Want your children to become more intelligent? Read them more fairy tales, says Einstein!
To some, fairytales might sound old fashioned, but they are as relevant today as they were hundreds of years ago. Why? According to the famous physicist, it's because they are often unique in stimulating the imagination, which Albert Einstein considered more important than factual knowledge: “For knowledge is limited whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution."
And if Einstein's reason is not enough, here are some more reasons why fairy tales can be a good teaching tool for your kids!
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With imagination comes creativity
Fairy tales can act as model behaviour for children, presenting new skills like problem-solving or emotional intelligence. These stories teach them how to believe in stories and to imagine new worlds, which is crucial in the development of creativity and creative thinking in general (link). Fairy tales can affect your child's emotional, physical and mental development in many ways!
It makes children the heroes
One of the more important aspects of fairy tales is their protagonists: children. This is important because it allows them to identify with the main characters and how they go through obstacles and challenges, teaching them hope, resilience and overcoming fears. "Based on the Jungian interpretation, fairy tales teach children how to deal with basic human conflicts, desires, and relationships in a healthy way," says the study The Positive Impacts of Fairy Tales for Children.
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Fairy tales teach children new values
Historically, fairy tales and fables were told to pass basic morals to children or important messages such as, don't talk to strangers. Today, luckily, they are being retold to include more diversity and non-gender specific messages like bravery and forgiveness. Princesses are no longer naïve and helpless, but strong and empowered instead.
You can read them over and over again
Books are important when it comes to language development, especially fairy tales. Kids are first drawn to the illustrations to put the story together, a key pre-reading skill. Then, they realise the repetition when it comes to sounds, which stimulates memory if read over and over again. And as a parent, you know that will happen…
Our retelling of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs includes a new perspective on fairy tales, presenting bravery, diversity and forgiveness to children. Check it out here!