Do you think adults will become better persons if they read more children books?

Hi Pinklilly, I also love children books for the simplicity of the message. The world is a very simple place in children books. People are either kind or unkind, and flowers, animals and other things in nature have voices. The unfortunate thing is that i dare not go to the children section in the library to borrow the books. Those kids look at me with funny expression. I have to buy those books or download those classics from internet.

your just paranoid. You could be borrowing these books for a variety of reasons. Before I had children I used to borrow children books from the library, it was however to read to the children I looked after. Ok maybe because I'm female its easier to borrow from a library (sorry I'm just assuming your male, please correct me if I'm wrong) I still have many books from when I was a child too.. its lovely because it takes me back to when I was a child. Don't be ashamed of reading children's books. They are lots of Fun.

haha Pinklilly, I think I am really paranoid! the children section is a separate level by itself, and I seldom go inside. We have a separate session for Teens too. I really hope to borrow books from the children section and the Teens section. I think the children stories are really beautiful.

Yes, Hans Christian Anderson, the real deal. You're right, they do reach the core. Walt Disney has it's nice moments, but I think the company can get very racey at times.

This may be true - the company may be profitable, but it doesn't make them ethical or right all the time. Everything comes with a price and sooner or later even the big time companies that are raking in the dough will have to answer or pay up for their dealings.

Hi Betlynfrnds, I think Harry Potter belong to the Teen's or young adult fiction, not exactly the type that children can read. I have in mind fairy tales written by Hans Christian Andersen. Those are very good stories that reach to the core of many readers. I think even without the effort Walt Disney company to make those stories into cartoons, the fairy tales would have lasted a long time too.

Well, you have the points, friend. If parents read the bible for their children this is a good thing. Because they also learn how to fear with God, and don't do anything wrong to their family also and strengthen their belief in God. But if any story books I don't if they mind about it. Because sometimes parents didn't mind about the stories and they don't apply it to themselves. Bible is the good one choice to read for their children...

Hi Aerous, actually many principles in children storybooks are good for both adults and children. One example is the Bible. Bible contains so many interesting stories of real persons in the past. The children can learn about the right ways to deal with people from the stories. The adults need to learn the same lessons as well. There is actually no difference in the lessons learnt. The only difference is in the application of the principles. For example, in term of greed, adults have to avoid greed for more money, big cars, big houses and others. Children have to learn to avoid greed for more sweets, more toys and others.

Hi Aerous, actually there are many good children stories around. I think many of us remember the story of the ugly duckling, and learn how we can never judge people by appearance. We do not forget about the story of Cinderella too. We have learnt about good people have good ending, and that we should not do wicked things like her stepmother and stepsisters. All these are the stories told to us when we were young. These stories have been around for ages because of their moral values. I think parents can reinforce the lessons when they read with their kids. If we have never read those stories when we were young, we should read it even when we are older. It is natural for adults to think of taking revenge if we face situation like that of Cinderella.

In fact, i have some books from Hans C. Anderson. My son favorite is the Ugly ducking. Others he prefer Walt Disney, simply because he had watch those Disney movies and get interested with them. Indeed, modern life is very stressful...

Hi Myfb, fortunately Walt Disney company has the commonsense to make the fairy tales come alive for both adults and children. I think their business model is very good. They do not have to pay royalty to Hans C Anderson anymore, since those stories were in public domain long ago. At the same time, they make money by creating a fairyland for the population.

Hi Myfb, you might as well read Hans Anderson stories instead of Walt Disney! Walt Disney adapted many stories from Christian Hans Andersen. Some of the little known books include the story of the Moon. It is written in such a way that the Moon relates what she sees everyday. Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass is another classic that should not be missed. I have noticed that many self improvement books quote from Alice in Wonderland. Some of the concepts are literally a simplified description of what we see everyday. For example, when Alice is made to run very fast, and yet going nowhere. The Queen says that people have to run very fast just to stay in the same place. I think that is very descriptive of the work stress today.

