After my post yesterday where I berated monster movies along with current real life horror stories, I decided I needed to say more.
There is a trend in recent years to clean up Fairy Tales by removing the witches, giants, wolves and such or making them all happy and sweet and in love with children. I’m not for that kind of censorship.
We read children books in which many things are personified. We tell the Moon, “Goodnight,” we let bunnies and teapots talk to each other – all sorts of things. That understanding of stories can carry right on to Aesop’s Tales where the animals learn lessons. Fairy Tales can naturally follow right along. Children know they are make believe.
A few weeks ago I had grandchildren here. I pulled out a couple of chairs put a board over the seats for a bridge and we performed the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff. The kids were NOT scared of the Old Troll.
Children who have parents and teachers who read to them are not likely to ever be troubled by those kinds of stories. However I might not use even those stories with children who had be traumatized by abuse and had not had a loving person to read to them. I don’t know.
A tip that seems reasonable to me is to avoid 3-D scary movies for children under five. I think that would remove them from the “story book” plots they are used to.
So I am not against Fairy Tales, scary movies, Wicked Witch of the West, and animal’s talking. But I am against scaring children. I’ve told the following story before but it is a good example of what I’m talking about.
I was standing in a classroom with my hand on the shoulder and chest of a first grade girl explaining some kind of lesson to her. Suddenly my door flew open and in swooped a witch dressed in black hat, dress, and pointed shoes. Long black fingernails. I felt my student’s heart begin to pound with fear. That’s what I call Big People scaring Little People. I don’t like that at all.
I might be back for more along this line because I believe the stories we feed our children can have enormous spiritual effect. I’ll brew on that a bit. 😀
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My thanks to unsplash.com for the image
Sweet aroma 
I agree the stories we tell children have spiritual effects and there is no need to sugar-coat trolls, wizards and witches.
Right on, Frank.
Life is complicated enough for kids….be patient with all kids.
Sarah, thank you for the comment, I am complete agreement with that. I hope I didn’t say something that indicated otherwise. I’ll be over to your place later to see
Oh no I was just making a statement. You got it right. People assume children just aren’t affected too often.
Ooo. That relieves me. I was afraid I had goofed on my meaning. Thanks much.
I understand and relate absolutely. Children need to know at an early age by adult example or by teachers the clear definition of what is fairy tales ie made up all the way from witches goblins etc etc. Imagination is a God Gift help children to love and appreciate it. Ie Santa Claus and all halloween stuff all imagination but also NO blurring…… to clearly tell children whose birthday Christmas represents, This Child was born…….This is TRUTH. The Man died ……This is TRUTH . The why? and the importance must be told from a very early age as well. What is TRUTH? What indeed is from human imagination?. Clear EDUCATORS. This is what our children need and indeed aLL adults as well. What a great life is theirs for all who find their way through the maze.
Yes, children clearly need to know the difference between a make-believe Santa Clause and Jesus. And between an Easter Rabbit and Jesus. They can handle the knowledge of both at quite an early age. Thanks.
Amen Oneta—creativity and imagination laced with lovely morals and lessons…
a huge difference from false narratives and evil tales…
Amen on your truth. I can’t remember that I or those close to me had any trouble knowing that the stories from the Bible were real but made up stories were not. I do remember a classmate, I think in the forth grade, who believed in Santa Clause. I think it was traumatic for him to accept Santa as make believe. I have family members who let that go on too long in my opinion.
Ho ho— and there’s that tooth fairy 🧚🏻♀️
Witty response. 😀
Sometimes I can think quick on my feet —we got lucky🤣😂
😀