In my first newsletter for the year, I highlighted eight important “fights” worth having with your child, and the first one was: MAKE YOUR KID READ! Reading is crucial because it opens up a world of knowledge and fosters self-learning. However, I want to challenge the common notion that any reading is good reading. The content our children consume does matter significantly. If we let them read books that are purely entertaining but lack substance—like Captain Underpants or other similar titles geared toward young boys—we shouldn’t be surprised if the result isn’t very productive.

Jesus teaches us that what is in our hearts shapes our actions and words. Therefore, it's important to be discerning about the books our children read. At Hope Academy, we ask ourselves: Is the content true? Is it noble? Is it right? Is it pure? Is it uplifting? (Philippians 4:8) These criteria guide our selection for our novel studies and our library.

I want to clarify that I’m not against fun, light reading. Just as there’s a place for occasional junk food, there’s a place for lighter books. However, it’s important to monitor and balance our children’s reading “diets” to ensure they’re getting a healthy mix of enriching and enjoyable content.