by Mary Beougher

Created on: August 08, 2010   Last Updated: August 30, 2010

No additional rating system is needed when it comes to the literature that children read. Books, particularly in the children's section of the bookstore, are already divided by age. Now, these age ranges are recommendations only, but every parent should know at what level of comprehension their child is reading. Along with bookstores having this classification system, school libraries are also arranged by age level and comprehension. In most, if not all areas, parents have to give permission for their child to check out books that are beyond their tested reading level. The authors of children's books are also well aware of what is and is not okay for the age range they are targeting, from content to word count, and they know that if they go outside of what is considered appropriate, their book may not be published or it may be classified in a way they were not intending.

When it comes to books and their content, the ones labeled as teen books are the ones that are usually the most controversial and it is these books that such a system would be used for. These are the books that skirt the boundaries, that are meant to shock and push, and help these emerging adults begin to think for themselves. They may be full of language, sexual situations, drugs, and myriads of other topics that tend to be taboo in conversation. If a parent is not willing to discuss these kinds of things with their child, then of course, they wouldn't want them to read about it.

Each parent must determine on an individual basis what is appropriate for their child, both in comprehension and content. If that means the parent must sit down and read the book in question first, then that is what they should do. Some children will comprehend far above their age level, some may fall well below. It should not be the job of the unknown masses to determine what is appropriate for each individual child.

As parents, we may have to talk to our children about subjects that make us uncomfortable, but it is a responsibility that shouldn't be skirted.  That means monitoring what they watch and read as much as the food that they eat and the toys we give them to play with. Perhaps instead of worrying about putting another label on something to warn parents, it would be better if those parents actually watched, listened to, or read what their child showed interest in. Then, instead of the fear of what a particular child might be reading, these types of stories could be used as a common ground when having the hard conversations that are a simple part of being a parent.

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