to think that Charlotte's Web is inappropriate for a 4 year old ?

[OnEdge]

My DD 4 has just started in reception. Each morning they choose a book to read and bring it home and we read it to her. I am not familiar with this book. So we all settled down and I began reading it to my 1,2 and 4 year old. I had to really quickly sensor it. I think that the threat of death to the pig is a bit much for a 4 year old to understand, there is reference to a man fetching his axe to kill the baby pig. Also, she is trying to grasp English, and this is an American book. Had I read it out word for word, she would not have understood much of it, and the bit she understood would have disturbed her.

Do you think IABU ? Or is it inappropriate for her ?

I just havn't explained it to her, she hasn't asked me directly. We did Autumn and leaves dying, and she said that was sad. I said summert about them making room for the new leaves in the spring.

Yes, I remember being a bit freaked out by some of them too, i can picture that little thing, what was he called....Rumpelstiltskin

This isn't about being a ghoul or spooky, this is about reality! FFS, you are feeding your child dead pig, but you're too afraid to read her a story that touches on the subject!

Astounding!

I'm not afraid to read it to her, I just think its a bit much for her to deal with aged 4

A four year old has the capacity to understand that pig has to die for her to eat the meat. If you're worried that she'll be upset by this, stop feeding her pigs, don't avoid the story!

Well......would it be right to let her watch footage of a man setting fire to himself ? It is a reality.....

I read it to DS1 when he was 4, though sadly he had already experienced loss of a much loved grandparent so for him the subject wasn't a new thing/shock.

Personally I would read it to my other chidren at that age but can see why some people might not.

But you're not encouraging her to set fire to a man (I hope), but you ARE feeding her dead pigs. She's involved in that. If you can't tell her the truth then there's something wrong.

I agree that she has the capacity to understand that the pig has to die, but why does she have to figure it all out just yet ?

So should we not feed meat to children until they are able to decide about the ethics of it ?

If you don't tell her where meat comes from no doubt some well-meaningchild in school will. As they will the facts of life, often with gruesome non-factual details. Not to mention their version of the tooth fairy, Santa and everything else you try to protect her from. Sorry.

Afraid to tell your DC that they eat dead animals because it will sadden and disgust them, yet you continue to deed them dead animals. Shame on you!

Jelliclecat But that will not make me tell her that Santa does not exist, just in case someone in the playground beats me to it, I will try and let her believe in it as long as I can. I want to protect her innocence and her childhood as long as I can. I don't want to ruin it for her.

Ah now, Santa is a step too far.

If I didn't feed my children dead animals until they were old enough to have a conscience about it, I fear they would become malnourished.

Why? Don't you know how to cook or anything about nutrition?

Are you for real??

or know anything about nutrition?

I know that they evolved as meat eaters, and that protein derived from meat is an essential part of their diet.

Onedge, I thought needsaholiday was being a bit hard on you, until you decided to call our children undernourished!
I think your post about what you grew up with is very revealing (and sad). Isn't it the way though, we either repeat our parents' mistakes or try to avoid them entirely, and in doing so just make new ones of our own?

but if the pig doesnt die, then surely that is the whole bloody point of the book????

Blimey, at 4 I was reading fairy stories where people died all the time in them, it didnt traumatise me!

Yeah, protein is only found in meat. I see very, very basic nutrition information has passed you by then.

I did not set out to insult anyone, and I did not call anyones children undernourished, I was referring to my children. I think that you have twisted my words to make out that i am being insulting.

My DD and I are veggie and always have been - she is certainly not malnourished. I decided to raise her under my principles until she made up her own mind - perhaps that's why I answered questions about death and dying so early.
She has chosen not to eat meat - that may change. But she's not sentimental about it, her favourite programme is that animal autopsy one, where they chop us whales and camels. She just wants to know, she's never been traumatised by the concept of death.

IME, children are curious, but essentially self-absorbed .

Vitamin B12 usually is, pretty essential in my view.

Personally I've always been open about where meat comes from and one of my children became veggie at the age of 2 as he felt Squamish about eating fish and meat. He reverted to eating meat at 5ish but for 3 years or so he refused all meat including burgers and nuggets at fast food places.

I was fine with him being veggie as I can understand the reasoning . Nobody is suggesting that she sees a slaughter.