Inappropriate censorship?

I read a blog post recently in which the author exclaimed at the differences in the book The Bridge to Terabithia that she as an adult read to her children, as opposed to what she recalled having read as a child. Having never read The Bridge to Terabithia (nor indeed watched the movie) I cannot comment on the content of the book, however I thought it was odd to want to censor something form her children which had brought her such joy.

The writer's main concern seemed to be the amount of swearing in the book, 'though she also mentioned a 5th grader having an intense crush on his teacher.

I've always taken the tact with my children that they can read 'most any material of their choosing (they're not hanging out with the Playboy girls) safe in the knowledge that anything that concerns them therein can be taken up with myself or their father and that we will always give them factual and relevant information to sate their thirst for knowledge. That's not to say that we'd give them a graphic or complete adult description of swear words, moreso that we might explain to them that "sh*t" is a slang word similar to "poop" which may be used as a swear word to express frustration, or that "f*ck" is a swear word used by some adults (and teenagers) but it is not acceptable for children or for adults who wish to be seen as responsible, considerate, people. We've taken the same tact with television and movies. They watch programs and movies of their choosing as long as they are in our company or the company of adults we trust tor treat them similarly (ie answer their questions honestly and appropriately.)

Print, televisual and cinematic media are for the greater part, a reflection on the beliefs and attitudes of our greater society. We might not agree with all of the ideas and ideals portrayed but I would rather my children be presented with those alternative view points whilst I can influence their reactions to them.

Did the books/movies you are now banning/censoring for your children do you any real harm? They gave you great memories and as a child, (as the adult you now realises) you censored them for yourself.

If the adult (or inappropriate) content went straight over your head as a child why wouldn’t the same thing happen to your children?

Funny how children see the whole world from a different perspective than adults isn’t it?

I think it's important to remember that no matter what the influences our children encounter int heir young lives it is we, their parents, who are the greatest influence on them.