Many people anticipated this week's question when they responded to last week's discussion of "Cinderella Stories." It seems most people, while they like the idea of a happily-ever-after, have made their peace with the realization that a fairytale ending is just that--for fairy tales.
I'm thrilled to have such well-adjusted classes; however, judging from bumper stickers like the one quoted as the title (and my favorite variation, "Disney gave me unrealistic expectations of hair"), some people are slightly more traumatized when awakened to the real world. Is there harm in "believing" in fairy tales? Do they promote values you would want to pass on to your children, or values you wouldn't? And before you label me a dream-killing ogre, think: how did you feel when you first found out the culture was conspiring to lie to you about Santa Claus? Why did they do it?
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I think that there can be harm in "believing" in fairy tales, people could set there mind that everyone problem can be solved, or there will always be a happily ever after in there life when sometimes there wont be. I believe that people lie about Santa Claus because of tradition and gives something fun for children to be excited about around Christmas time, it can also get your children to be good, i know my mom always used to say "be good Santa is always watching"
ReplyDeleteThere isn't really any harm in believing in fairy tales. Kids have an idealized view of the world around them as it is, so there's no damage to be done by telling them stories in terms they can understand. Explaining to a small child that the world isn't something one can divide into good and evil is a Sisyphean task. Fairy tales simply skip the real world's complexities to jump right to the moral or lesson of the story.
ReplyDeleteI think that generally kids movies are ok at certain points. However some of the movies have depicted certain characters doing behavior that I’m pretty sure parents wouldn’t want their kids acting out. Like lying, stealing, and manipulating people. I think believing in fairy tales is ok up to certain age. After that then it can be: silly or a set up for disappointment. Generally you don’t meet a guy or girl in a day and three days later get married(unless you’re a character in something Shakespeare has written.) Also in Disney movies they tell you that a person is either good or bad….No in betweens. But in real life that’s not usually the case unless were talking about Mother Teresa and Hitler. But with the common man usually u can’t really define a person as good or bad. I think as a kid I got the whole Santa Claus was just to make kids feel more excited and it wasn’t like the parents were tricking us just to be mean.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that there is any harm in believing in fairy tales. Little kids don't think about things in detail as much as adults do and they are not worried about meeting Mr. Right at that point in their life. As we grow up we learn that fairy tales aren't real and I know I am not disappointed that I'm not in a fairy tale. I would rather not deal with dragons and evil witches who can cast spells on whoever they please.
ReplyDeleteI believe that there isn't any harm in believing in fairy tales, because it's what you want to believe in. I do think that they do sometimes promote values to young children like the good people always win. But looking at it in a different perspective, i also believe that they could promote bad values, like villians are bad people and are a negative influence.
ReplyDeleteI'm not going to lie. When I first found out that Santa wasn't real, I cried. I think I was six. And when I discovered Santa wasn't real, I figured out the Tooth Fairy and Easter Rabbit were fake as well. It was traumitizing, for about five minutes. Then I got over it.
ReplyDeleteI don't think there's harm in fairy tales, unless you get past a certain age and still take them seriously. Sure, some (like Cinderella) teach poor values, but some do teach a decent moral. And, let's face it, they're fun. I guess what I'm trying to say is that enjoying them is wonderful, but fully believing them is not a good thing. If you do believe, you're going to be in for a rude awakening. And it'll probably last longer than when you find out about Santa and cry for a full five minutes.
I find no harm in lying to your kids about santa clause, it has been a part of our culture for a very long time. It is a experience that every child should get to enjoy. I was eleven when i found out santa was not real. I was upset, but it was fun while it lasted. Fairy tales pose no harm in general, parents should be very clear that fairy tales are not real, and they are only made up so that people can enjoy them. A parent should not lead their child on and say that happily ever after does exist, because lets face it thats only meant for fairy tales
ReplyDeleteI do not think there is harm in believing in fairy tales. As a kid its good to enjoy life without having to worry about the everyday struggles that all people face. Believing in fairy tales allows for an escape from reality and a better outlook on life for kids. Santa was definitely a big part of Christmas. However, even after I found out that he wasn't real it might have been a little disappointing but I got over it and Christmas is still my favorite holiday. Santa did make my Christmas' better because I wanted to believe that he was a jolly man that gave me stuff.
ReplyDeleteThere is no harm in believing in fairy tales as long as people know that they are not real. Someone can't live there life waiting for a fairy tale to happen to them. That would be a waste. I pretty much figured out myself that Santa wasn't real when I moved into my new house when I was in 2nd grade. Our fireplace is electric and there is glass in front of it. I couldn't figure out how Santa would ever be able to get through the glass. Then I found some presents in my moms closet and I was like cool my mom is Santa.
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ReplyDeleteI believe that it can be harmful to some people because they would get their hopes up and everything might not have the happy ending that they are looking for. As a kid i didnt think the whole moral of the story and stuff. at the end of a movie i would be like, oh that was cool, but i wouldnt put much more thought into it. I dont think that it would have been harmful to me because i am extremely good looking, smart , funny, strong , couragous, careing, respectful, and anything else you might think of as a hero might be. and everything is happily ever after in my life.
Well I believe that disappiontment is a part of growing up. If we didnt have disappionments at a young age like santa and disney movies than we would be really emotional adults. We would cry over split milk. THere for disney movies prepare us for the future.
ReplyDeleteI dont think there's harm in believing in fairy tales, as long as it doesn't go to excess. Decking your entire living space out in a medieval castle spread and waiting for some glorified pretty boy to come and sweet you away to his 70 acre estate atop his majestic steed, for example, is excess. I don't know if i'd want my kids to get too involved with it, it seems like i'd just be setting them up for dissapointment when they realize that guy who gave you the middle finger isn't from some foreign country where that's a sign of respect. People are kind of A-holes nowadays, and asking that smiling guy for directions might just lead you into his creepy ice cream truck.
