Write 31 Days of Children’s Literature

Usually in October I participate in a Write 31 Days challenge. Last year was the last time for it but I always enjoyed it! Even if I didn’t finish sometimes. I felt accomplished the couple years that I did finish the whole month! I wanted to continue the Write 31 Days challenge this year. My topic is 31 things I have learned from the Children’s literature classes I’m taking.

I have been taking a children’s literature class from Hillsdale College. I will be taking other literature courses and will be discussing them as well this month. There are video lectures and discussion boards. The first two lectures were about imagination and the moral imagination. These were more of an introduction to children’s literature and what we these stories can teach children. It also made sure to point out that it is okay for adults to read children’s literature. Some of the classic stories, like The Lord of the Rings series, were actually intended for adults, but have entertained children as well. Children’s literature is a chance for children to see life in a different way, see things that have happened in history, but also things that didn’t happen.

We mostly think about fairy tales when we think of children’s literature! The stories that start out with a “Once Upon A Time” and end with a “Lived Happily Ever After”. I will talk about fairy tales later in the month. These are not the only stories in children’s literature though. Fantasy stories are popular too. Stories like The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe and the Harry Potter series.

I am focusing today on moral imagination. I didn’t know what this was when I first heard about it. Children are still forming good habits. If you train them to do what is good and right then they will know what is good and right.

Children should be brought up in such a way that they will love virtue and hate vice.

Plato

We should see characters that demonstrate virtues. Make them appealing and make children want to do the things they are doing.

Exploring good and evil is a common theme used in children’s literature. Our moral imagination tells us what should be while our imagination tells us what could be.

Children need to experience good to know that there is good in the world. They have these good experiences through been read to, music, art, conversations. These all help inform our children of the morals in life.

I know I said this will be 31 days of posts but I’m actually thinking of doing it as more of a weekly series instead. It will be easier for me to write! Haha! I’m looking forward to sharing what I have learned from taking these courses with you!