ThreeBlessings Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 I'd like to hear opinions on reading fairy tales to younger kids, ages 4-6. Do you read only sanitized versions, only original or unsanitized versions, or both to kids this age and why? Does it depend on the child? My youngest is 4 and I've started reading The Red Fairy Book and The Blue Fairy Book and some others to her. She absolutely adores fairy tales, so I thought I'd start reading these to her. She seems fine with the stories, not bothered or disturbed. I hadn't read all of these to the bigger kids when they were younger though and I hadn't read all of them myself either. I'd read so many sanitized versions of the three little pigs that I was a bit surprised when the wolf got boiled alive. Dd didn't seem bothered by it, but I was wanting to hear others' opinions on the matter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 I did not read really horrific type ones when they were very small, and I still am a bit squeamish about very grotesque violence. They listened to a lot of the fairy books on Librivox, vs my reading it to them. I do not care for Disney type versions that are wholly changed, but there are plenty of fairy stories besides Grimms, and not all of them are horridly graphic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recovering Sociopath Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 My kids (7, 5.5, 20mo) haven't ever seemed traumatized by the gruesome parts of fairy tales. But it may depend on the kids in question. I do think that, especially with myths, ancient folklore, and the stories of Andersen and the brothers Grimm, the violence generally has specific metaphorical value, and expurgating it would flatten out the mythic richness of the stories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybear Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 I say go for unsanitized, but pick fairy tales that are slightly on the less gruesome side. Somewhere I saw a list that recommends which ones for which ages. I can't recall where. Perhaps Ambleside? Anyone else know what I'm talking about? :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sctigermom Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 We read the originals as well as the candy coated ones. I was able to download things like Grimms Fairy Tales on my Ipad for free. I also own the Kindergarten curriculum from the Bearth Institute and it has a lot of original stories in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boscopup Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 I've done unsanitized. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleIzumi Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 We've read both & compared them together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoZeeCo's Mom Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 Unsanitized here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ester Maria Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 I err on the unsanitized side, though I did sanitize some of them a little when they were REALLY small. 5-6, though, unsanitized. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Jessica* Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 I say go for unsanitized, but pick fairy tales that are slightly on the less gruesome side. Somewhere I saw a list that recommends which ones for which ages. I can't recall where. Perhaps Ambleside? Anyone else know what I'm talking about? :) I would love that list if anyone knows where to find it! My oldest loves the originals but my 6-year-old is very sensitive so we've had to stop reading most fairy tales out loud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Generally, sanitized for me and unsanitized for dd because I'm a wuss. However, "The Little Mermaid" might just be banned because I hate it so much. Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ariston Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 I say go for unsanitized, but pick fairy tales that are slightly on the less gruesome side. Somewhere I saw a list that recommends which ones for which ages. I can't recall where. Perhaps Ambleside? Anyone else know what I'm talking about? :) I think you might be talking about Ambleside. They list the ones they suggest for First Grade (from the Blue Fairy Book) but then give a list of possible substitutions (other stories from Blue Fairy Book) for if your child is sensitive. My son loves all of the Andrew Lang stories. My daughter on the other hand will stop listening if its getting too scary for her, or if she fears that one of the main characters is going to die. So I'd say it depends on the child. As long as it doesn't bother my kids, I'm fine with the original versions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pitterpatter Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 When DD was younger, completely sanitized. Now, we're middle of the road. Some things, I'd rather DD remain ignorant of for as long as possible. I like semi-sanitized Bible as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hope in God Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 I would go sanitized for the reason that societal norms have changed since the fairy tales were written and I would like my young children to not repeat something that they have read (thinking that it is okay) and then be ostracized. Kids do repeat things and hey, my kids are already homeschooled so it would be nice if they didn't have those little social pits to trip into.:lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurelia Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 We read both and DD prefers unsanitized. If she were sensitive I might use gentler versions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
violingirl Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 With my 6.5yo we've always read the unsanitized versions but my 4.5yo is much more sensitive so I've been a lot more choosy with him. It's frequently surprising to me which elements make a story too scary for him, so I usually give him a preview (that the story involves someone dying or something like that) and then let him decide if he wants to listen. He's pretty good about speaking up if something is too scary for him and he will sometimes decide mid-story that it's too much and will go do something else until I'm done reading to his brother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.