Little Lives


In my last article, A Book About Me, I wrote how children love to read about other kids. If you feel your children are showing enough curiosity encourage them to read biographies, autobiographies and published diaries. This kind of reading material offers them a real glimpse into real peoples lives. To fully capture their imagination be sure to focus on those written by young people or about young lives. Literature of this kind can be a valuable tool for learning many different issues about their own lives.

Such books address their concerns and everyday problems indirectly. Kids facing challenges to what most would consider normal, can find great comfort in reading about children in similar situations. Moving to a new suburb, state or country; starting school for the first time; attending a new school; facing an operation; illness in the family; death of a pet or close family member are all typical examples. These issues and more are aspects other kids have lived through. Some have been considerate enough to write their thoughts down. Instead of giving lectures to your kids let them read how other kids handled the same situation. It’s a perfect example of ‘show don’t tell.'

Books written from a first person point of view expose kids to different views and outlooks. The people in these books face the same daily struggles in a different time or place. They can discover and see how their very same problems experienced by children the world over. Kids the world over battle similar problems and choose a variety of solutions. Your kids can learn to discern which were wise choices and which turned out to be foolish. It’s a great way to expose them to different cultures and religions. Also an interesting way to make geography and history lessons come alive.

Biographical books inspire them to live great lives, to dream and desire a better future for themselves. Experiencing the hardship of others puts their own lives in perspective. It can make them stop and think -- my life isn’t so bad after all. This gives them courage to face another day of their own life struggles. It gives them hope and meaning to know if someone else made it through, so can they. There is nothing more motivational than reading how other people achieved their dreams.

There are many benefits in having your kids read about people who share their experiences. Well written autobiographies can show them human suffering and tragedy. From this they learn to have compassion for others and begin to develop empathy, also how to tolerant others. Especially those facing greater challenges than your own kids. I believe this will make them better, more rounded individuals, eventually growing into compassionate and caring members of society.

The copyright of the article Little Lives in Children's Reading is owned by Heather Goldsmith. Permission to republish Little Lives in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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