The Lessons of Narnia

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Key Moral Lessons What are some key moral lessons in Lion, and how can parents use them as teaching/discussion tools with our kids?

Look no further than younger brother Edmund for plenty of material on moral choices! His greatest moral lapse is his betrayal and abandonment of his siblings. But a series of smaller failings leads him into this big one:

Gluttony: Edmund�s lust for Turkish Delight illustrates that too much of a good thing can become a bad thing. Explain to your kids that if our desire for something causes us to lose control or to make bad choices, we should avoid it altogether. You might relate this to the issues of addiction.

Pride: Edmund lies about the world of Narnia beyond the wardrobe because he can�t bear to admit that Lucy was right. Why is it so hard to admit when we�ve made a mistake?

Blame-shifting: When caught in his lie, rather than feeling sorry, Edmund tries to make himself believe that his siblings are self-righteous pigs. Can your kids relate to this tendency?

Power lust: Edmund can�t wait to be king so he can �lord it over Peter.� Ask your kids if they�ve ever had similar fantasies of power over others, perhaps an older sibling or a friend.

Thankfully, not all of the moral lessons are negative, even for Edmund! His sincere change of heart and his apology to Lucy and his siblings show the power of confession, repentance, and forgiveness. And Aslan�s death is a powerful illustration of the spiritual concepts of sacrifice and redemption.

Is My Child Ready for Narnia?

I�m concerned about frightening and violent elements in the Chronicles. How can I know if my child is mature enough to enter Narnia?

The answer depends if you�re thinking book or movie. When we read the books, the author�s voice and presence are always present to comfort and counsel. When we�re curled up on the couch together to read Narnia, our kids can enjoy the steadying context of parent and family. A movie is different: no comforting narrators, for one thing, and characterization and violence will tend to be more graphic. Having said that, Disney is obviously targeting the same family demographic they have for decades.

If you�re unsure about your child�s readiness, ask yourself some key questions that other parents have found helpful:

1. Can my child separate reality from fantasy? In other words, is he or she old enough to realize for certain that the White Witch won�t be visiting your house tonight? If not, then they�re not ready to climb through that wardrobe.

2. Does my child already have a tendency toward fear, bad dreams, or being haunted by boogeymen? If so, wait longer than you might otherwise.

3. What else is going on in my child�s life? If your child is going through an anxious or stressful season�a recent divorce or other major loss, a seriously ill sibling, a move�any fears he or she already feels are likely to get amplified by a fictional fright. Extra empathy and wisdom are in order.

4. What is my child�s temperament? Some children feel things deeply but are quick to talk things through with a parent. Some are more sensitive to emotional issues in stories than they are to violence. The variations are endless. But each child deserves what you can do best�observe, care, protect, pray, and then parent with discretion.

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