Read a good old fairy tale with your kid

“If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales” 
― Albert Einstein 

 Do you know why Fairy Tales are so important for kids?

Fairy Tales Show Kids How to Handle Problems

We learn from the characters in stories, even as adults. They help us because we connect them to our own lives, dreams, anxieties, and consider what we would do in their shoes. Fairy tales help children learn how to navigate life. “Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.

Fairy Tales Build Emotional Resilience

Fairy tales show real life issues in a fantastical scenario where most often the hero triumphs. Children need to discover in a safe environment that bad things happen to everyone. Because guess what? No one in life is immune from challenges — so we need to build capacity in our children. Do we build emotional muscles so our children can hang on during tough times or do we shelter our kids, protecting them, leaving them so weak they can’t handle anything requiring strength?

Fairy Tales Give Us a Common Language (Cultural Literacy & Canon)

Fairy Tales Cross Cultural Boundaries

Many cultures share common fairy tales like Cinderella, with their own cultural flavor. We read the versions and know we all share something important, the need to make sense of life with story, and the hope for good to triumph over evil.

Fairy Tales Teach Story

Fairy tales are understanding the basics of story — setting, characters, and plot (rising action, climax, and resolution) as well as the difference between fiction and non-fiction. Once a child understands story, it supports their ability to make predictions and comprehend other stories they're reading.

Fairy Tales Develop a Child’s Imagination “When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than any talent for abstract, positive thinking” ― Albert Einstein

Fairy Tales Give Parents Opportunities to Teach Critical Thinking Skills

Fairy Tales Teach Lessons

Use fairy tales to teach morals and lessons. What can you learn from Goldilocks? How about Cinderella or Jack and the Beanstalk?

How to choose the appropriate tale:

You need to consider a child’s age and developmental stage. We don’t read a two-year old the original Rapunzel where the prince is blinded and bloodied because the child won’t understand it anyway. Use your judgement as a parent. Let your children use their judgement, too — they’ll be able to say if they think the story is too scary or not.

You need to consider time of day to read the fairy tales. Perhaps some fairy tales aren’t meant to be bedtime stories. So, read them at lunch!Just don’t ban fairy tales from your child’s life forever just because some are scary or politically incorrect. You can easily find modified versions if that works better for your child and your family.

Make a photo of reading your kid's favourite Fairy Tales Book and upload it to the App. Add some words about your own thoughts about fairy tales.