Helping Young Readers Build Discernment

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Handing Over the Library Cards

 

We spent the early years of our kids lives fostering a love for books and laying the foundation for developing discernment. We read thousands of stories to our kids by the time they were teens. Our children love to read. They know the thrill of going the places only a great story can take them.

As they grew into teens, they wanted more reading and were hungry to make their own book choices.

We wanted them to take the reins of their reading selections. We were confident that we had poured great books into their lives and they knew what examples of good writing looked like. They’ve read hundreds of diverse books as a part of our regular school curriculum. We weren’t worried that they would be shocked by current fiction. If you have read through the Bible with your family, you will discover that there are no subjects left uncovered. We have had plenty of tough topical discussions.

My worry centered the subtle and cunning arguments in favor the destructive behaviors that come from serving ones own desires. Our kids are far from sheltered or naive. If fact, we often intentionally chose to read books from world views that differ from our own. Those books offered challenges and discussions that helped them solidify their critical thinking skills and build a solid foundation for their personal beliefs.

A leap into YA fiction would be different. Many of these authors have a message and are subtly and cunningly packaging it in beautiful, relatable teen characters. The media will always be an area where even adults require the full armor of God to discern truth.

 

Raising teens to think for themselves means turning decision making over to them at some point.
Laying Foundations for World View Your Kids Will Build On

Building a Solid Biblical World View

As a family, we have worked endlessly to help our kids develop a world view that is derived from a Biblical truth, but still I was hesitant. There are a lot of books out there. As an avid reader of a broad spectrum of genres, I have returned a few books to the library unfinished because I felt a conflict with my beliefs. I have read books that glorify infidelity and openly applaud pedophiles, crooks and murderers. I have a strong Biblical World View to make comparisons to. The world view that is offered by the current media sells a version of morality that bends to fit the individual teller, especially in fiction.

Could our kids carry the weight of discernment without our constant guidance?

This is an honest question every parent has to ask themselves at some point in time. We can not guard and protect our kids forever if they are to mature. There comes a time when we will trust as they develop the tools we have given them. Our goal was always to have independent thinkers; kids who can rightfully discern the Word of Truth. This means turning them loose as they reach adulthood, giving them autonomy.

Just like when they walked, rode their bike around the first blind corner, drove off for the first time, we trust in what we can not see. We have to be brave and trust the work we have done and the leading of the Holy Spirit when our kids become adults.

 

Do not Fear. God says it 365 times in His Word. That is once for every day of the year.

Helping You Teen Understand the Need For Discernment

What could we do to help them bridge this gap in media and fiction?

Our final step to help them transition to freedom in the library was to offer our teens a personal study about developing discernment. The guided study was written by a fellow homeschool grad and fiction author, Chawna Schroeder. Bearing the Sword – Developing Discernment Through Scripture & Story. It was created to help teens judge the media that comes before them on a daily basis and learn to hear the message that the writer is intending for the audience. It then challenges them to compare those messages to the truth of God’s Word. It created a great way to talk about the challenges they would face as they enter the world of social media, sometimes full of both; loudly screaming, and cunningly whispered messages.

Developing Discernment with Media in Mind
Bearing the Sword

Doing a transitional study helped bridge our communication, gave our kids a way to create their own guidelines and offered us a way to have discussions about their reading without beginning with judgement. I highly recommend finding one to fit your family. We will be doing it again with my new tweens.

 

Do not fear. If you lay a good foundation, you too will one day you will be turning over the reins to discerning teen readers with confidence.

 

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