Forum Index
»
Elementary School-Aged Kids
At What Age Should Children Be Introduced to Books with Transgender Characters?
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
| OP I believe you are asking this question out of the goodness of your heart but in case you are not, I'd encourage other posters not to name the "some school" who are introducing these books in 1st grade. Feels slightly like a trap. |
Anonymous
|
I think 12 is fine. I do not think it’s appropriate to introduce to young children, nor do I think it’s appropriate for young children to decide to change their gender. Children may experience gender non conformity- which is not the same as being trans and is not gender dysmorphia.
But I do want to encourage inclusiveness- and if they did have a classmate that transitioned we’d talk about it. |
Anonymous
| My kid's defacto uncle, the guy who introduced me to my husband, is trans. So my kid's been around someone who is trans his whole life. |
Anonymous
| Crazy to introduce that young |
Anonymous
Why do you say that? |
Anonymous
+1. No need to push an agenda. When the topic comes up, it comes up. |
Anonymous
|
Some of the Raina Telgemeier graphic novels (geared toward upper elementary) have queer characters (can’t remember if any are trans). I know my kid read those and I don’t think batted an eye.
The series with Crush, Awkward… can’t remember the rest, there definitely was a teacher who used Mx. - again, wasn’t made a big deal of, just a character who existed doing teacher stuff. I will admit that books asking young kids to explicitly explore their own identity would give me pause, as I think that can be confusing for some kids. I haven’t encountered many books like that though. |
Anonymous
It’s not an agenda. It’s the way someone chooses to live their life and identify. |
Anonymous
| Any age. there are a lot of children's books on this |
Anonymous
| The whole notion that we should wait to introduce our kids to the idea of trans people is so degrading. Trans people are people. They exist. Asking what the appropriate age to acknowledge they exist is to say they are doing something not age appropriate by simply existing and being alive. Substitute that with "what is the appropriate age to be introduced to Indian people (just an example, don't come for me)" and you'll have your answer. |
Anonymous
My thoughts are that my kids see more straight people and traditional lifestyle in our world and they have never even interacted with a trans person. Trans lifestyle is still not mainstream for them. I grew up in India where I saw the trans community (hijras) living like a pariah community. My kids have not even seen this here. There is no reason to insert a character in a book unless there is a need for it. So, I cannot imagine why a trans character is in a regular book? If it is a book about the struggles of a trans student then I have no problem for my kids to read it. I do not depend on the school to keep my kids informed. Especially at a young age. |
Anonymous
| Whatever age it happens to come up in a story they're otherwise interested in based on the plot/themes/shiny cover/whatever other reason kids pick books |
Anonymous
| Are you sending your kids to public or Catholic school? Both of my kids have has trans or gay friends starting in about 5th grade. They don’t care at all and it’s not seen as something you need to be introduced to. It just is and no one cares. |
Anonymous
|
Never. Let them pick the books they want to read.
I would take my kids to the library or bookstore and they would select what they wanted. |
Anonymous
|
Red, a Crayon's Story by Michael Hall is a children's picture book.
It's perfect for introducing the feel of differences, and being true to who you are. FWIW, I read it to my kids and it had no "indoctrination" affect. Today's youth will be around more openly trans and nonbinary people than you will. Give them a few years and they will introduce you to their friends and classmates. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtWRZWp-QoA |