At What Age Should Children Be Introduced to Books with Transgender Characters?

[Anonymous]

One book called “Dotson” is excellent for all ages. It’s written by Grayson Lee White who wrote about his feeling like a boy but was born a girl as long as he can remember. He describes telling his classmates, his doctor’s appointments, the whole process in a simple way for children to understand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Or maybe at age four when they choose a book called “I’m Not a Girl”. Or maybe they’ll choose “My Dad Thinks I’m a Boy!?” because it has a funny cover and looks like a good book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Definitely NOT before age 6. Probably around age 12-14 and then only as a passing fringe concept.

By 12 or 14 years old you aren’t introducing your child to books with transgender characters. Unless they are in some kind of Pentecostal school and has no TV, no Internet, no phone, no news sources, your child knows all about it.

[Anonymous]

I never did, my kids were born in 2005 and 2010, and I read them all my old favorites from when I was a kid (think Winnie-the-Pooh, Chronicles of Narnia, etc). They became total bookworms like me. In middle school, my youngest was assigned LGBTQ+ books. I don't think my oldest ever was.

But since we're a tolerant, pro-human rights sort of household, I don't think the lack of exposure at a young age has hurt them at all. We are a mixed-race family from an international background, and I required my kids to read some British and American classics, as well some classics in my native language. Despite being a lefty, I do believe in having a solid grounding in the classics, even though most of them were written by bigoted dead white men. MCPS doesn't do classics, except in AP English Lit. In fact, it's a stretch to say that MCPS does "English" at all! My 9th grader has been assigned graphic novels this year and today's Honors English assignment was interpreting, through a drawing, one of the main characters from their latest novel. DRAWING. She's good at drawing and made a biblically accurate angel representation (one of those with multiple eyes, wings, etc), which the teacher found hilarious... but STILL. It's not what anyone would call Honors English, is it?

I don't understand why you're pushing this on your kids, OP. Teach tolerance and compassion, and your kids will be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Definitely NOT before age 6. Probably around age 12-14 and then only as a passing fringe concept.

My dear brother or sister in Christ, may I recommend Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family by Pulitzer prizewinnner Amy Ellis Nutt? I think it would be good for you to learn that this is not a “passing fringe concept.”

[Anonymous]

I just tell my kids there are kids, decided to change their gender, they have their own reasons and freedom to do it, so we just treat them like everyone else, not to avoid them or treat them unkind. If my kids find books related to transgender, age appropriate for them, they can feel free to read.

[Anonymous]

I’m confused what the confusion or question is.

I’m Catholic if that matters, there is no doctrine in the Catholic teachings against a person being transgender.

Why would you have an issue saying oh he looks like a boy but they are a girl or they look like a girl, but they’re actually a boy.

Some boys look like girls and some girls look like boys.

[Anonymous]

18 years old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

A reasonable take.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

A reasonable take.

If you're a bigot, sure. Trans people are humans and don't need to be hidden from society until age 12. Kids learn bigotry from their parents.

[Anonymous]

Pride puppy was/is on mocos suggested reading list for PRE K. Yes so there are some
Democrats out there who believe these topics should be broached with FOUR year olds. Don’t believe me? YouTube pride puppy and listen to the content. This book is proudly displayed in the children’s section in montco library system where the youngest kids can grab it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think I’ve ever read a book with a transgender character, and I’m pretty well-read and 39.

+1. No need to push an agenda. When the topic comes up, it comes up.

+1

[Anonymous]

I’m fine with it at any age because I don’t think it’s dangerous or hard to understand. I actually think it’s much closer to the natural state of human life to include trans people, and so it’s easier and better for kids than trying to pretend sex and gender are always binary or in lockstep.

I really don’t get the fear around this topic. I’ve tried, and it doesn’t make sense to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think I’ve ever read a book with a transgender character, and I’m pretty well-read and 39.

+1. No need to push an agenda. When the topic comes up, it comes up.

+2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think I’ve ever read a book with a transgender character, and I’m pretty well-read and 39.

+1. No need to push an agenda. When the topic comes up, it comes up.

+2.

The blue-haired weirdos will disagree with you