Harry Potter fandom is full of over-the-top enthusiasts. And now that many of us are now having kids of our own, an I would wager that, like me, you're bringing some of that same energy with you when you're reading Harry Potter to your kid. That same energy as adults who run around grassy fields with brooms between their legs, as readers of all ages who cosplay in robes and pointy hats, and as kids who look up from the pages to ask Mom or Dad how to pronounce "Wingardium Leviosa," which we all know, is crucial to know. We're a committed bunch.
Now I'm a grown-up lady with many grown-up things to do in addition to reading young adult fiction: I have to meet deadlines, change diapers, and discuss when exactly the next season of UnREAL is coming. And it might be because I'm a Ravenclaw with a tendency to geek out over things, but I'm finding that I feel slightly better about my wizarding obsession when I can justify what it brings to other parts of my life. Specifically, what it brings to my parenting. And spoiler alert: I can think of lots of reasons why Harry Potter can positively influence your parenting.