Making Peace with Star Wars
My husband and I put a lot of effort into keeping our home free from violent media influences. It's an uphill battle that we're committed to fighting, and one that sometimes requires a little creative thinking.
Zachary's male classmates (ages 3 and 4) are fascinated by Star Wars. Yes, you read right: ages 3 and 4, not 13 and 14. They know all the characters, all the spaceships, and, of course, all the violence that goes with it. Zach would come home every day, his head a jumble of confusion: Who is Star Wars? Is he a good guy or a bad guy? Does Luke Skywalker walk on the sky? What does a light saber do? Can it kill you? If it kills you, are you dead? Is Darth Vader a bad guy or a good guy?
We were very frustrated by this turn of events and found it difficult to answer his questions without confusing him even more. We told him Star Wars was a "once-upon-a-time" story, explained that what his friends called "bad guys" are really people who were feeling sad or angry and didn't know what to do with their feelings, and allowed him to buy a plastic light saber (with his own money, of course!) so he could see that it was just a harmless toy. But still, the confusion reigned supreme and overshadowed all his other interests.
I kept wishing there were a book that summarized the basics of the Star Wars story without the violence inherent to the plot. I searched fruitlessly for weeks, until - just before Father's Day - I came across Darth Vader and Son. Stroke. Of. Genius.
It features 4-year-old Luke Skywalker (the same age as Zachary) engaging with his sometimes clueless and exasperated dad, Darth Vader, in many of the same scenarios that my son and his dad experience week to week. The "I-don't-have-to-pee" dance; the "I-won't-pick-up-my-toys" battle... You get the idea.
It's gentle enough for my very innocent 4-year-old to enjoy, and yet it has lots of references to the movie series, which my Star Wars-loving hubby really appreciated!
The mystique of Star Wars quickly faded from Zachary's mind once he and his dad had read the book a few times. Now, they quote bits from the book when the real-life situation mirrors what Luke and Darth experienced, and they share a laugh.
We might not always win the battle against mainstream media influences, but in this case, the force was with us!!
*This post includes an affiliate link.
Zachary's male classmates (ages 3 and 4) are fascinated by Star Wars. Yes, you read right: ages 3 and 4, not 13 and 14. They know all the characters, all the spaceships, and, of course, all the violence that goes with it. Zach would come home every day, his head a jumble of confusion: Who is Star Wars? Is he a good guy or a bad guy? Does Luke Skywalker walk on the sky? What does a light saber do? Can it kill you? If it kills you, are you dead? Is Darth Vader a bad guy or a good guy?
We were very frustrated by this turn of events and found it difficult to answer his questions without confusing him even more. We told him Star Wars was a "once-upon-a-time" story, explained that what his friends called "bad guys" are really people who were feeling sad or angry and didn't know what to do with their feelings, and allowed him to buy a plastic light saber (with his own money, of course!) so he could see that it was just a harmless toy. But still, the confusion reigned supreme and overshadowed all his other interests.
I kept wishing there were a book that summarized the basics of the Star Wars story without the violence inherent to the plot. I searched fruitlessly for weeks, until - just before Father's Day - I came across Darth Vader and Son. Stroke. Of. Genius.

It's gentle enough for my very innocent 4-year-old to enjoy, and yet it has lots of references to the movie series, which my Star Wars-loving hubby really appreciated!
The mystique of Star Wars quickly faded from Zachary's mind once he and his dad had read the book a few times. Now, they quote bits from the book when the real-life situation mirrors what Luke and Darth experienced, and they share a laugh.
We might not always win the battle against mainstream media influences, but in this case, the force was with us!!
*This post includes an affiliate link.
Categories
- Uncategorized (111)
- Montessori Materials (30)
- development of senses (2)
- home environment (9)
- infancy (3)
- babies (60)
- birth (5)
- birthing (3)
- early childhood development (68)
- home birth (4)
- montessori (154)
- natural birth (4)
- childhood developoment (3)
- infants (24)
- newborns (7)
- parenting (95)
- Sleep (9)
- DIY (8)
- sewing (1)
- adhd (1)
- medication (1)
- psychology (2)
- interior design (3)
- crafts (7)
- education (38)
- montessori method (97)
- parents (29)
- biology (2)
- child psychology (3)
- children (61)
- michael olaf (1)
- montessori education (50)
- Science (12)
- sensitive periods (2)
- teachers (8)
- teaching (18)
- eating (10)
- food (11)
- independence (27)
- nursing (2)
- self-esteem (8)
- weaning (8)
- alternative education (7)
- early childhood education (23)
- observation (3)
- pre-school (7)
- school (5)
- culture (2)
- society (1)
- elementary education (22)
