By: Aarohi Tanawade
Fairy tales are an integral part of childhood since they teach young children many different life lessons and give them good morals to abide by. My grandma told me this during a debate that we had last month… and if anyone should know the truth, it’s her. Isn’t this true? To find out, we have to look at fairy tales from a child’s perspective. What do these stories hold for the young audience that reads them? I find that fairy tales provide respectable role models for young children. In today’s world, where children are exposed to social media, a majority of our young generation looks up to TV stars and celebrities. But, with their history of drugs and scandals, is it wise to let children idolise them? Especially with rising rates in crime and illegal doings? A few months ago, I was cleaning out my bookshelf when I discovered a box full of my old fairy tale books. As I flicked through their pages, I realised that without their guide, my childhood would’ve been bleak and unexciting. I would never have been the person I am today, with good morals and values that many of my friends and family appreciate. This reinforced my belief that fairy tales should definitely not be banned and that by banning them, we will be taking away the most surreal part of children’s lives. I know that many of you will reject the idea of fairy tales playing an important role in the lives of children, but I can guarantee you, that any child you ask will second my opinion and that I have very firm reasons for believing so. To begin with, fairy tales encourage creativity. Recent studies have shown that children’s writing is less creative now than it was 20 years ago. What’s the cause of this problem? Considering that children nowadays spend more time on computer games and social media as opposed to reading or drawing or engaging in something creative, a decline in creativity is bound to occur. Comparing this technological