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(Unit 8) Topic 6: Once Upon a Time: Fairy Tales in the Early Childhood Classroom 

2 Clock Hours of Early Childhood Education

Are Fairy Tales Too Scary?

​Topic 6 Page 10

There has been much debate recently about the appropriateness of fairy tales for young children. Some argue that fairy tales are too dark for little ones and have begun ditching these tales for more modern ones. After all, fairy tales were not originally intended for children, and the content of some of the original stories is quite mature.   

However, one of the wonderful things about fairy tales is how they are able to change over time. As a story gets retold, the plot changes ever so slightly. Think of it like a game of telephone. The story being told gets modified based on the listener’s background and personal experiences. The older versions of fairy tales are very different than the versions we tell today.  

​To answer the question if fairy tales are too scary, it depends. There are several factors that you will need to consider before introducing fairy tales in your classroom. The first being the child’s developmental stage. This is different than the child’s age. You may notice that some four year olds are able to handle spooky topics better than others. You will want to get to know your students and use your best judgment. Also, you will want to be selective with what version of the fairy tale you tell. ​You may not want to tell the original version of Rapunzel where the prince goes blind from being pushed into a bed of thorns. Most likely, you will want to choose ‘light’ versions of each of the stories. This way, the child will still be able to benefit from the tale, while not being frightened.     

​That being said, many educators believe that fairy tales offer children a safe place to experience a reasonable and appropriate amount of fear. They argue that fear and more importantly the ability to overcome fear is a valuable experience for children. As they see characters in fairy tales overcoming fears, they will be encouraged to do the same in their lives.   

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“Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.”
- Neil Gaiman, Coraline

• Dawkins debate: Should children listen to fairytales?, BBC News Services, 5 June 2014

• 10 Reasons Why Kids Need to Read Non-Disney Fairy Tales, by Melissa Taylor

• Grimms' Children's and Household Tales, Donald Haase, Wayne State University

• Are Grimm’s Fairy Tales too twisted for children? - BBC

• Enchanting Ideas for Teaching Fairy Tales,  Scholastic Teachers, By Kristy Mall 

(Unit 8) Topic 6: Fairy Tales in the Early Childhood Classroom  * Navigation Menu