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  • And they lived happily ever after...

    Tuesday 19 April 2011

    Categories: Education, Parenting, Role Models

    When the handsome prince marries his blushing bride the fairytale ends with “and they lived happily ever after”. Easy isn’t it? Every little and not so little girl knows that all a girl has to do is find the man of her dreams and a blissful future is certain.

    But some children are not going to grow up surrounded by such enchanting stories, according to a poll of 3000 parents carried out by TheBabyWebsite. Apparently a quarter of mothers don’t read some of the classic fairytales to their children because they believe their children will be frightened. Do they have a point? For instance take Little Red Riding Hood: she walks alone through the woods and finds the wolf has eaten her grandmother – what a terrifying scenario! These mothers worry that stories such as Cinderella and Rapunzel might emotionally damage their children and give them nightmares. The child development expert Sally Goddard Blythe argues that in fact such stories are vital to children’s healthy development. She points out that fairy tales help to teach about right and wrong, develop creativity and give strong moral messages in an imaginative way. The tale of Snow White shows that the dwarves, despite being physically different, are kind and generous while her beautiful and wealthy stepmother is cruel and wicked. Cinderella is a poor, hardworking servant who overcomes adversity while her vain and selfish sisters get their comeuppance. And Beauty and the Beast is an excellent illustration of the triumph of inner goodness over external appearance.

    Three cheers for common sense! Our children can safely enjoy wonderful folk tales and stories while learning about some of the truths of life. Just one tiny little niggling afterthought: I have one issue with these hugely enjoyable, moral and reassuring tales. They generally end with a wedding, but as well all know the wedding is only the start. With a real royal fairytale wedding in sight I believe we should find ways of showing our children, our sons as well as our daughters that married life isn’t necessarily a bed of roses, that it takes more than an expensive ceremony to ensure future happiness. Where are the fairytales which promote the ideas and values that all newlyweds will need? Trust, understanding, patience, compromise and valuing each other for who we really are. So when we drink a toast to Kate and her handsome prince let’s wish them love and laughter together but also excellent listening skills, the ability to negotiate their way through the inevitable disagreements and compassion for each other’s flaws. And a fairy godmother, just in case!

    Posted by Alison Morris

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