Are fairytales too scary?
Are fariytales too scary for little ones? Parents are deciding to ditch traditional fairytales in favour of modern, less scary, alternatives.
A study has revealed that one in five parents are putting an end to bedtime stories from Hans Christian Anderson and the Brothers Grimm because they are too upsetting for their little ones.
Many parents are giving Red Riding Hood a miss because of its granny-gobbling wolf, with a third saying that the story left their children in tears. Rumpelstiltskin, Hansel and Gretel and Rapunzel have also been deemed inappropriate because their themes of child abduction are too scary for little ears.
More light-hearted tales are also being given the cold shoulder. 52 per cent of parents considered Cinderella to be outdated because of its portrayal of women in old-fashioned gender roles, while Goldilocks and the Three Bears is raising concerns as some parents think it could be seen to condone stealing.
Steve Hornsey from the TV channel Watch, who commissioned the survey, said: 'As adults we can see the innocence in fairytales, but a five-year-old with an overactive imagination could take things too literally.'
What do you think? Are you sticking with your childhood favourites and reading traditional tales to your little ones, or would you always pick the The Gruffalo over Goldilocks? Join the debate on our Facebook page.
More like this
Read more
Authors
How NatPat's wellness patches may help your family
NatPat's range of wellness patches and stickers aim to tackle everything from allergies to lack of focus. We take a closer look at the range.