Recommendations for children?

karasti

My middle son, who is almost 10, is interested in learning more about Buddhism. I explain it as best I can, but I can't always find the right words for his age. He's very smart and a high level reader, and I thought it might help to find a couple books/webpages for him that he might be able to read and then ask questions. Any suggestions? I looked at Barnes and Noble and all they had was a book of Buddhist bedtime stories that wasn't quite what I was looking for (though is nice for the younger almost 4 year old). Thanks in advance for any suggestions

Vastmind

"Moody Cow Meditates" is a staple. --- teaches sitting, meditation, and has an
activity to do as well.
The same author has 2 other as well. Once you get in the ball park, u can find
other age things, like teen-age, etc.

person

He might like this site. There's a bunch of animated stories from the Jataka Tales (stories of Buddha's previous lives).

http://www.jatakkatha.com/

karasti

Thank you everyone

DairyLama

This might be worth a look:

http://www.clear-vision.org/Schools/Students.aspx

Sile

Amazon users have a list of Buddhist kids' books going:

http://www.amazon.com/Buddhist-Children-Books/lm/LVO6G77NSS4A

genkaku

@karasti -- Keep in mind that his interest may be more an interest in the parent who is interested. I don't mean that unkindly, but I remember a time when participants' children came to a zen center I attended. They loved the gongs and clappers and ogled the grown-ups in robes ... but after a while they were ready to put it behind them and, from a kid's point of view, get serious.

Just a possible facet to consider.

karasti

Well we don't go to any kind of center or anything, and I don't have any props of any sort that he plays with. He's almost 10 but he's an extremely intelligent and curious 10 year old. He'd rather talk to his friends about liver enzymes than comic books, which leads to him having far more relationships with adults than with kids his age. They can't keep up with him. We don't have a family religion or anything, but I want a way to be able to answer his questions in ways he can understand. It's hard for me to play teacher when I am not always sure I understand what I just read. I certainly don't expect he'll take up being a Buddhist practitioner at age 10 But he's curious and I like to encourage his learning no matter what the topic. I appreciate all the suggestions!

I think that you are certainly right in some regards, having both myself and his older brother studying Buddhism. But I do think most people have some inherent need for a spirituality and since we don't have any sort of formal religion if he's seeking I want to help provide that. We never went to church or anything like that as he's been growing up, so religion has been entirely not present so far in his life. I raise them on Buddhist principles, but it's not talked about in that way most of the time. It's just common sense way of raising them. All of his friends are Christian and they all go to church and vacation bible school so he's curious "what he is" so I help him explore. He has learned some about several different religions. I don't believe in raising children from birth in any particular religion, it's too much of an individual choice, so i try to expose them to a lot of things so as they get older they can choose (or not) with at least some background information.

Arthurbodhi

Charming Buddhist story, I recommend this for young and not so young

Rahula Leads the Way:
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhism/rahula.htm