alisoncooks Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Just wondering... The Narnia books are on my "I CAN'T WAIT!" list but I'm afraid to read it too soon for them to enjoy and understand the series. How old were your children when they first listened to the series? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TracyP Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 We read the The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe when my oldest was 8. My 6 yo also listened and enjoyed, but the youngers did not pay much attention. My 8yo then read the rest of the series on her own, and the series is now an old favorite for both of them (currently 10 and 8). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walking-Iris Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 It might not matter. I think it has more to do with interest. If your 7 year old is interested--read them, or one of them. No harm will come if you read it to them, or they read it on their own, or both. Or even if you didn't read it at all. I didn't read Narnia until I was in college and my roommate was scandalized I didn't grow up reading them. I've read Lion, Witch, Wardrobe to my oldest (maybe he was 8-9?) But he wasn't that interested. However he has read LOTR on his own. Just give it a try and let them decide if they are into it or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewe Mama Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 We are just finishing the series up. Youngest is six, eldest is 11. They all enjoy the stories and have added the characters and plot ideas to their free play with each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petepie2 Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 My oldest read it when she was 7 or 8. I just finished reading "The Magician's Nephew" and "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" aloud to my oldest two. (Actually all of my kids were there, but my almost 6 year old didn't pay attention. He has trouble listening to read-alouds.) Narnia can be visited more than once, just like all great literature. They don't have to understand all of it the first time around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewe Mama Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Having said that, I personally did not read them until about five years ago. Yes, I am a Christian with a degree in English Literature and I did not read the Chronicles until I was well into my 30's. I did not make that mistake with my children! I was determined to share them with my children when they were young enough to appreciate the magical quality of the books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 ODS was six when I read them to him. He then read them to himself over and over for a few months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boscopup Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 My kids were 9, 7, and 4. All three enjoyed it, though the 4 year old probably didn't get all of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soapy Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 My kids are almost seven and they are eating it up! They are so into it and I was a little worried they wouldn't be. I'm surprised by their insight on it. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mohsmom23 Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 I have recently started reading them aloud to my 6yo ds so we are still on The Magician's Nephew, but he is really enjoying it. My 8yo dd started reading them on her own when she was 6 or 7. She's read the whole series twice now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deerforest Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 DD (9.5) just read Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe. She liked it okay but doesn't seem to be drawn into the world so I'm not sure if she'll read the others. I was obsessed with them when I was her age so long ago! We're not Christian, and I was an adult before I realized it had anything to do with Christianity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerryAtHope Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 My kids were around 9 & 7, both enjoyed them. DD is 15 and re-reading them on her own now. DH and I really enjoyed them when I read to the kids--we would often look up at each other as a particularly poignant analogy was made that the kids wouldn't get at all but we found very meaningful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alisoncooks Posted April 25, 2014 Author Share Posted April 25, 2014 Thanks for all the feedback. I'm not so much worried that they won't get the deeper symbolisms or anything... just that they won't be interested. :scared: (I did so love the series when I was younger and I've read them several times through...) I think we'll give it a go soon. Now to decide if we should do The Hobbit before or after... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie Smith Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 I think it was 7 and 8, or maybe 8 and 9. They didn't really get into it. We kept going with the series for awhile but they disliked the series the more we read. So you never know. These are the boys who fell in love with, "The Five Little Peppers" and "The Wheel on the School". Eldest for a time loved books about Freddy the detective pig. Youngest so loved the Little House series that he ended up taking voilin lessons for a time. I personally have found it best not to hold my hopes up for my boys really liking a certain book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acorn Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 6 and 8 for LWATW. My youngest wasn't quite ready. She was overly worried about whether the kids would get back home. We will continue on in a month or so with next book as a read aloud. Then I'll probably just let 8 year old read on his own. Don't forget to buy some Turkish delight candy. We ordered from amazon, but have since seen it at our grocery store. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rebbyribs Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 We read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe last month, and my daughters (ages 7 and 4.5) asked for the next book as soon as we finished. My oldest son (also 4.5) followed the story, but didn't love it. I'm not surprised - he tends to be more interested in listening to non-fiction books about animals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane Elliot Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Just wondering... The Narnia books are on my "I CAN'T WAIT!" list but I'm afraid to read it too soon for them to enjoy and understand the series. How old were your children when they first listened to the series? Enjoying and understanding the Narnia books are two entirely different things. My kids have all been 5-6 yo when they're ready to enjoy the Narnia books. At that age, they understand the plot, but they don't really understand the books in the way Lewis meant for them to be understood, and that's okay. I always assume they'll be reading them again and again, understanding them on a deeper level each time. As an adult, I'm still understanding something new about them every time I read them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 We listened to the series on CD when my kids were 4 and 6 (or 5 and 7). They loved it. We listened to it many many more times n the following years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Enjoying and understanding the Narnia books are two entirely different things. My kids have all been 5-6 yo when they're ready to enjoy the Narnia books. At that age, they understand the plot, but they don't really understand the books in the way Lewis meant for them to be understood, and that's okay. I always assume they'll be reading them again and again, understanding them on a deeper level each time. As an adult, I'm still understanding something new about them every time I read them. Yes, and it is entirely possible that a child who enjoyed and loved Narnia very much as a young kid develops a strong dislike for the books when he is older and understands the religious message. I am glad I introduced mine to Narnia when they could enjoy the story without full understanding, analyzing, and criticism of the messages he sends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 My two oldest have read them over and over for the last two years. They LOVE them!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdj2027 Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 I was 10 when I first exposed to it (our Latin teacher used it as a bribe for us to do well during the week. If no one get anything less than a C in class, he would spend our Saturday lesson reading to us from the Narnia books. This was in grades 5 through 7). My sons read all read it between the ages of 10 to 12, my daughter (10) has zero interest. I have re-read it many times since then and it is still one of my favorite series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SierraNevada Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 For us it was the first read-aloud chapter book we did and DS was 4.5. We finished the series in about six months. I was surprised at how much he got it and even told me that Aslan was God and understood that symbology without me saying anything about it and without us being religious. It just depends on the child. I'm sure he'd get it even more now.. But it was a good start to read alouds for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy M Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 We just started now, and all my kids had birthdays this month, so the oldest two are 7 and 5. We started with Lion-Wardrobe, and Aslan's death was upsetting to my sensitive 7yo; but his resurrection made everything better. And we read that part on the Saturday right between Good Friday and Easter. Perfect timing! I was worried that it was too early for them to enjoy it, but the chapter lengths are good for their age and comparable to other read-alouds we've been doing; and the chapters usually end in an exciting moment. As the others said, I don't expect them to understand it all; but I do want them to enjoy it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swellmomma Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 dd6 has heard the whole series and watched all the movies. I think she was 4 when she was introduced to them. For her it is a lovely story, for the olders we went into deeper discussions etc. We used audio books in the car to listen to the whole series in succession Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoseInABook Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 I think I'm going to start them with my kids soon. The older ones will actually listen, they're 4, 5, and 6. The 6 year old asked me what Narnia was when she told me she crawled through a closet and found something... I'm like, "Was it Narnia?!" :p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
................... Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 My dh read the entire series aloud when my kids were 4 and 6. It was perfect. My kids are very verba though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knittinfarmgirl Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 We started reading them as a group last year but my eldest had read them on his own a couple of years earlier. My oldest 2 love them. My 5 yro doesn't always stay to listen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 I read it to DD and DS1 when they were 7 and 4. I'm sure DS1 doesn't remember tons of it, but DD loved it, and she has reread parts of the books to herself again. I am about to start another reading of the Narnia books; this time the children are 12, 9, 5.5, and almost 3 (plus an almost-1yo). The almost 3yo may or may not get much out of them, but he'll love it because the big kids love it. The 9 and 5.5 yos will love it, I'm sure, because on the surface, the stories are just fun, great adventures. 