- grades (2)
- learning (6)
- public education (1)
- testing (1)
- traditional education (3)
- bedtime (2)
- kindergarten (1)
- maria montessori (29)
- finances (1)
- financial education (1)
- money (2)
- positive discipline (9)
- brain development (3)
- breastfeeding (2)
- diet (2)
- formula (3)
- Jaramillo soup (1)
- malnutrition (2)
- nutrition (5)
- pharmaceutical companies (1)
- third world countries (1)
- bottle-feeding (1)
- cooking (7)
- jaramiilo soup (1)
- sopa jaramillo (1)
- freedom (2)
- praise (1)
- responsibility (3)
- rewards (1)
- success (2)
- trust (1)
- playroom (1)
- toys (9)
- books (3)
- child development (5)
- parent education (4)
- reading (5)
- concentration (5)
- floor bed (5)
- sleeping (1)
- feeding (2)
- meals (2)
- c-section (3)
- critical thinking skills (2)
- fear (1)
- feeding solids (1)
- helicopter parents (1)
- vaccinating (1)
- vaccination (1)
- crafting (3)
- gobbi (3)
- handiwork (1)
- mobiles (3)
- sensorial (3)
- tutorial (1)
- midwifery (3)
- midwives (2)
- motherhood (8)
- embroidery (1)
- gobbi mobile (1)
- baby einstein (1)
- baby gear (1)
- educational DVD (1)
- enrichment classes (1)
- Mozart effect (1)
- Pamela Paul (1)
- parenting experts (1)
- Parenting Inc. (1)
- problem-solving (3)
- television (4)
- toy industry (1)
- silverware (1)
- spoon (1)
- beanbags (1)
- kids (6)
- birth education (2)
- infant mortality rates (1)
- labor (1)
- maternal mortality rates (1)
- pregnancy (1)
- vbac (1)
- montessori blogs (20)
- writing (6)
- movement (7)
- will power (1)
- repurposing (1)
- crawling (3)
- development (3)
- executive functions (3)
- strollers (1)
- toddlers (41)
- walking (1)
- adolescents (1)
- play (5)
- teenagers (1)
- work (4)
- google (1)
- Practical Life (25)
- home life (2)
- kitchen (1)
- pre-schoolers (13)
- sharing (1)
- waldorf (1)
- language (3)
- doctors (1)
- gynecology (1)
- medical school (1)
- ob-gyn (1)
- obstetrics (1)
- women (2)
- genius (1)
- cloth diapers (1)
- diapers (1)
- disposable diapers (1)
- potty training (6)
- toileting (4)
- Language Development (13)
- montessori activities (13)
- coordination (2)
- developmental milestone (1)
- RIE (6)
- stroller toys (1)
- alfie kohn (1)
- mistakes (1)
- schools (2)
- cultural diversity (1)
- toilet training (2)
- control (1)
- halloween (1)
- care takers (1)
- grandparents (1)
- nannies (1)
- childhood nutrition (1)
- dairy alternatives (1)
- health (1)
- seed mik (1)
- sesame milk (1)
- veganism (1)
- vegetarian (1)
- vegetarian food (1)
- communication (2)
- magda gerber (1)
- change (2)
- impulse control (1)
- limits (2)
- mealtimes (1)
- growing up (1)
- terrible twos (2)
- absorbent mind (1)
- sequences (1)
- wonder weeks (1)
- creativity (1)
- fantasy (1)
- imagination (3)
- reality (1)
- prepared environment (2)
- Technology (1)
- bathrooms (1)
- EC (1)
- elimination communication (2)
- routine (1)
- socialization (1)
- ego (1)
- montessori approach (18)
- students (1)
- free-range parenting (2)
- human tendencies (1)
- elementary school (4)
- history (5)
- discipline (3)
- self-control (2)
- nursery (1)
- cooking with kids (7)
- development of the senses (1)
- senses (2)
- time (2)
- consequences (1)
- baking (2)
- awareness (1)
- buddhism (2)
- mothering (1)
- now (1)
- parenthood (7)
- personal growth (2)
- rat race (1)
- spiritual growth (1)
- working mom (1)
- travel (1)
- travell with toddlers (1)
- throwing (1)
- holidays (2)
- art (2)
- artwork (1)
- food preparation (2)
- picky eater (2)
- toddler (1)
- cursive (1)
- Montessori Theory (27)
- On Parenting (31)
- Social and Emotional Learning (19)
- dopamine (1)
- Dr. Steven Hughes (1)
- motivation (1)
- banana bread (1)
- recipes (1)
- pi day (1)
- chores (2)
- entitlement (3)
- homeschool (14)
- preschool (3)
- summer (1)
- unschooling (5)
- botany (2)
- Favorite Books (8)
- compassionate parenting (4)
- education for peace (2)
- nonviolent communication (1)
- peace (2)
- emotional intelligence (3)
- manners (1)
- sensory processing disorder (1)
- mainstream media (1)
- star wars (1)
- violence (1)
- crochet (1)
- brene brown (2)
- depression (1)
- empathy (2)
- postpartum depression (1)
- self-regulation (2)
- fractions (1)
- math (3)
- astronomy (2)
- literature (1)
- 6 - 12 (15)
- Cosmic Education (9)
- Theory and Practice (9)
- Nature (3)
- flow (1)
- life (1)
- ocean (1)
- philosophy (1)
- self-care (1)
- walking meditation (1)
- 3 - 6 (5)
- Siblings (2)
- literacy (1)
- mindfulness (1)
- yoga (1)
- childhood development (4)
- compassion (1)
- accountability (1)
- organization (1)
- homeschooling (12)
- SAHM (1)
- self-growth (1)
- vulnerability (1)
- attachment (1)
- behavioral challenges (1)
- anxiety (1)
- museums (1)
- bubbles (1)
- fluid dynamics (1)
- STEM (1)
- Math and Geometry (2)
- geometry (1)
- democracy (1)
- equality (1)
- fatherhood (1)
- feminism (1)
- gender roles (1)
- gloria steinem (1)
- marriage (1)
- men (1)
- grit (1)
- growth mindset (1)
- hiking (1)
- natureschool (1)
- resilience (1)
- chemistry (1)
- elementary (4)
- montessori elementary (3)
- storytelling (2)
- brainstorming (1)
- rivalry (1)
- grammar (1)
4 comments
Leave a comment