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