Bettelheim on Fairy Tales

1. Bettelheim on Fairy Tales What do children need? What do fairy tales do? Period 3

2. What do children need? • Need to overcome potential psychological disorders • Need to know how to survive the world • Need to know what’s really out there in the world, be exposed to the reality of the world (not be overly protected – know that not all people are good, including, sometimes, the child; that life is not always perfect) • Need to understand what’s going on his mind so he can cope with the unconscious, too • Need to be reassured that they can do things on their own, and that they can and must gain independence (let go of childhood dependencies) • Need to understand both good and evil so they can make their choices about who they want to be • Need to fit their unconscious content into conscious fantasies (FT)

3. What do fairy tales do? • FT enhance a child’s imagination about the concept of life. • Teach lessons about life. • Give knowledge about the flaws of society • Act as a reality check • Prepares kids for hardships of life • Tell kids that whoever chooses the evil pathway loses • Connect to real-life situations • Eliminate unimportant details in order to get straight to the point so that the kid can understand easily • Includes opposites (good/bad, ugly/pretty, etc.) • Help kids find out who they want to be • Influence child through the characteristics of the hero and villain • Assure child that successes and failures exist in life but that the child can overcome the obstacles and be successful, no matter where he comes from • Give child ideas about how to interact with others • Show kids that no one escapes the difficulties of life, but that if one meets hardships, one CAN overcome them • Provide a hero that a child identifies with • Prepares kids for life’s transitions • Demonstrates that good people win • Prepare kids for falling in love and having strong relationships with others • Give examples of mentors and those who can guide