Addressing Ageism through Children's Books

“The aging process is an important part of all of our lives, one that promises to have an impact on each of us” quotes Crawford in her article, Crossing Boundaries: Addressing Ageism through Children’s Books. She states “quality children’s literature can serve as a forum for critiquing these stereotypical perspectives and as a springboard for the development of healthy, positive, and accurate perceptions of the aging process (Crawford 1).” Within this underrepresented topic, there is a way to address the concept of ageism. With the right books, these “stereotypical perceptions” won’t be an issue. Stereotypes include rocking chair-bound women who frequently wear aprons, sport gray buns, and engage only in traditional experiences such as cooking, baking, or sewing. By not addressing all of these topics, stereotypes begin to arise. Within in reading this article and reading the books that I had chosen, I got a positive light on the issue of ageism. I had some books that were sad and some books that were very serious in this “world of children’s literature.” Not only does this article talk about how ageism is a much underrepresented topic but it also talks about teacher’s processes in going about finding these books. The one thing that teachers can do about this topic is to put a lot of care into choosing the appropriate instructional material to teach this lesson. In choosing the right children’s books, there is an “effective and accessible avenue for inviting children to explore issues related to older adults and the aging process (Crawford 3).” We, as teachers, must think hard about what we are trying to get across when it comes to teaching ageism. It is an interesting topic to address and with the right amount materials, this topic could stand out more than others. “Typically, little information is provided about older characters’ personal histories, their work life, their passions, or their dreams (Crawford 1).” Through these books that I have found, this “little information” was no so little.

Crawford, Patricia A. "Crossing Boundries: Addressing Ageism through Children's Books." Reading Horizons Jan.-Feb. 2000: 1-8.