What is a good age to start reading the Harry Potter series to my granddaughter?
What is a good age to start reading the Harry Potter series to my granddaughter?
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What is a good age to start reading the Harry Potter series to my granddaughter?
I started reading these to my daughter when she was in kindergarten. I think it depends on the attention span.
Yeah, by the time the last book came out – on the day we were leaving for vacation – I had to buy 4 hard covers so everyone in the car (but the driver) could be reading on the 9 hour drive.
I started both my boys at 3.5. Then we’ll re-read them later.
Illustrated version
I tried when my triplets were in 4th grade and was told by their teacher to stop because it was too hard of a reading level for them. So we again tried in 5th grade. We read books 1 to 4 together on audio as a family. We watched movies after each book. Unfortunately none of mine wanted to read on so I read 5 and 6 myself. Now still need to read 7
That’s craziness! My 5 year old was following along and corrected me if I skipped or missed a word. I took breaks frequently and explained things to them. We read the first three illustrated books this winter. The first book took about 3 weeks.
Okay. So. No good reading teacher should discourage this. For the record, if kids are engaged, they can read anything. The levels are garbage. ?
^ agree
The 4th book gets dark so we’re taking a break before moving forward.
My son is 3.5 years old and recently asked if I would read him the illustrated versions. I’ll start them, if he finds them too complicated or whatever, no harm to stop and try another time.
The age of Harry himself When the books begin, might be a good place to start
I remember winning my first Harry Potter book in a raffle at school. I was in the third grade. The rest is history!
As a former !st and 2nd grade teacher, I would recommend waiting until she is at least 7. Her focus will have shifted from herself to the outside world by then, and she will be better able to comprehend the mystical references.
Thank you. Appreciate your input.
My son was 3 when I started reading them to him. By age 5 it shifted to a we read them situation vs I. I think it depends on the child and what theyre into. Im a Book Dragon, so all of my children were reading very young and comprehending stories really well.
We started reading them with my 5 year old and while he comprehends some, there are a lot of themes and situations I’m explaining in a way he can understand. Or I find I’m explaining or reminding him of what’s happened previously in chapters.
Kindergarten was when we started our daughter. By the second grade she was reading them to us.
In utero
I’m a little late for that. LOL
My daughter was seven. She wanted the story faster than I had time to read, so she learned to read herself. Then we could only get the third book in english (we’re swedes) and I read it while simultaneously translating for her. Again way to slowly for her, so she learned to read it in english by herself. We discussed the books a lot. She learned good values, analysis and critical thinking along the way. I owe HP so much. She is still a potter-head, same as me.
I’m going to start with my 4yo as soon as we’re done with Alice in Wonderland. I need something to read at bedtime! It’s like a whole hour I have to fill a night!
I tried with my then 7 year old… he wasn’t into it… he doesn’t like me reading to him… I might try again soon. He’s 8 and a half now… and finally reading chapter books for enjoyment. Harry Potter might be too advanced for his reading level to read on his own. Soon tho I’m sure.
I bought a regular hardback and then even bought the illustrated version… he just wasn’t into it. We watched the movies and he sort of liked them. Maybe it’s not his thing. Recently He is REALLY into Maze Runner… which surprised me. It was almost inappropriate for him, I thought.
Around third grade
My son and I recently finished the second book. He’ll be 7 in a couple of weeks. He loves the series! We read the book and then watch the movie.
My son read the whole series in 2nd grade last year by himself. Each kid is different. Ignore the whole “reading level” baloney. If the child is interested, they’ll find a way. If you are reading aloud, there’s no age too young. In my opinion.
My son read it by himself the summer after 2nd grade. Only read the series once. Two years later, and he still remembers everything. To be read to – kindergarten and after.
The first three books are easier to read and lighter in theme- my daughters started the first book in 2nd grade. However, the books get longer and darker starting with the fourth book. Maybe better to wait until 5th or 6th grade for the rest of the series. And don’t feel bad about making them wait. We had to wait almost 3 years between book 3 and 4 in real life.
I guess I’ll try reading it to my granddaughter to see if she’s interested. It will be my first time reading it as well.
My son got his first HP from Santa when he was 6. We read it aloud to each other in our pajamas and he wouldn’t let me rest! One more chapter, pleeeeease? He could not get enough. The 1st book really had him hooked.
I started reading them to my kids at the age of 8. My voice ran out of steam. I ended up with the audio books in the car, and my kids were entertained all the way to G-ma’s house a thousand miles away. Seriously. Not a peep. Not an audio game. It is also how I got hooked on audio books when I drive.
My son had read the series independently by the time he was 8. He still is a huge fan!
8
My general rule for when children want to read HP is that they at least be the age of the characters when we first meet them. Let’s be real, Harry Potter is not actually a series for children. It may have started that way, but after the first two (and even Chamber of Secret was quite dark at times) there is a distinct shift towards darker and more mature themes with the third. I’m relatively young, but I suppose in that regard I’m a bit old fashioned. There are instances in the books that I really don’t feel are appropriate for young children. The thing about the Harry Potter series, is that we got to age and mature with the books because of the way they were spaced out, but children picking them up now are much younger than most of us from that generation who were reading HP as it was published, and have the entire series at their disposal, so I’d say hold off a bit. The themes and language changes as the characters age, and I think it important that the reader be old enough to understand, appreciate, and handle the story as it evolves.
Sorry for such a long response. I have a lot of thoughts on the matter lol.
Don’t be sorry. What you said makes a lot of sense. Maybe I’ll start with Alice in Wonderland instead.
I agree whole heartedly. We didn’t allow our kids to read them until 5th grade, in part for reasons you stated and in part because we wanted them to be able to truly appreciate how very well written they are, which we felt they would understand at a little bit older age.
When the first Harry Potter book came out, a friend’s 6-year-old kid read it out loud to her 8-year-old brother. They both loved it.
My son was 7. Now 9 and on book 4. He reads other books in between
I started reading the Harry Potter books with my mum when I was 4. I loved them and they were such a huge part of my early childhood especially. Harry Potter is first and foremost a children’s book series. The beautiful thing about it is that people of any age can read it – there are mature undertones that keep adults interested, but these are very well concealed from a child’s point of view. And this is another reason why I believe you should start her on them as early as possible – I absolutely loved being able to reread the series at different stages in my life and get completely different things out of it.
So my recommendation is to go for it, as I can definitely attest to having had no problems reading the series at age 4. Don’t let her miss out on a wonderful children’s series just because the books can be enjoyed by adults too.
Basically at conception….
Dangit, you beat me to it!
Depends. I think 9 or 10 is a good age. The character is 13 when the series begins and 18 when it ends. But my sons were great readers and wanted to read other advanced theme books very early. I actually had to tell them no to many books. But we found others.
Harry Potter is 11 in the first book.
It’s been a long time for me. Thank you for the correction.
Only you can judge that. Every kid is different. But I will say the theme and content get “darker” as the series progresses. Happy Reading.
When will she be old enough to read it herself?
Not really sure. She’s six now and her reading skills, at this point, are somewhat limited. I’d like to change that.
book one is quite alright at that age, though keep in mind it is written for year eleven and up.
Agree that children should be the age that Harry represents. Harry was 11 in the first book… I might read it to a 9 year old but by book 4… they turn into books for older teens. The first 2… ok for a mature 8 or 9 year old.
Definitely. My daughter was pretty much the age of the characters as the films came out and it had a very profound effect on her life. Possibly aided by my nerd genes :-/
My daughter-in-law started reading Harry Potter to my grandkids when they were 5 and 8. They loved the first two books and the movies.
ASAP