From the treasure trove of our childhood memories emerge the enchanting stories told by grandparents, parents, or caregivers. Fairy tales, those captivating narratives, whisked us away to realms where dragons soared, ogres devoured misbehaving children, princesses discovered love in the most unexpected places, and ordinary objects concealed extraordinary secrets.
But these stories offer us more than just entertainment. This article explores the benefits of fairy tales and highlights some of the top fairy tale authors, perfect for reading with your children.
Benefits of fairy tales
1. Offer moral lessons
Stories like The Boy Who Cried Wolf instill critical thinking skills and help children learn from the mistakes of the characters. This story, for example, imparts the importance of honesty, warning that false alarms might lead to a lack of trust when it’s most needed.
2. Fuel imagination
In fairy tales, the impossible becomes possible. Take Rapunzel, where her long, golden hair becomes a ladder for a prince’s ascent, or Jack and the Beanstalk, where Jack climbs a giant beanstalk to a giant’s castle, sparking a thrilling adventure. These stories ignite the imagination, fostering creativity from childhood into adulthood. J.R.R. Tolkien, the celebrated author of The Lord of the Rings, drew profound inspiration from such folktales.
3. Understanding emotions
Magical settings and fantastical characters help children comprehend their emotions and those around them. They learn about happiness, anger, sadness, fear, and anxiety. Most fairy tales also feature obstacles the characters must overcome, teaching resilience and empathy.
4. Expose children to real-life outcomes
Most fairy tales have a happy ending, but some popular stories were created before the 20th century — during times of famine, war, and hunger. They show children (and adults) that sometimes, not everything goes as planned, and villains may go scot-free.
Take the original Little Red Riding Hood story, where the wolf eats the grandma and the child. These stories may have a dark theme, but they also expose children to real-life situations where things don’t always go as planned, and they may have to experience things like hunger, trickery, and exploitation.
5. Language skills
Fairy tales are filled with expressive dialogue and descriptive language. They have riddles, idiomatic expressions, wordplay, similes, and metaphors that kids love. They expand a child’s vocabulary and enhance their problem-solving skills. For instance, how does the princess outwit the witch, or how will the prince cleverly rescue his beloved?
6.Cultural understanding
Every culture boasts its own fairy tales, which, over time, have traveled across the globe. These beloved stories offer a window into diverse folklore, beliefs, and traditions, enabling children and adults alike to gain insight into different cultures. Sharing stories from your ancestors helps upcoming generations appreciate their heritage and culture.
Famous fairy tale authors to add to your children’s library
Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875)
A Danish literary icon, Andersen is renowned for classics like The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, The Emperor’s New Clothes, and The Tinderbox. His tales resonate with emotional depth and explore universal themes of love, resilience, and transformation. The magnificent H.C. Andersen Hus Museum in his hometown, Odense, pays homage to him.
Grimm Brothers (Jacob and Wilhelm)
Pioneers in collecting and popularizing European folk tales, the Grimm Brothers’ compilation, Grimm’s Fairy Tales, includes beloved stories such as Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, and Snow White.
Charles Perrault (1628-1703)
The French author Perrault laid the groundwork for the modern fairy tale genre. His famous works include Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, The Master Cat, and Bluebeard.
Aesop
Before Charles Perault, there was Aesop. However, Aesop is known for fables rather than fairy tales. His timeless stories, such as The Ant and the Grasshopper and The Tortoise and the Hare, continue to captivate audiences.
Dorothea Viehmann and Henrietta Dorothea Wild
The Grimm Brothers often overshadow the women who narrated their collection of stories. However, these women are great contributors to the fairy tales that continue to captivate today’s audiences.
For instance, Wilhelm Grimm credited Dorothea Viehmann with stories like The Lazy Spinner and Hans My Hedgehog. Dorothea Wild is said to have contributed almost a quarter of the Grimms brothers’ first collection including tales like Rumpelstiltskin and The Frog King.
Takeaway
For centuries, fairy tales have profoundly impacted individual and societal development. They are pillars of entertainment, moral education, cultural understanding, and literacy. We hope that by retelling these beautiful stories, you’ll continue to keep the timeless art of storytelling alive for future generations.
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