My almost 4 year old son has recently shown an interest in Greek mythology. He likes the mythical creatures, heroes, etc. I purchased a book for us to read together (we always read a story before bedtime) which he enthusiastically chooses each night.
When I purchased the book online, I was aware that it is intended for older children, but I wasn't able to preview much of the content. As anyone familiar with these myths will know, they are often quite violent and many of the lessons they teach us are beyond the comprehension of a young child, but I wasn't sure how the book would handle the subject matter. As it turns out, while illustrated in a cartoonish way, there are many depictions of violence and gore (monster slaying and the like). I tend not to worry much about age appropriateness, assuming he seems comfortable and it's his choice, and I haven't really noticed this having much of an effect on him (besides an increase in monster related questions).
All that to say, I'm wondering what the potential downsides (or upsides even) to this approach are? Are there any serious risks in allowing and enabling him to explore this sort of thing at such a young age? (I found this to be an interesting read in favor of exposing children to violence, though it's not clear at what age/level of maturity)
