Using Fairy Tales
Parents, teachers, and child therapists intuitively recognize that fairy tales offer a unique window into the emotional lives of children. As a psychologist, I am often asked how individual tales can help a child deal with particular issues. Which stories are especially useful for children troubled by their greediness? Can fairy tales help a child who is inclined to tell lies? What might you read to a little girl who is intensely jealous of her younger sister--and feels guilty about it to boot? People also want advice on practical matters. How does one go about engaging a child in the stories? What kinds of questions might you ask to connect the tales to the child's emotional needs?
In the pages that follow, I offer concrete suggestions that address these concerns, with the understanding that one always needs to keep in mind a child's ability--and willingness--to explore personal matters. Since children differ in their readiness to assimilate emotional insights, the suggestions should be seen less as hard and fast prescriptions than as beacons to illuminate themes a child is ready to address. This appendix is organized around these themes and the fairy tales that best bring them to life. It also contains capsule summaries of key tales and can thus stand on its own as a reading guide. The numbers in parentheses refer the reader to chapters in the book that contain fuller discussions of the individual stories.