ReplyDeleteThere is no harm in believing in fairy tales, as long as you don't build your life philosopy off of them. Some of them promote unrealistic values, but I feel that I would be able to teach my children about values that apply to today's world. I was upset when I found out about Santa Clause, but I was also glad that my parents had carried on the charade for so long. Santa serves as a tool for parents as they try to teach their children the difference between naughty and nice, but more importantly gives the parents a great tradition to share with their children.
ReplyDeleteFairy tales are good things, and I don't think believing in them brings any more harm than it brings in good. They let little children see that anything is possible if you are going to put towards it, even if other people have failed. Now, sometimes the endings are indeed as unrealistiic as mentioned, with tales of beautiful princes and happily-ever-after endings. But really, would you rather let children have dreams of things like these than show pessimistic situations that could actually happen. Most children do grow up realizing easily with very little dissapointment when they discover that fairy tales aren't entirely true, so for the good attitudes they teach, I think it is not harmful and actually good for children to believe in them.
ReplyDeleteI dont believe that fairy tales are harmful unless you cant tell the difference between fantasy and reality. Having the over-optimistic feeling that everthing will turn out great and we will live happily ever after is not really a great thing. They promote values that make children aspire to be princesses and princes which will never happen in this democratic nation. It also gives them the idea that all step mothers are evil, which is also not true.
ReplyDeleteI think continuing to lie about Santa to kids is ok because it promotes good values and also keeps our traditions intact. Besides, i wasnt distraught when I found out that he wasnt real.
Certainly an interesting question, especially considering that there is nearly ALWAYS a good moral behind most fairytales. Where the immorality comes in is how they are presented: parents just read the stories to their hopeful children, not bothering to explain the implications and reality of these things in their own lives. Stories such as these are a potent fuel for a child's imagination, (which I am not against, mind you) but this fuel can be disastrous in the long run if left unchecked. Every fairy tale should come with an even longer sufficient explanation of why it is so fantastical, but the impracticality of this situation suggests that fairytales will have some fairly negative effects on children as long as they are read so passively.
ReplyDeleteYes, I also believe there can be harm in believing in fairy tales. There are things about Disney's fairy tales that are bad for kids to think and believe. Especially the happy-ever-after part. One is that thing will just be handed to you by a fairy god parent or some other figure. Another is that anything can happen if you believe it can. Well I'm sorry, most of that is all very false. Nothing is just handed to you for nothing, well as of the past and now, that may change in this future. But it isn;t just on the kid, the child has to be taught what is fiction or fairy tales and whats reality, that is a big part. As for Santa, ya its a great thing for little kids to believe in, and same with the Easter Bunny...but once the child is old enough, they usually are smart enough to figure it out on there own. I would let my child get to that age before I actually tell them though.
ReplyDeleteI don't think there is too much harm in children believing fairy tales. They can't be expected to understand all of the complications of life, and most fairy tales have a good moral behind them. As long as they are told the truth before they get too old, they should be fine. Fairy tales are nice, but there's no place for them in the grown-up world.
ReplyDeleteI really don't remember when or how I found out Santa wasn't real. I guess it was not important to me by that time.
i dont think that there is a huge harm in believing in fairytales. its just part of our culture. when you are little you enjoy watching them in believeing in them. as you get older you grow out of them yourself so there is not huge disappointment.
ReplyDeleteI found out about santa clause in the thrid grade and took pride in letting eveyone i knew. i wasnt dissapointee at all.
I think that people should be able to believe in whatever they wannt. As a kid the best thing in the world was waking up christmas morning to all of the present that santa left you. Who cares if santa isnt real, everything in todays world is a lie anyways. Fairytales are made for kids to be adventurous and have fun.
ReplyDeleteFairy tales are not necessarily harmful, as long as you also understand that they are not real. I mean, it's just a story. Even when I was really young, I had an understanding that most of the fairy tales were not real. Santa Clause is a different story, I belived in santa until around 4th grade. I was a little broken up about it, but now I can't wait to do it to my kids. It's like something to look forward to.
ReplyDeleteI dont think there is any harm in believing in fairy tales. There fun for all people and if you dont want to have a little fun and be a little creative then you shouldnt read them. I love fairy tales they brighten my day and are a creative idea.
ReplyDeletei think that generally fairy tales have a good moral and a good purpose to them. But i can see how fairy tales can make un realistic expectations. Girls without thinking about it believe that their prince will save them becasue thats what happens in the fairy tales. I dont mean literally save them. Fairy tales can also give people an un realistic ideal of love. I think that fairy tales have good morals but growing up around them can give unrealistic expectations. i dont think its something to worry about though,
ReplyDeletei agree with k when they say fairy tales have good morals cause they do but they can also be misleading. people can't linger on the fact that they will always have a happily ever after cause to be honest you won't. fairey tales really aren't bad for little kids as long as they aren't taking them too seriously and eventually grow out of the stage of beliving them
ReplyDeleteSANTA CLAUS ISN'T REAL?!?!?!? MY LIFE IS A LIE.I was crushed when I found out animals couldnt talk, and the trauma has stayed with me ever since so clearly we shouldn't tell fairytales to children unless we want to traumatize them. Also any offspring of mine will be way to hardcore for imaginary stories.
ReplyDeletei think fairy tales are all in fun and the point of them is to show you a unrealistic side of things. if you don't understand that fairytales are fake and meant purely for fun then you shouldn't be allowed to read/watch/listen to them
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