12yo DD will enjoy visiting old friends again, but we'll be stepping it up by discussing more of the allusions and hidden meanings and such, the stuff that really enriches the story. My 5yo is into superheroes; Batman, Captain America, etc. are favorite friends of his. He's also familiar with, through the movies, Aragorn and Gandalf. So why not introduce him to Aslan and thus The Greatest Hero ever? We might have to explain things to him a bit, but I think he will love Narnia! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umsami Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 I read them as a kid…loved them…and re-read them as an adult. Of course, I got a lot more out of it as an adult, especially as my knowledge of Christianity, etc. was greater. Still, I don't regret reading them as a kid. DS1 started to read them this year. He's 10. I think it's a good age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverMoon Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 (edited) . Edited June 11 by SilverMoon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laughing lioness Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 For our older kids maybe 7-8. For our younger kids way young. We've read the series outloud probably 4 times over the last quarter century, watched most of the movie versions and gone to a see a couple plays. It's still one of everyone's fav's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alisoncooks Posted April 25, 2014 Author Share Posted April 25, 2014 Great -- loving all this early exposure! :D My girls are good at listening to longer novels, though the 5 yr old tends to wander off if it doesn't especially interest her. We just finished (and quite enjoyed) The Cricket in Times Square -- which was a quick, easy read -- and were about to start The Dragon of Lonely Island (oldest DD's request) but I'm not feeling it. I was looking for something GOOOOOD to read... and I think TLTW&TW might just be it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gratitude Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 My oldest was 7 when my DH bought him his first one. He did explain the Biblical allegory behind the series to him. My ds did read it himself. He read the rest of the series at age 8. He is now 10 and so I asked him if he understood our explanation of the allegory at 7, and he says that he did. He also remembers buying the Voyage of the Dawn Treader as his first Narnia book at a Christian book store. He loves them and has re-read them many times. He has never seen any of the movies. His younger siblings haven't read them or heard them yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Birth? My 3yo thinks toy swords are for raising in the air and shouting, "For Narnia!!" *shrug* For the stories read aloud? When they'll sit through a chapter book of that level willingly. To be immersed in Narnia? Never too young. :) (FWIW, that 3yo has teenage siblings and also knows what hobbits, dwarves, and elves are.) Hahahaha, I *totally* understand! I take my two little guys (the baby and the 2yo) upstairs to my bed to snuggle (and nurse, for the baby) until they fall asleep. I enjoy having that time just to love on them, especially my 2yo, because I worry about him being easily overlooked, since he's a quiet boy sandwiched between a couple of extroverts. So a couple of weeks ago, I said, "DS3, it's time for you, DS4, and Mommy to go to. . . " I expected him to say "bed," but without a beat, he answered, "Mordor!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doodlebug Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 I struggled through the pre k stage, but read alouds were my fave. I read all the Narnia books to my son when he was 5. (It was more for me than him). BUT, He enjoyed them!!! He begged me to keep reading. Now, we're reading them again, and he's understanding more. If the child is enjoying them, go for it! The Horse and His Boy was the only book my DS didn't particularly like, but he was happy to let me read while he played army men. ;) Stella Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hannahs4 Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 As soon as possible, and then some ;) My kids have heard them and listened in since they were about 3.. Then at each repeated reading they are more and more enthralled. The 5 to 7 year old age is when they seem to really grasp them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dory Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 My kids were 4, 6, and 7. They enjoyed 'The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe' and I was going to leave it with just that one until they were older, but I found my then 4yo hiding in his bed in the middle of the night trying to wade his way through 'The Magicians Nephew' so I told him we could read it as our read aloud if he wanted. He really wanted to hear the story and his reading wasn't quite good enough to really enjoy it trying to read it himself, but he was determined to get the story one way or another. Some kids enjoy it young, some seem to want it later. If your kids aren't getting into it after a few chapters, just set it down and wait till later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raptor_dad Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 Yes, and it is entirely possible that a child who enjoyed and loved Narnia very much as a young kid develops a strong dislike for the books when he is older and understands the religious message. I am glad I introduced mine to Narnia when they could enjoy the story without full understanding, analyzing, and criticism of the messages he sends. I agree! My DS7 read ALL the Narnia books this year. After that we did "The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe" as a read aloud for DS7 and DS5. However before that DS7 had heard "The Hobbit" as a read aloud and read it independently. The Narnia book's were relatively low on our reading list. I didn't read the Narnia books until my teen years. I agree with the Inklings, they are a horrible muddle. If you want well written allegory, read Lawhead's Arthurian books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matrips Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 Which book first for them? What order do you have them read the books? We have the set. To me it makes more sense to read them in chronological order, but... