RESEARCH – What are the potential advantages of fairy tales for children? Jürgen Barthelmes

The article uses the example ofCin - derella to describe what children FAIRY TALES UNBURDEN CHILDREN LEARN ABOUT gain from fairy tales. CHILDREN OF THEIR FEELINGS GOOD AND EVIL

The majority of fairy tales take the fam- The children watching or listening are Children often experience injustice ily as their starting point. It is, however, afraid for Cinderella, share in her suf- in their everyday lives or realise that not a place of stability and security; fering, share in her hope, and are happy there is injustice in the adult world, hostility, poverty and parental anger about the positive ending. Children can too. They often experience verbal or prevail, making life unbearable for chil- very quickly imagine themselves as physical violence, and they can be very dren. The heroes and heroines in fairy Cinderella. Cinderella (as the victorious hurt by others victimising or bullying tales are mostly adolescents and young heroine in the end) becomes almost like them, especially if there is no apparent adults who leave their or stand the children’s inner companion, stand- reason for this. up for themselves against their parents. ing by their side, for in the fairy tale the You reap what you sow – in this case, happy ending is certain and promised. evil. Fairy tales put particular emphasis The children recognise that Cinderella on this model, and rightful punishment CHILDREN SEE SIGNIFICANT does not have it any easier, and that follows directly on from this. With ASPECTS OF THEIR LIVES they are not alone with their difficulties. Cinderella children are relieved by her ­REFLECTED BACK AT THEM Children look for consolation if they redemption, for it means that evil is find themselves in a situation where punished and therefore also defeated. Fairy tales remind children of their own they are disaffected with their parents, Children also like to feel schadenfreude. external and internal experiences and or if they feel deprived or neglected. They feel inner satisfaction if evil does emotions: With Cinderella, however, they experi- not triumph in the end. • the fear of being abandoned by parents ence a positive development: modesty Cinderella does not attach importance • grieving for loved ones who have died and humility are extolled and rewarded. to power, wealth and beauty. We do – in Cinderella her biological mother Showing courage leads to resolution and not get very far with envy, greed and • the experience of injustice, anger reward; poverty, contempt and degra- violence – characteristics ascribed to and jealousy on the part of the dation do not last forever, and pain and the stepmother and stepsisters. We stepmother and stepsisters suffering always come to an end. must behave positively and act inde- • the fear of not being loved by par- What follows is Cinderella’s elevation: pendently and responsibly – this is the ents, as well as being embarrassed from servant girl to princess, from message of Cinderella. and humiliated in front of others powerless dependency • not feeling secure on father and stepmother • the nagging doubt whether they will to royal autonomy, from be able to survive by themselves, the dissolution of the nu- although they must clear family, to the terrible • the sense of their own diminutive- stepfamily, to starting her ness and worthlessness as a child own – royal – family. and a young person If children feel anger and • the loss of their own name through aggression, for example nicknames: the name “Cinderella” towards their own mother, shows contempt and robs the girl then they can transfer these of her true identity feelings to Cinderella’s • insufficient opportunity to spend stepmother, and this brings time together with parents children great inner relief.

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The animals are her kind helpers, and lies, children find themselves asking: FAIRY TALES AS MODELS FOR they support her (Ill. 1). Her stepmother What is left for me? What still belongs COPING WITH LIFE and stepsisters on the other hand do to me? Am I still of any value? not even notice the animals or nature. The small, weak and humiliated fairy The fairy tale ofCinderella teaches tale heroes and heroines, whom no- children that: CHANCES FOR CHILDREN body thought capable of anything, • The more they try to achieve their solve the problems they face with flying objectives using violence, the less Children love fairy tales – but why? They colours and overcome the difficulties likely they are to succeed. are not stories about small children: they encounter – children too experi- • If they want something stubbornly the fairy tale heroes and heroines are ence this within their own . and at all costs, they will not get it. usually adolescents and young adults. How often do children’s own parents, • Evil destroys itself, rightful pun- Children’s daydreams and burning de- in particular, have images of them in ishment follows, and goodness sires are focused, in particular, on the their heads which do not acknowledge triumphs. longing to grow up as quickly as pos- many of their competences and abili- sible. Fairy tales show them the many ties? different ways in which children grow Cinderella shows children that they PREDILECTION FOR SECRETS up. Fairy tales are symbolic translations too must actively ensure their own AND SECRET NOOKS AND of psychological processes, dreams in progress and happiness. They can CRANNIES story form. indeed rely on kind helpers, but the Children experience this when they impetus must come from themselves. The white horse in the stall, the owl watch the 3 film versions ofCinder - This is what allows their dreams of (Mother Owl) in the loft, the secret hid- ella (ARD/ZDF/DEFA). They can be future happiness to grow, as well as ing place for the jewellery – these are successful themselves, even without the hope that things will soon take a the places to which Cinderella retreats their parents, who are not perfect or turn for the better. Cinderella does not in order to escape from the animosity all-powerful. remain passive but becomes active; she of her stepmother and stepsisters. This Children encourage themselves and changes her difficult situation and -di is where she finds protection, under- each other. This is why peer groups rects her energy towards improving her standing, peace and strength. The are important. Within peer groups, circumstances. Why should she spend animals are the kind helpers who have children give each other strength, grow any more time with such a stepmother been sent by her late mother. up together, come together, cultivate and such stepsisters? Children have similar secret nooks and friendships. Cinderella and the prince Cinderella and the prince show chil- crannies. Children are allowed to have show children, by their example, how dren, by their example, how they can secrets and keep them to themselves to do this: the prince no longer relies have self-worth, love for themselves or keep them within their friendships. on his father; he acts independently and confidence in themselves. Children know what it is like to feel and is successful. abandoned and all alone – even if their Fairy tales boost children’s confidence: parents have not died but are simply there is always a solution, always a CHILDREN LOOK INTO A not there, or do not spend any time happy ending! For children, the core SYMBOLIC MIRROR with them. message of fairy tales, and of Cinderella in particular, is: you can cope with life, Cinderella is resilient: she is not de- even under difficult circumstances. stroyed; evil ricochets off her; she has and shows the power to resist. She does not let adverse conditions affect her Cinderella has to share everything in THE AUTHOR too much. Resilience means giving the her home with her terrible stepsisters child confidence in his/her own abili- and even give them her own room. Dr Jürgen Bar- ties – Cinderella’s late mother probably Her own father does not help her and thelmes was, up gave her this confidence. does not respect her wishes. Children until 2009, a re- Cinderella treats people and animals know only too well the consequences search associate at lovingly. She cultivates an inner rela- of sibling rivalry. They can empathise the German Youth tionship with nature and friendship with Cinderella and feel her pain – she Institute (DJI) in with animals: she communes with the is feeling what they are feeling. When a Munich, Germany. animals and treats them with respect. new sibling is born, or in blended fami-

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