Hi Canellita, if those adults who are poor readers have a chance to learn reading properly, their lives would be better. Even research shows that on average, CEOs read more than the minimum wage workers. Children do not take to reading naturally. It is a habit often inherited from their parents or other children. They learn to read and enjoy reading after several attempts. I think if all parents make it a habit to read to their children, and teach them the important lessons in life, then reading becomes a habit. If children have a good foundation, especially in moral values, I think they will become happier adults and better persons.

Children who are read to definitely stand a better chance of becoming readers. They learn that reading is entertainment and the children's books let children exercise their imaginations. As they get older, they learn that books can also contain useful information. Unfortunately, some parents who were poor readers or never realized the value of books pass on their disdain for reading to their children. They don't help with homework, etc. Reading is very natural for children who have the opportunity to gain access to reading material. Most of these children have story time in kindergarten where the teacher reads to them and there are books in the classroom that they can look at even before they are able to read to themselves. Adult illiteracy is a huge issue and you are correct in that if those adults who are poor readers or are unable to read had learned when they were young their lives would be better. People who cannot read have a lot of trouble managing their lives. They can't even follow the instructions on medications, which is very dangerous. So here is my question to you, do you think people who believe in a religious philosophy of some kind are "better" behaved than those who do not? The teachings of religion are supposed to help to guide you in life and shape you to be a good person. Do you think it works?

Hi Canellita, I think if people have good moral education when they were young, they would definitely behave better. Take a look at China. After years of communism rule, which helps in destroying religious teachings and traditional values, and then economic liberation to the point that workers enjoy 20% to 30% salary increment every year. What happens to the moral value? it has fallen so badly that the government wants to enforce law to force the children to visit their aging parents at least once a year. This is a country where the youngsters do not have religious education from infancy. Happily many of them see the need for moral compass. They are flocking to the churches and temples. The whole country is mired in corruption and greed. Too many crimes go unreported, and too many babies and young gals were sold for known and unknown purposes. If you think the people in your country has behaved badly, think of those countries under communism rule before.

Hi Frontvisions, actually the lessons in many children's books are not just for children. For example, many people have translated the Bible and other religious texts into stories for children, yet the adults are learning the same thing. The only difference is in the understanding and application of the lessons learnt from the stories. The same Bible stories that warn us against telling lies have different implications for children and adults. Adults do not see things in black and white. On the matter of telling lies, adults will judge for themselves if telling white lies is justificable.

Hi Frontvisions, many versions of Bible stories exist for the sake of teaching children. I remember one particular story about the 40 kids torn by bears because they did not respect the servant of God. The ending paragraph in the children's storybook mentioned that the lesson here is respect for God, for God appointed servants, and for elders. Having said that, the Bible is not just for adults to read. When God gave the ten commandments, and six hundred over laws to the Israelites, HE commanded them to read the laws a few times a year, even children have to listen to all the laws. I think children have the gift to understand and remember moral lessons. I think many adults have forgotten the lessons from children stories that they had read many years ago. if only everyone remembers about the ugly duckling, nobody would judge people based on appearances, and hero worship of beautiful film stars will not happen.

I don't think comparing children's bedtime stories with bible scriptures would justify your overall statement. They are way too different to begin with. Bible scriptures are written from ancient times and children's stories are just mere creations of an author. I really do think that children's stories are for children only. Well, if you're willing to read them for your own pleasure, I'm not gonna stop you.

THat is true Scheng! THese stories are those that I read when I was very young. I remember them also. Strangely, not all get the opportunity to read these too when they are young.

Hi Kalav56, if we were a good reader when we were young, we would have remembered many stories for life. Stories such as Cinderella, the Ugly Duckling, and the Little Mermaid, are just unforgettable. If we have remembered the stories, we might remember the lessons in there as well. Just too bad many of us forget about the lessons learnt, and never think about the stories in our daily lives. That is why many adults still judge people by appearance when they had learnt that ugly duckling did become the most elegant and graceful swan.

Hi Kalav, I think those adults who have never heard of these story stories must be those who never been to the library. If they had visited the school library when they were studying, they would have read the stories. I am puzzled by this fact too. Once I had a conversation with a friend, and I mentioned about Red Riding Hood. She looked blank. Apparently she had never read this story before. I wonder what she had read when she was young! I think the only story that she remembered is the Three Little Pigs. I took the opportunity to tease her that her financial planning was not built of bricks. When big bad wolf came, she would face financial difficulties.

