7y/o reading the newspaper?

[luckyJess]

My nearly 7 yr old DS has taken to reading the newspaper. I can't decide whether its a good thing or not?

He is a free reader, but we struggle to find books that he can read himself that he really enjoys. He loves the more advance Roald Dhal books but the text is still a little heavy for him, so prefers us to read to him.

Reading the paper leads to alot of questions about current affairs etc, and he had been very intereseted in the recent volano. But i am worried he might read something really unsuitable and how I would answer questions about it?

Its a tabloid as well, although he doesnt seem to pay any attention to page 3!

What do you think? Thanks.

The Sun is not a newspaper

I don't see why not. But then I don't agree with shielding children from news events. Provided you are on hand to answer his questions I think it's fine.

Buy a better newspaper.

My 8yo ds reads the sports pages of the Guardian. He doesn't understand it all but he gets the gist and likes the pictures.

But personally I would not let him anywhere near a tabloid - not due to crap news reporting, but due to some very suspect tabloid attitudes.

Maybe you need to find something else for him to read - if he is interested in factual stuff, what about something like the WOW Book or letting him read the Newsround website?

There's too much sex, nudity, and downright offensive opinions in a tabloid newspaper for a 7yo, IMO.

What about First News- the children's paper- my ds has always read the sports pages (not tabloid).
What about a more "educational" magazine- National Geographic for children, or a nature one?
Great that he loves reading- long may it last!

Would second the First News suggestion, my lot love it.

yep, would third First News, my three read it cover to cover.

Ds reads the sports pages of the newspapers, I have to fight him off to get to it first. He is 7.

We get the National Geopgraphic Kids delivered monthly too.

Thanks for all your thoughts.

I suppose my main worry was that the type or newspaper was not suitable. Is DH that buys the paper... broadsheets are not his thing!

First news sound good...is it weekly? Will google.

Thanks for the link, weegiemum. Looks like the type of book he would love.

Just subscribed to First News. I think he will love it. Now I have to nag DH not to leave his paper lying around!

Thanks again.

I was reading the Guardian when I was 7/8, I distinctly remember the embarrassing conversation that ensued when I asked my dad what a prostitute was (after having read about the Yorkshire Ripper)!

I think that reading a quality paper is a good thing and I wouldn't discourage it. A tabloid on the other hand...

ds sits and reads The Times, he did this on the break when he had his entrance exam, they offered him a place though.

If your child is in to current affairs where we live we have 2 quite good current affairs newspapers run by newspapers for children both are available online.
Daily 10 which is more sound bites ( supposed to be for age 10 but DD was reading this at 6/7)
SCMP young post which she has delivered daily but is alos available online.
Im sure if you google you could find them.

National geographic has been a favourite too.
DD will read our International Herald and we dont discourage it. Its great for vocab and an understanding of the wider world.

Whilst I agree with tabloids content the very clever play on words with headlines can be worth looking at. I can see how DD has incorporated "grabbing headlines" in her some of her school work.

We subscribed to the Early Times when I was around 9 or 10 (does it not exist any more?) and I really enjoyed the feeling of being all adult and knowledgeable and stuff.

I would be very dubious about tabloids, though. They're vile.

I used to read the paper when I was that age and back in the unenlightened seventies it was the Sun I think. I didn't develop any worrying attitudes However, I now don't take a newspaper at all and I detest the red tops with a passion! Make of that what you will ...

I wouldn't. There are lots of articles that are quite scary and unsuitable for children. Gun crime, murders, knife crime, etc.

I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing for them to learn about such things though Blueberry, as long as it's in a calm and rational way and not with tabloid sensationalism. They can see them on the news anyway.

You have to be a bit careful. My DC read the newspaper left out for recycling and read the Madeleine (sp?) McCann story when he was about six. He was way too old to read something like that.

sorry to hijack but does anyone have a discount code for First news would love to get DS a subscription and want to check there isnt a fab offer I've missed out on at all???