s-health-issues/social-issues-affecting-children-and-their-families/overview-of-social-issues-affecting-children> [Accessed October 11, 2019]
Docherty, K. (2019) Picture book for families of dementia sufferers signed by Egmont. The Bookseller [online] Available at: <https://www.thebookseller.com/news/picture-book-families-dementia-sufferers-signed-egmont-1096496> [Accessed October 11, 2019]
Graves, L. (2019). A is for Activist: why children’s books are getting political. The Guardian [online] ( last updated 10:00 AM, 2 May 2019)Available at: <https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/may/02/childrens-books-political-diversity-shift> [Accessed October 12, 2019]
Haynes, J. (2019) Behind the gates of Anderton Park — the Sparkhill school at the centre of national debate. Birmingham Live [online] (last updated 08:25 AM, 12 October 2019) Available at: <https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/behind-gates-anderton-park-sparkhill-17070003> [Accessed October 12, 2019]
Innes, A. (2009) Dementia studies : a social science perspective. Los Angeles: SAGE. Available through Oxford Brookes Library website <https://www-dawsonera-com.oxfordbrookes.idm.oclc.org/readonline/9780857026651> [Accessed: October 10, 2019].
