Do you let your kid read Diary of a Wimpy kid?

[Anonymous]

Let him read it now because if he’s a strong reader, he’ll want more challenging material soon. The great news is that you’re on the cusp of being able to hand him books with great characters and ethical lessons.

[Anonymous]

DCUM moms, stay away from Madame Bovary!

[Anonymous]

My child has read them all and it has had no effect whatsoever on his behavior or language. So I am guessing something else may be going on for your kid.

[Anonymous]

The kids in 1st grade started reading the series. I think it is rubbish and an older version of a whiny Callou. However, there is something to be said of friends getting excited and sharing book recommendations and having things to chat about. They are mowing though Rick Riodian books chatting which series they like better and why. My DS (2d grader) bounces between light books, like Notebook of Doom series, silly like Captain Underpants, to stuff like Jinx, Chronicles of Narnia, Bone Witch.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Yes, so my DS is impressionable and tries out language and attitudes he sees in movies or reads in books. He’s read the whole Captain Underpants series, and while he was in that phase we had to have serious talks about respect for teachers.

I hated those books, but the stuff they do is more imaginary and in a strange way, Harold and George have a conscience and a sense of responsibility. They don’t after all let Mr. Krupp wander off alone.

Greg Heffley just seems to revel in lying, stealing, cheating, and taking advantage of his frenemy, Rowley. ( yes, I have read the books with DS, which is why I dislike them so).

I’d rather DS were reading A Wrinkle in Time or Charlotte’s Web (he got 3/4 of the way through, then got bored). He is thankfully also reading the Percy Jackson series, which is less morally bankrupt.

DS says Wimpy Kid will not have any real effects. I’m not so sure. However, I never had my reading censored as a kid, so I hate to do it myself. But DS may just be a lot more impressionable than I was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: DS is 8-years old and a strong reader. He loves the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. Unfortunately, his attitude towards school and his classmates seems to have nosedived since he started reading these books. He parrots phrases from the books, like “Everyone in my school is a moron except me.” He may just be experimenting with different phrases and testing limits, but it is still disturbing.

The main character is a pretty nasty, self-centered kid. The series seems targeted towards older kids, as it’s about a seventh grader.

DH thinks as long as DS is reading and enjoying it, we should leave him alone. I think the books are proving to be a negative influence.

Would you let your eight-year-old read these books?

So... deal with his crappy attitude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: DS is 8-years old and a strong reader. He loves the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. Unfortunately, his attitude towards school and his classmates seems to have nosedived since he started reading these books. He parrots phrases from the books, like “Everyone in my school is a moron except me.” He may just be experimenting with different phrases and testing limits, but it is still disturbing.

The main character is a pretty nasty, self-centered kid. The series seems targeted towards older kids, as it’s about a seventh grader.

DH thinks as long as DS is reading and enjoying it, we should leave him alone. I think the books are proving to be a negative influence.

Would you let your eight-year-old read these books?

So... deal with his crappy attitude.

Suggestions? How do you deal with a crappy attitude in an eight-year old?

[Anonymous]

My kids love it. 9&7 -- and I really like reading them too. They are great books.

[Anonymous]

The first two or three were funny, then DS didn't want any more.

As someone who hates junk books with a passion, I have to say that this junk series is smarter than most in the category.

Most adults have no appreciation for classical literature, whether for children or grown-ups, and can't distinguish between good writing and bad.

We are not like that, and I have observed that booksellers capitalize on that to sell crappy books - if they're marketed enough, people buy them.

I have always encouraged my children to read as much children's classics as they could, as well as great 20th century stories, and a few contemporaries. I have read my favorites aloud to them, which they always enjoy. In that context, reading Wimpy Kid was a big deal. We got to discuss what an antihero was for the first time

[Anonymous]

Maybe your best bet is to get him interested in other books whose message/characters are more positive. If he’s reading Percy Jackson, that’s a great start! Rick Riordan books in general have been a huge hit in my house. Harry Potter is as well, though I had to tell my oldest that we could never really be friends unless he read all 7.

