I generally have appreciated her writing and commentary on the Slate website and podcasts, but this article demonstrates Emily Bazelon over thinks parenting just a little too much. Good to know that SW still captures the imagination of the newest generations though…
Interesting reads…I personally think i would allow my kids to watch Star Wars around the age of 5 or 6 (that is once i get said kids). It does warm my heart to see that Star Wars still has a massive impact on the kids. It was awesome when i was going around with my Realtor back in November and her son who was about 8 to 10 was excited about getting Star Wars toys as a reward for getting good grades. With the addition of the Clone Wars (which is far more excellent than i could ever imagine)(also something i may not show kids till they are 8 or 9…i think its far more violent than any of the movies, except for Sith maybe) to the franchise and the Live Action series coming out sometime in the next couple years i dont think Star Wars will ever die. One day down the line when GL dies some one will make Sequels (hopefully based on the Trawn series) or even way down the line they will remake all the series (which i think i would be cool with in 20 years or so) and a whole new generation of geekyness will start again.
I think what makes the saga so awesome is that GL took his stories from Myths that everyone knows and put on an awesome facade over it. It is instinctual that we will like it because that is how stories have been told for thousands of years.
How is it that those kids from the Slate article are well versed in the Hobbit by age 5/6? Are there Hobbit picture books/beginning readers for that age group or something?
Possibly read to them as a (multinight) bedtime story…
Possibly the cartoon, although I could have read (with help) the book by age six.
Come to think, they might be bragging.
Pike, you were pretty precocious!
Maybe. It’s been pretty much downhill from there.
Couldn’t read all of the article because I found her annoying and way over-thinking! We took ConnerAZ to see the 20 year re-release at age four. Never occurred to us not to. How incredible is it to share your love of Star Wars with your child? It’s priceless! I have never regretted taking him so young. The younger child, BrettAZ could hum the theme at 18 months- that’s just how much re watched our VHS copies and later DVDs.
In fact, I tripped over a random lightsaber blocking the laundry room just last week.
My cousin’s two-year-old will start singing the Imperial March if you get her started. I tried to capture it on video a while back, but she was in a shy mood.
You must get that video!