Books form a central part of our educational approach at Alphablocks Nursery School. They are used to support us in planning the learning experiences offered in the classroom. This half term we have chosen Traditional Fairy Tales as our central theme.
In the fast-paced world of technology, where educational tools and strategies constantly evolve, it’s easy to overlook traditional fairy tales. These enchanting stories, however, are passed down through generations as they offer more than just playful narratives – they have a crucial role in shaping the cognitive, emotional, and social development of children.
Cognitive Development
Traditional fairy tales are a rich source of cognitive stimulation for children. As children immerse themselves in these imaginative worlds, they encounter diverse characters, settings, and plot twists. The exposure to different plots and settings helps children to develop an understanding of different perspectives, which helps develop and establish their theory of mind, a crucial social cognitive ability with long-term implications. It also helps them to enhance their vocabulary, comprehension, and cognitive reasoning skills. Through tales of talking animals, magical creatures, and far-off lands, children’s imaginations are ignited, laying the foundation for creative thinking and problem-solving abilities. At Alphablocks Nursery School, every week we focus on the key vocabulary involved in our stories and discuss the motivations and actions of their characters. We capture some of that learning in our reflection books and observations.
Emotional Literacy
Fairy tales are full of emotions – joy, sorrow, fear, and love – providing a safe space for children to explore and understand these feelings. Characters facing difficulties and challenges, making tough decisions, and experiencing various emotions allow children to develop empathy and a stronger emotional vocabulary. This emotional literacy is crucial for healthy social interactions and lays the groundwork for effective communication as children grow and develop.
Moral Values and Social Skills
Many traditional fairy tales come with moral lessons or teach valuable life skills. Through stories like Cinderella, The Three Little Pigs, or Little Red Riding Hood, children learn about the consequences of actions, the importance of kindness, and the rewards of perseverance. These tales provide a framework for teaching values and ethics, fostering a sense of morality and responsibility in young minds. Additionally, the social dynamics depicted in these tales offer insights into cooperation, friendship, and the consequences of irresponsible or selfish behaviour.
Below you can find some of the ways that you can use fairy tales to promote early literacy at home.
Engaging in interactive reading: Encourage your child to actively participate in the storytelling process. Ask open-ended questions, discuss the characters’ actions, and explore alternative endings. This not only enhances comprehension but also makes reading a collaborative and enjoyable experience. For example, how do you think Cinderella is feeling on different occasions in the story (e.g. when her sisters are making such unkind comments to her?)
Explore different versions: Traditional tales often have various adaptations. Explore different versions of the same story to expose your child to diverse interpretations and different perspectives. This deepens their understanding and fosters their critical thinking skills. Here’s a wonderful resource from the Literacy Classroom, which can help you do this.
Extend the story: Encourage creativity by extending the story beyond the book. Let your child draw or act out their version of events, creating a deeper connection to the narrative and promoting imaginative expression. Ask them to find a different ending to the story or to add some of their personal qualities to the character.
Choose fairy tales from around the world: Do try to expand beyond the ‘standard’ fairy tales as you establish a routine and potentially develop a small library of books (whether borrowed from your local library, friends and family, or bought new/second hand). Fairy tales and traditional narratives from around the world present a wonderful opportunity for introducing other cultures and places.
By incorporating these magical stories into your child’s reading routine, you stimulate various cognitive and emotional centres. Scientific research certainly supports this view. Over the years, however, there has been some discussion about gender stereotypes in traditional fairy tales and, on this front, recent research has shown that this is not the case and that, in fact, traditional stories may have a protective effect against gender stereotypical behaviour beyond childhood (in early adolescence), e.g.: Princess Power: Longitudinal Associations Between Engagement With Princess Culture in Preschool and Gender Stereotypical Behavior … (S.M. Coyne et al. 2021, Child Development, vol. 92, pp. 2413-2430)
You can read more about different ways to support your child’s reading in this blog post: Supporting learning at home: How to boost your child’s reading comprehension