“Classical Fairy Tales”

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“…Then Lady Tremaine tripped the Grade Duke, and the glass slipper shattered…but luckily Cinderella had the other slipper in her pocket. And it fit! Cinderella and the Prince were soon married. Everyone rejoiced, including Cinderella mouse friends. Filled with joy Prince Charming and Cinderella lived happily ever after.” At least that’s what Disney wants you to believe. According to “Huff Post Parents” a study shows that parents would rather read Disney’s version on fairy tales instead of the classical version. But why? I would much rather hear a story about a step sister cutting off her big toe to make a slipper fit than a fairy godmother turning a pumpkin into a carriage; it’s more entertaining. I personally know parents that don’t recommend reading this version of “Cinderella” or any other classic fairy tales to younger children; the violence is too graphic, it sends the wrong message about stepmothers and the reality of the world is misleading.
It’s no brain teaser that classic fairy tales are dark, grim and violent. They are filled with situations that leave your mind blown or saying to yourself “That’s insane!” Children have a hard time distinguishing the line between the real world and make believe. In the fairy tale “Ashputtle”, the stepmother orders her daughter to cut of her own toes so the gold slipper would fit and she would become queen. This is where the line can become very fuzzy for some children. A few children might comprehend this as an example of problem solving. “Oh, my shoe does not fit anymore. I’m going to cut off my big toe because I love my limited edition light up shoes and I don’t want new ones.” I can see why Disney did not put that into the movie, I would not want to be the cause of children around...

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...lassic fairy tales is not the problem here, it’s the parents who try and raise their children in a perfect world. Children should be told the truth so they can be prepared for the real world before they grow up. I’m no parent, but I have been around children who do not know how to act in public places because their parents seclude them from the world. The violence in the classic fairy tales can be explained why it happen and ways children can learn what to do and what not to do. Parents can elaborate that not all step mothers are evil and that when hard times come they will not abandon them. The reality if the world would not be misleading if parents took the time to explain to their kids how things work in the real world. The classic fairy tales are nothing but entertain stories and they should not be taken so seriously by parents.

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Huff Post Parents

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