Goosey Goosey Gander whither shall I wander?We skip that one. Actually, we skip quite a few. The girls, occasionally, wave at the skipped pages as we pass them by--maybe they want those pictures to get a little attention too. Regardless, it's pretty cute.
Upstairs and downstairs in my lady's chamber.
There I met an old man who would not say his prayers,
I took him by the left leg and threw him down the stairs.
Awhile back MandyE brought up the use of the "f" word in a lot of children's books. Since reading her post, I've found myself using the word "round" instead "fat".
What did you think the "f" word was?
Maybe you think that's crazy; as one of the commenters to MandyE's post pointed out, "fat" is just an adjective. Granted. It is. Still--it's an adjective that I'd prefer our girls not use, right along with "stupid" and "dumb".
Anyway.
In the same spirit as MandyE's post, I've found myself much more aware of the words and messages that are in the books I read to the girls. Among other things, I've noticed a lot of violence, namely, in nursery rhymes:
When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall,and
Down will come baby, cradle and all.
Jack fell down and broke his crownand
And Jill came tumbling after.
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.and
All the King's horses and all the King's men
Could not put Humpty together again.
The King of HeartsThe old woman living an a shoe beat her children and sent them to bed hungry.
Called for the tarts,
And beat the Knave full sore.
The Knave of Hearts
Brought back the tarts,
And vowed he'd steal no more.
We just change the the lyrics on that one:
She gave them some broth and pleny of bread,While I realize, the girls just like the rhythm of the words, and aren't so much comprehending what the words mean. Still, I can't help but think about the day when they start asking questions about the words--I'd rather not have to explain some if it.
Then kissed them all soundly and put them to bed.
Has anyone else ever thought about this?
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4 comments:
I took a Children's Literature class in university, and I was SHOCKED to discover how dark children's lit really is. Especially the classic stories and nursery rhymes.
I always substitute words in nursery rhymes especially "and down will come baby cradle and all." I say "But Mama will catch you, cradle and all." I want Ben and Emma to know even at this young age (18 months) that Mama and Papa will always be there to catch them if they "fall" and help them back up. I skip alot of nursery rhymns, too!
My husband and I talk about it all the time! Have you ever read all the lyrics to Oh My Darling Clementine? Or My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean? It's shocking. I can't believe they are "classics."
Didn't "Ring Around the Rosie" start off as a rhyme about the plague? *shudder*
I've noticed this too. There are a few books that we've been given, that we don't even read. I know it's too early for the kids to even understand what we're reading, but it still bothers me.
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