All of us, at one point in our childhood life, have probably read at least one fairy tale book. Each one of us would know at least one fairy tale that we could share to our own children or other kids that we know. Despite the popularity of classic fairy tale books, there are parents who shy away from this type of books believing that they will have negative impact on their children. Some of them would say that fairy tales are just stories filled with make-believe characters, with evil plot and sinister stories and they wouldn’t want to expose their children to such scenarios.
We couldn’t blame parents who think this way about classic fairy tale books. They, in fact, have all the right to choose what they think is best for their children. However, just for the purpose of fair presentation, here are a few good reasons why we think classic fairy tale books have some good things to contribute to the growth and development of your young children.
- While it is true that classic fairy tale books have make-believe characters, they actually tell stories in a simplified manner that can easily get a message across, much easier and effective, to children. Yes, there are villains and cruel characters in fairy tales; but this is the reality of life and it’s actually teaching children to avoid dealing with such characters in real life. At an early age, you can easily explain the “good” and “bad” to your child using fiction characters.
- Exposing your children to classic fairy tale books is also exposing them to different situations in life that they will, eventually, confront as they grow old. It’s a creative and simple way to introduce different situations that each one of us should come to terms with like growing old, death, sadness, making decisions and confronting fears.
- Whether we care to admit it or not, classic fairy tale books have their own moral lessons ---sufferings don’t last, good deeds are rewarded accordingly, evildoers don’t win, crimes are punished, and many more.
- Children can easily relate to the “heroes” of the classic fairy tale books. Mothers can attest to the fact that some of their children behave properly because they were, time and again, reminded that “Cinderella is industrious”, “Snow white is kind” or “Hercules is brave”.
- Perhaps the most important lesson that’s presented to children by classic fairy tale books is that every choice has a corresponding consequence. Parents can, very early, teach children how special they are such that they were created to have free will and make decisions based on what they think is right and good for them. In whatever situation they find themselves in, they always have the choice to act like the hero or the villain. And although not all stories have happy endings, the basic lessons in real life are the same as in fairy tales --- bad deeds have consequences, and good deeds are never wasted.