You say that you’d prefer he read things like Wrinkle in Time - does he? If not, why not? Do they not interest him? What else have you tried?

Have you tried the Fudge series by Judy Blume? At that age, both my boys loved those books as well as Then Again Maybe I Won’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Yes, so my DS is impressionable and tries out language and attitudes he sees in movies or reads in books. He’s read the whole Captain Underpants series, and while he was in that phase we had to have serious talks about respect for teachers.

I hated those books, but the stuff they do is more imaginary and in a strange way, Harold and George have a conscience and a sense of responsibility. They don’t after all let Mr. Krupp wander off alone.

Greg Heffley just seems to revel in lying, stealing, cheating, and taking advantage of his frenemy, Rowley. ( yes, I have read the books with DS, which is why I dislike them so).

I’d rather DS were reading A Wrinkle in Time or Charlotte’s Web (he got 3/4 of the way through, then got bored). He is thankfully also reading the Percy Jackson series, which is less morally bankrupt.

DS says Wimpy Kid will not have any real effects. I’m not so sure. However, I never had my reading censored as a kid, so I hate to do it myself. But DS may just be a lot more impressionable than I was.

We're going through similar stuff with our 8 year old... you aren't alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: DS is 8-years old and a strong reader. He loves the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. Unfortunately, his attitude towards school and his classmates seems to have nosedived since he started reading these books. He parrots phrases from the books, like “Everyone in my school is a moron except me.” He may just be experimenting with different phrases and testing limits, but it is still disturbing.

The main character is a pretty nasty, self-centered kid. The series seems targeted towards older kids, as it’s about a seventh grader.

DH thinks as long as DS is reading and enjoying it, we should leave him alone. I think the books are proving to be a negative influence.

Would you let your eight-year-old read these books?

So... deal with his crappy attitude.

Suggestions? How do you deal with a crappy attitude in an eight-year old?

Please share. We are going through the same thing. Child does not like toys much, only likes books and electronics. We've taken away electronics and who knows when we'll allow it again. Loves his books and we have taken those but it feels wrong to take books. Have taken activities but child needs exercise... not much left...

[Anonymous]

Greg Heffley just seems to revel in lying, stealing, cheating, and taking advantage of his frenemy, Rowley. ( yes, I have read the books with DS, which is why I dislike them so).

I’d rather DS were reading A Wrinkle in Time or Charlotte’s Web (he got 3/4 of the way through, then got bored). He is thankfully also reading the Percy Jackson series, which is less morally bankrupt.

The series is not "morally bankrupt." The whole point is that you are supposed to laugh at Greg because he is unaware how self-centered and inconsiderate he is because he's immature. If your son doesn't get that at 8, by all means, don't let him read the books, but don't exaggerate.

Charlotte's web is a great book, but if it isn't your son's taste, maybe he'd prefer Stuart Little or the Mouse and the Motorcycle or the Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. I read a Wrinkle in Time aloud to my son recently, and neither of us liked it. I remembered enjoying it when I read it as a kid, but for me, it did not hold up well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child has read them all and it has had no effect whatsoever on his behavior or language. So I am guessing something else may be going on for your kid.

+1
I'll sometimes read the books with Dd and we burst out laughing. It's hilarious.

Big Nate is another good series too.

Never had languafe or attitude problem from reading this or any other series.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe your best bet is to get him interested in other books whose message/characters are more positive. If he’s reading Percy Jackson, that’s a great start! Rick Riordan books in general have been a huge hit in my house. Harry Potter is as well, though I had to tell my oldest that we could never really be friends unless he read all 7.

You say that you’d prefer he read things like Wrinkle in Time - does he? If not, why not? Do they not interest him? What else have you tried?

Have you tried the Fudge series by Judy Blume? At that age, both my boys loved those books as well as Then Again Maybe I Won’t.

Lol my kids like the fudge books too but I suspect OP might have similar issues - bonjour stupid, turkeybrain etc.