Classic fairytales are good for children because they spark their imagination, could teach them important morals and possibly help them process emotions. Fairytales can also give parents the chance to guide their children through the outdated ideologies. Using fairytales with thoughtful discussions, can become a powerful tool in child development. The article from list A that interested me was “Sex and Violence in Fairy Tales” editorial by David Isaacs, Journal of Pediatrics and Child Health, one of the ideas that caught my attention was the idea of fairytales being derived from sexual decency and the affect fairytales have on the subconscious. The article from list B that interested me was “Tell Fairy Stories to Your Children” by Jane Stafford, and one idea that caught my attention was the insight on how intense fairytales can be and the importance of being mindful of how the fairytale is delivered and discussed to children.
Daily Archives: April 10, 2025
Fairy tales are beneficial for children because they promote imagination, teach moral lessons, and help children develop emotional resilience through symbolic storytelling. From List A, I’m interested in the article “The Positive Impacts of Fairy Tales for Children” by Leilani VisikoKnox-Johnson. I find it appealing how she states that children may identify with the characters and experience empowerment when those characters overcome challenges. This article argues that fairy tales allow children to explore and understand complex emotions, such as fear and courage, via symbolic figures and imaginative scenarios. From List B, I chose “Another Look at the Fairy Tales” by Leland B. Jacobs. Jacobs focuses on how fairy tales encourage children’s imaginations and expand their perspectives. His argument that fairy tales encourage kids to see unlimited opportunities and promote the development of creative problem-solving abilities struck a chord with me. These ideas strengthen the importance of fairy tales for young children’s development.
My thesis for the research essay is that fairy tales are beneficial for children because they support language development, moral comprehension, and emotional growth. From List A, I was especially interested in “The Positive Impacts of Fairy Tales for Children” by Leilani VisikoKnox-Johnson. One idea that stood out to me was how fairy tales give children a way to process emotions they may not be able to express yet. The article mentions a study in an Italian oncology ward where sick children connected deeply with fairy tales, as they saw the villains as a symbol of their illness and related to the feeling of helplessness from the main characters. This comparison gave the children a new coping mechanism for something as serious as death, which I found very powerful. Another idea I appreciated was how therapists can use children’s reactions to fairy tales to understand identity issues and emotional struggles they may be facing, especially during illness or trauma. From List B, the article “Rediscovering the Power of Fairy Tales” by Mary Howarth also supported my thesis. Howarth explains how fairy tales help children explore ideas like identity, trust, and problem-solving. One example she gives is how children acting out stories can strengthen both their vocabulary and their understanding of moral values. I also liked that the article pointed out how fairy tales create space for kids to feel empowered, such as in “The Wolf and the Seven Young Kids” by the Brothers Grimm, where the smallest goat ends up saving the others. This shows how children can identify with characters and use those connections to work through big emotions and develop a stronger sense of self.
I believe fairly tales are harmful to children , especially in the crucial early childhood development years . These tales are teaching our children at such a young age to be conditioned to different form of gender roles , where they tell our daughters to be the “submissive damsel” and our boys that woman are a prize and not their equal . The source I would use from list B is “Some Day My Prince Will Come” by Marcia R Lieberman . ” They Reflect The Taste Of refined literary men who edited the first popular collections of children’s fairy tales during the Victoran era ” (Marcia). This statement alone shows the outdated gender roles being imposed on our children who are growing up in such a different era and time. Another source I identified in List B ” Tell Fairy Tales To Your Children” . In this article the author speaks of a man who at the age of 30 was dealing with the psychological effects of his mothers bed time stories ! “Telling the stories had a comforting effect or on her and relived her own tension but the way she told them had a harmful effect on her son ” (Stafford). Proving that the stories we read to children can have a long lasting effect on a child”s early development . I enjoyed this article because many people will debate that stories are harmless but the child”s mind is like a sponge constantly absorbing information and the smallest things can leave an ever last impact .
My thesis statement is Fairy tales can be bad for children because “it can badly affect them with harmful stereotypes such fostering realism and failing to face the consequences that are going to affect their lives.” My main statement can argue that fairy tales are retellings of folk tales, and folk tales tell the children anxieties of life such as family and riches. From List A, I use a quote from “Sex and Violence from Fairy Tales” by David Issacs: “Many tales have been modified because the originals were too confronting. The Grimm may have loved violence, but they found sex and family strife treating.” (Issacs) From List B, I choose a quote from “Some Day My Prince will Come” by Marcia Lieberman: “It’s hard to see how children could be “prepared for women’s liberation by reading fairy tales.” (Lieberman)
