4 ms·
I've always been fascinated by how some children's book authors are able to bring up story lines which tap into feelings that arise at various ages (i.e death,
by caro_douglos 8y ago
I've always been fascinated by how some children's book authors are able to bring up story lines which tap into feelings that arise at various ages (i.e death, divorce, etc). I watched Mr Roger's growing up but really had no idea everything seen was a smartly curated way to make children more empathetic and analytical.
- JauntyHatAngle 8y agoHonestly, I think most of society has a big blind spot on child education. I would wager most of society reckons child education - whether a book writer, media creator or a school teacher - is a pretty basic and run of the mill sort of job/thing to do. But more and more I'm seeing that it's a profession and an area that really requires a lot more thought and need for well trained professionals being given space to do their thing just like any other professions. Unfortunately, I really don't think people give them much respect, and/or funding for that matter.
- pjc50 8y agoThe great problem was the discovery of "pester power": children are particularly susceptible to advertising. That's why children's media tends to have selling toys as a primary objective, unless it's some sort of state-funded low-budget Reithian production.
- kasey_junk 8y agoOr if it’s books.
- boomboomsubban 8y agoI doubt that print would be immune from such advertising. Particularly kids books that often contain pictures.
- emodendroket 8y agoPrint takes fewer people and less money to produce than a cartoon
- boomboomsubban 8y agoThe incentive to make as much money as possible is still there. These ideas have been common in comic books for a century.
- emodendroket 8y agoI think the point is that a principled author can easily choose to write a different book.
- bunderbunder 8y agoIt definitely happens, and there are a lot of really bad children's books whose primary purpose is to fit into merchandising empires out there. But the ratio of quality work to crap is much higher in children's books than in other media. Especially if you stick to children's books that aren't attached to toys or other media. Compare, for example, anything Disney, where the books are often just a long series of nonsequiturs with barely any narrative structure, let alone emotional depth, to anything by Philip Stead.
- Taylor_OD 8y agoDo you have other suggestions for media for children? I've got a niece and nephew I'd love to be able to point in the right direction.
- tcbawo 8y agoCommonsensemedia.org has many resources and parent-driven (and child-driven) reviews.