Reading With Children: Are Scary Books Or Fairy Tales Harmful To Your Child?

Yesterday’s fairy tales and today’s scary books are filled with conflicting vivid imagery of both good and evil. It is no wonder that many parents pause when the wolf is seconds away from making a meal of Little Red Riding Hood or The Magic Treehouse’s Jack and Annie are surrounded by circling sharks. Parents can’t help but wonder if the scary content is harmful or if children are perceptive enough to internalize any dark meanings.

Only The Broad Brush: Many experts reassure us that children mostly take these stories at face value and nothing more. Children typically only get the “broad brush” of the story -- i.e. the hero wins out and the villain is defeated. Experts even say well chosen fairy tales can actually be a learning tool for children, helping them through developmental stages by reassuring them that virtuous behavior, perseverance and accepting help can aid them in overcoming obstacles. Fairy tales often conveniently explore common issues children face as they come of age like the fear of abandonment, vanity, greed, envy and sibling rivalry, leaving those issues wide open for parent discussion.

Watch Out For Stereotypes: In contrast though, some scholars caution that traditional fairy tales encourage negative stereotypes that imply it pays to be physically pretty which could contribute to young women feeling they are inferior if they don’t meet unrealistic standards of beauty. Parents can counter this by initiating frank discussions about any stereotypes a book contains.

Carefully Evaluate Books Before Your Read Them: How can parents determine which stories are appropriate for their children? Experts like books that allow a child to witness the main character transcend the events that challenge him and become a stronger person in the end. Carefully consider the subject matter of a book, your child's personality as well as his social, language, and cognitive developmental levels.

Experts say parents should never force a book on an apprehensive child, instead carefully reading an unfamiliar story before sharing it. If there is any doubt whether the child is ready, wait. Consider forgoing movie versions for the corresponding book because a book’s visuals are usually much less intense for young children and allow a child to simply close the book or look away if it becomes too scary. And remember there are many different book versions of the same story. Many editors will greatly water down or even omit scary parts in collections for younger children.

So if your 5th grader begs to read yet another Goosebumps, or your preschooler wants to hear Sleeping Beauty for the one hundredth time, be glad they want to read and know that you can use the books as a starting point to discuss important issues.

Children Know The Difference Between Fantasy And Reality: Finally, don‘t worry so much that kids blur the lines between fantasy and reality. Children know the difference between reality and fantasy and can easily digest the enormity of a character’s problem if it is presented in a fantasy-like fashion.

Most adults who read fairy tales and scary stories as children grew up with the full realization that mirrors don’t engage in conversation and magic beans don’t literally exist, but it can still fun to read about them. Isn’t part of the enchantment of childhood believing in a little magic?