Here is our take on the controversy among some Christian families over witches, magic, wizards, fantasy and raising children, in 3 parts:

Part 3: Getting Beyond the Do's and Don't's

When our children were little, we were laying the foundations with do's and don't's, even as we moved toward teaching them to think critically. We found when our children grew older, however, that a continual focus on the negative robbed our home of joy and of godly acceptance and love for others. We needed to make a transition, focusing on the good and dispatching the rest with discernment.

As we were starting our family, a wise teacher explained how he encourages his grandchildren to play "I Spy." It is a game wherein you try to find God in all situations. In our home, we try more and more to teach and practice "looking for the good," which is looking for God, who is the giver of all that is good. Rather than saying, "That sermon was good BUT. . ." or "She seems like a nice lady BUT. . .," we are learning to often stop before the "but."

The foundations are already in place for our children to filter out the debris and benefit from the good. And so it will be throughout life in this world, until heaven. Each parent must decide, according to their child's age, stage and temperament, what that filter can handle. We must also decide how much of a "good thing" is beneficial and how much is too much.

We welcome and will consider your respectful responses to our opinions, although we cannot promise to always respond. We thank those who accept BookAngles for what it is, just one family's attempt to help other families select good books for their children.

Introduction
Part 1: Witches, Magic and Wizards
Part 2: The Fantasy Issue
Part 3: Getting Beyond the Do's and Don't's