On Adults Enjoying Children and YA Media: The Fuss on Fairy Tales and Teenage Romance

There’s a fuss on adults taking pleasure reading and watching children and teenage literature and media. The ongoing hullabalo stems from some critics saying it reflects lack of maturity, and people who enjoy them often only chase escapism. But children and YA literature and media are more than just that. They can be for pleasure, for sure, but they can also offer a whole lot more. If you’re an adult consuming children and YA content, and you feel a bit sheepish about it, the Creatinuum Episode 70, “Hot Takes: Let Adults Enjoy Media Targeted Toward Kids and Young Adults,” is for you.

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Inside a Child’s Mind

Immersing in the world of children’s imagination is not merely for pleasure. It’s for the revival of our souls. For more often than not, life’s twists and turns and unfathomable labyrinths leave us cold, devoid of simple joys. 

At times, we just forget simplicity; and often, the complexity of life makes us lost in the rubble. We need to be reminded time and again that joy is in the simple things. That peace is still attainable despite the chaos of world events and screaming deadlines. That the mundane can be magical if we let ourselves see things through the lens of childlike wonder. That the coffee being hot and the sun shining can be a wonderful reminder we are alive. For we are not here just to exist and navigate the mazes of our lives. It doesn’t hurt to pause, smell the roses, and revisit our childhood and learn from the old paths where we once believed in the impossible.    

On Powers and Magic

And that’s what children’s literature is (re)teaching us about. When was the last time we believed that things could actually turn around in our favor? Has there ever been a time when people doubted and almost ganged up against you, and you continued to stand your ground? Narnia’s Lucy Pevensie is here reminding you to hold on to that still, small voice that utterly believes in you—and it asks you to believe in yourself, too. It’s the quiet confidence that she proved herself truthful in the end. And you can do that, too. 

Matilda’s telekinesis may not impart powers to effortlessly move objects around our house, but she can teach us the power of friendship, empathy, standing up for others—and how beautiful it is to be different from the rest. Peter Pan shows that gratitude is the fairy dust that sprinkles glimmers of hope, allowing us to fly beyond some unwanted circumstances. We can go on and on, but oh, the lessons of miracles and magic—they are still so available and much alive even in the world of grown-ups. 

More than a Teenage Drama

And the teenage media? They’re not for mere drama and coming-of-age tropes. They can be a tool to heal some parts beneath our scars, helping us navigate the pages of our past that once refused to open up. 

Revisiting East High will make us remember Gabriela’s and Troy’s courage to pursue passions, even if they’re outside of our well-curated societal image. They tell us it’s okay to rediscover ourselves, and yes, the lesson is still on even in adulthood. So what if you’re a level A executive? Is it now wrong to pursue your dream of being a star? You might just as well sing Mitchie Torres’s “This is Me” as she cheers you on in your own Camp Rock journey. 

The YA media remind us of the beauty of being in love—and why we shouldn’t stop seeking love and romanticizing our lives. They make us smile without our notice, raise our brows as we encounter bullies, and even challenge our grown-up minds as they subtly ask: Have you forgotten to be this silly, bold, excited, and once lighthearted kid?

Final Thoughts

For sure, like any other genre, there can be good books and media for children and YA, and there are those that others may find to be not so interesting. But generally, no one should stop an adult from simply enjoying them. And by all means, don’t listen to people judging you just because you follow your intuition. No one should stop you from going down the rabbit hole and being in Wonderland anyway. Who knows, someday, the critical people attacking the likes of you may find themselves like Eustace in the Voyage of the Dawn Treader—and learn their lesson thereby. 

Listen in full to Creatinuum Episode 70: Hot Takes: Let Adults Enjoy Media Targeted Toward Kids and Young Adults available on Simplecast, Spotify, Apple, and other platforms.