It has been the norm to think that anything that is not rooted in Christianity is detrimental to the development of Christian values in children. Many believe that folklore contains too much paganism and can lead children astray from a Christian upbringing. However, tales and folklore can be used to cultivate Christian values in young minds.
Christian children are able to tell that the characters in some of the folklores are fictional, but they stull identify with them to some level. When you talk about the Legends of King Arthur, and how he defeated evil dragons, the Christian child can relate this to how good always wins over evil, and he or she will be convinced to embrace the good values taught in Christianity. Christian publishers are now realizing that characters found in folklore can be used to teach Christian values in a manner that children can relate to.
How to start using folklore in Christian publishing for children
Christian Publishers need to look at how children start off learning to read and write, and how this can be used in developing Christianity from an early age. Children start off by listening to what parents read to them, and also reciting nursery rhymes. Publishers should look at rhymes and simple stories that children can understand, but have a basis in Christianity.
The next stage is that of folklore and tales –Most tales and folklore talk about the basic good that is found in humanity. Granted, there are some evil characters in these tales, who eventually get defeated, but the good characters outshine the bad. Folklore embraces basic human desires and experiences, which are eventually fulfilled by having a good spiritual life. Getting children to have an understanding of the good that is enshrined in folklore will help them understand the basic tenets of Christianity.
There are many stories contained in the Gospel, and they contain marvelous, moving and artistic form. Similarly, there are stories contained in folklore that have the same characteristics. Christian Publishers have a vast wealth of stories with characters who can be molded to fit a story with deep Christian values. Children will already be familiar with the characters, and this new twist in the stories will have a profound effect on their minds.
Children will always relate to the charactersin the stories that they hear, and will usually imagine themselves taking part in the events unfolding in the stories. When they hear about a magical land, filled with great people and animals, they want to instantly be transported there in their minds. Christian Publishers should take advantage of this desire to tell Children about Heaven and the fulfillment in going to meet their maker after life here on earth.
Pastor Andy Yiangou has published a book entitled “Jungle Tales” which tell stories of various events in Karoomba Jungle, which have a deep Christian lesson to teach. Christian Publishers are today looking for such stories to help develop Christianity in young children.