Alice in wonderland is a great story! I have taken the time out to read this story and watch the movie starring Johnny Depp. I can't say i have ever read much of the bible but i have heard chapters from others and attended church before but i don't go regularly or anything like that i am not a religious person. I wouldn't however keep religeon from my son and have never seen the childrens versions of the bible in real life i have only heard about them. At high school we were given each a copy, but i only read phrases from random pages. there are some good messages in the bible.

Hi, I am not a Christian either, and will never go to church. But I love reading, and that is why I start to read the Bible children stories, and then read the entire Bible. I think it is important to note that the Bible is very different from what the churches teach. It contains so many touching stories of real persons who are good, but make sincere and stupid mistakes in life. I like to read many classics, including those fairytales for kids.

Hi Liquidblot, actually I am referring mainly to those children books that are classics. Many of us know of the story of the little Mermaid, and many stories by Hans Christian Anderson. We read just a few of his books when we were young. As we grow older, we stop reading those books. Actually many classics written for children are worth our time. If only everyone has the chance to read Alice in Wonderland, Bible stories and other classics, then the lessons learnt will help them in many ways.

Hi dont_pick_your_nose, I think Walt Disney company is very smart in making money from free resources. Those fairytales are in the public domain. It does not need to pay the authors royalty for making use of the stories. At the same time, the cartoons capture the heart of both adults and children around the world. I think most of us like the happy-forever ending of those stories even though we are now years away from childhood.

Yes that true Scheng. I would love to have lived a fairytale lifestyle with a prince charming and a fairytale ending but it wasn't to be, atleast not yet. I try to keep the dream alive a little in my head still. I didn't know they were public domain movies? what does that mean exactly? I thought some of the stories were walt disney created? I can't say i have ever researched it or questioned it.

Hi Sketch, yes, that is true. Many comics for children feature revenge and killing. Many children stories are not as wholesome as some of the classics for children too. I think parents have to do a good job in selecting the best bedtime stories, then the children can learn.

Hi Camomile, yes, I agree that most of us forget the beautiful and simple lessons from reading children's books. That is why many adults do not even have basic manners of greeting people correctly, or listening to friends. I think if we have learnt and remembered the lessons from childhood, such as not talking to strangers, and not trusting them, we would have wisdom in coping with life. So many serial killers tap on those people who forget that they should not trust strangers too much.

Hi Chiwasaki, yes, we adults do think too much, and worry too much. That does not make us any smarter! it just makes us blinder to the truth, which is always so simple. Sometimes kids speak the simple truth, since they only know how to see the world as it is.

Hi Tink, I agree with you on this. I think everyone should read children's books and relearn the lessons from those stories. Even Warren Buffet remembers a lot of children's stories. His annual reports full of reference to those fairy tales, such as his nose will get longer if he continues blaming Charlie.

Hi Way2vision, I think many adults did not read enough when they were young. If they had read enough when they were young, they would have better skills in coping with life and its problems. I notice that even my friends who are graduates did not read storybooks when they were young. They just sticked to reading the textbooks, and studying hard for examinations. I also notice that many great people, such as Warren Buffet, quote repeatedly from children's classics. One of the most famous classics is Alice in Wonderland. So many gurus quote from it, yet people still do not want to pick it up and read from cover to cover.

Hi Prinzcy, yes, I agree that many children's books have better usage of English words. At least those books do not reach us to convey messages through vulgar language. I think if everyone has a good foundation in life when they are young, the world would be a far better place today. Too bad many adults do not know the first thing about right and wrong.

Hi Ebuscat, since most people do not have the time nor the desire to read the Bible from cover to cover, reading Bible stories is a good substitute. At least they will learn from the bad examples as well as the good examples. The parables of Jesus are good for children and adults too. Before I started reading the Bible, I read the Bible stories for children. After knowing the background of the bible history, I ventured to read the entire Bible. I have completed twice so far. It has certainly changed the way i view things. Many things are not as important as I used to think. As the bible said, most of what we held dear are just "vanity".