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raptor_dad Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 Which book first for them? What order do you have them read the books? We have the set. To me it makes more sense to read them in chronological order, but... Yeah... we have the boxed set from my wife's childhood. "The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe" is first. I understand Lewis and his Estate wanted "The Magician's Nephew" first...<shrug>. I think the publisher got it right originally in this situation. I would ignore the newly released editions and start with the second book which is more engaging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kentuckymom Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 We have the radio drama version of the series on CD, and Squirrelboy first listened to them when he was 7. He loved all of them except The Last Battle. I don't blame him. I still don't really like that one. We've since done some as readalouds. He has the audio series on his mp3 player, and has listened to all the books (except The Last Battle) countless times. He's still not quite able to read books at that level comfortably. I made sure that The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe was the first one he heard. I'm big on first Narnia exposure being in "publication order," not "chronological order." I don't really care what Lewis and his estate wanted. I think it makes more sense that way. I studied some of the books in a children's lit class in college and the professor was also big on the books being read in publication order. She said something along the lines of, "The Magician's Nephew makes much more sense if you already have a picture of Narnia in your mind." Plus, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe has so much more adventure. If you're going to get a kid excited about a series, it's the better on to start with, I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanikit Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 I read the Magician's Nephew to my 5 year old and she enjoyed it a lot, but when I started The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe it became too much for her and we stopped. I may read that one to her later this year sometime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsabelC Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 My kids were probably between 2 and 6 the first time they heard it. I've read all the books to them at least twice, and since then they have listened to the audio books numerous times and seen the movies (they also enjoyed the 1979 cartoon movie of LWW and were interested in comparing it with the 2005 version). I don't consider the Narnia series essential reading, although I enjoyed it immensely as a kid. Why not just try a few chapters with your 5yo and 7yo and see how it goes? They might love it and demand the rest. If they are totally uninterested, put it away for a year or two. They're not exactly going to be traumatized. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagira Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 DS read The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe when he was 8. He liked it, read the second book, then stopped. It didn't interest him anymore. He liked the first book best, but didn't love it. I read The Lion.. when I was an adult and I found it a bit forced and preachy.. It left a bad taste in my mouth, and I am a Christian. DH, who is also a Christian, didn't like them as a kid and didn't care to read again or watch the movies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 We will read them this way (which is about how we read them the first time): Lion, Witch, Wardrobe first Horse and His Boy Prince Caspian (might switch PC and HHB) Magician's Nephew Dawn Treader, since it introduces a new main character, who is in SC as well. Silver Chair Last Battle (DD says we don't need to read Last Battle, LOL -- because it's sad to her.) DD also says that if we really wanted to be chronologically correct, it would look like this: Magician's Nephew Wardrobe, except for the last few pages Horse and His Boy, then the last few pages of Wardrobe Prince Caspian Dawn Treader Silver Chair Last Battle I think that ruins the action at the end of Wardrobe, though, and I don't want to read MN first, because I feel that it's a separate story and meant to be a prequel and not the first chapter of the series -- it's its own story and doesn't set up the action for Wardrobe, if that makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KristenR Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 I wrote about our adventures with Narnia here. My oldest was 6 at the time but she still recalls significant chunks and incidences from the books. That's not to say I won't be rereading it aloud when my youngest gets a bit older. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyfaithe Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 I read these aloud to all of my kids as they turned 6. So, except for my youngest, they have heard them multiple times. For my little guy, I bought him the audio set ...lol! He lives it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyfaithe Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 **loves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wonder Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 We'll be starting this series this summer! So excited! My girls will be "just turned" 10 and 7. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FO4UR Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 6, 7, and 9 We have the audio and they listen to them off and on still at (almost)8, 9, and 11. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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