How to Read Fairy Tales With Your Kids
In my last column, I explained why children need fairy tales. But how do you actually introduce these stories to your kids? Which ones do you choose? What’s the best approach to reading them? And what if your child isn’t getting the message being taught?
Today, we’ll discuss all these things. Recommendations are listed in a stepwise process below. However, they are merely suggestions. It’s up to you to decide which steps are helpful for you and how to adapt them to your family’s unique needs.
Defining Family Values
First, before you start reading or even choose which fairy tales to share with your child, take time to reflect on your family’s values. Fairy tales are moral stories, so it’s important that you are well aware of your own values and how the fairy tales you read fit in.
Here are some ways to reflect on your family’s values:
1. Personal Reflection
Find a quiet place where you can be alone (good luck moms!). Think about what’s important to you.
If you’re having trouble getting started, you can try writing down a list of values (e.g., honesty, compassion, humility) and rank their importance. Or, identify role models (family members, historical figures, fictional characters) who embody your family’s values. What qualities and actions do you admire?
Think about what morals you want to pass on to your children. Write them down.
2. Discuss as a Family
Once you’ve had the opportunity to reflect on what’s important to you, consider setting time aside to discuss your values as a family. This way, everyone gets a chance to share.
Encourage open communication. Create an environment where family members feel comfortable, even if opinions differ. There’s no right or wrong answers here and not everyone has to actively participate if they don’t want to.
Get creative. Instead of a family meeting, you could volunteer together, undertake a project together (e.g., gardening, building something, organizing an event), or participate in and discuss family traditions and rituals.
3. Create a Family Mission Statement
Together, create a mission statement that encapsulates your family’s core values and aspirations. Avoid anything too generic. Be specific in your values and goals, and why they’re important to your family in particular. The more you can personalize your family mission statement, the better. Once you’ve written your statement, print it out and place it somewhere highly visible. And don’t be afraid to get creative. If anyone in the family is artistic then now is their time to shine!
Finding Family Favorites
Now that you’ve had time to reflect on what’s important to your family, you’re ready to find the stories that reflect your values. Here are some steps to help you find fairy tales that resonate:
1. Research Authors and Themes
Look for authors who write about themes that align with your values. Research their backgrounds, read reviews, and explore summaries of their works.
Some authors might be obvious. Everyone is aware of C.S. Lewis and The Chronicles of Narnia. But who inspired him? What were his favorite fairy tales? Asking these questions about your favorite authors may lead you to great literature you would have otherwise overlooked. If you like C.S. Lewis, chances are, you’ll also like George MacDonald.
2. Use Online Resources
Websites like Goodreads, Amazon, and literary blogs often categorize books by themes and genres. You can search for keywords related to your values.
3. Get Recommendations
Ask friends and family who share similar values for book recommendations. Social media can also be great places to seek suggestions. However, your expectations may differ from others, so ask why they recommend the books they do and vet them yourself first.
4. Explore Book Lists
Many organizations and websites compile lists of books that focus on specific values or themes. For example, you can check out Sarah Mackenzie’s fairy tale book lists at Read Aloud Revival.
5. Visit Libraries and Bookstores
Librarians and bookstore staff are knowledgeable about what’s currently on the market and can often provide personalized recommendations based on your interests and values.
6. Read Book Reviews
Look for reviews that specifically discuss the themes and values present in the book. This can give you insights into whether the book aligns with what you’re looking for. Read bad reviews, too. Many sites, such as Amazon, allow you to sort reviews by star rating. Knowing why someone objected to a book can be just as enlightening as why others enjoyed it.
Read Aloud Tips
So you’ve identified what values are important to your family and picked out the best fairy tales. Now it’s time to get reading! Here are some tips to make your read-aloud experience enjoyable and beneficial:
1. Create a Cozy Reading Environment
Find a comfortable and quiet space where you and your child can sit together without distractions. Make it cozy with pillows, blankets, or a special reading chair.
2. Use Animated Voices and Expressions
Use different voices for characters and vary your tone and expression to bring the story to life. This will help capture your child’s attention and make the reading more engaging.
3. Encourage Interaction
Storytelling, when done properly, is a collaborative process. The reader (or listener) isn’t meant to be a passive consumer but an active participant in the story.
Allow your child to interrupt, ask questions, and comment on the story. You can ask your child questions about the story, characters, and illustrations to encourage them to think critically and express their thoughts. This enhances comprehension and promotes discussion.
4. Follow Their Pace
Let your child turn the pages and take breaks to ask questions or comment on the story. Respect their attention span and readiness to engage with the book.
5. Make Connections to Real-Life
Relate the story to your child’s own experiences or other books they’ve read. This helps deepen their understanding and makes the story more relatable.
6. Repeat Favorite Books
This step usually requires no encouragement. Children often enjoy hearing the same story repeatedly. But their passion can outpace our endurance. This is part of why it’s so important that you make good choices in the books you read aloud. Rather than get discouraged over having to read the same book for the hundredth time, take comfort in knowing that this repetition helps with language development and cements the story and its lessons in your child’s mind.
7. Set Aside Regular Reading Time
Establish a reading-aloud routine, whether at bedtime, after school, or during weekends. Consistency helps make reading a valued part of your child’s day.
8. Model a Love for Reading
Let your child see you reading for pleasure. Share stories about why you enjoy certain books or authors. Your enthusiasm for reading will inspire them.
Retaining Lessons
Reading aloud is the most important step, but you can do one more thing to get the greatest benefit from fairy tales. It’s time to remember what we’ve read and the lessons they impart.
1. Discuss Books Regularly
Ask your child about the story. This isn’t a test. Rather, the goal is to encourage discussion and reflection. There’s no one right answer. Ask open-ended questions and allow your child to ask you questions as well. This is meant to be a conversation.
2. Keep a Reading Journal
Older children can maintain a reading journal where they can write brief summaries of the books they’ve read, jot down key events or characters, and note their favorite parts or lessons learned. (You can find free reading journal printouts here: Free Homeschool Forms.)
3. Make Connections
Help your child connect the events or themes in the book to real-life experiences or other books they’ve read. Making these connections reinforces their understanding and helps them remember key lessons.
4. Visual Aids
Create visual aids like mind maps, character diagrams, or timelines to help your child visualize the story’s progression and key elements. This can aid in memory recall.
5. Act Out Scenes
Encourage your child to act out or retell their favorite scenes from the book. This not only reinforces their memory but also engages their creativity and understanding of the story.
6. Create Book-related Projects
Encourage your child to create projects related to the book they’ve read, such as drawing a comic strip of a key scene, writing a sequel or alternate ending, or designing a book cover.
7. Celebrate Milestones
Celebrate when your child finishes a book or achieves a reading goal. This positive reinforcement encourages them to continue reading and remember what they’ve read.
Conclusion
By implementing these strategies, you can help your children not only remember the fairy tales they’ve read but also internalize the lessons and values conveyed through literature, fostering a lifelong love of reading and learning.
Next time, we’ll review some of my favorite fairy tales and why I think they’re great.
What are your thoughts on fairy tales? Join other homeschooling parents at the Homeschool Connections Community or Facebook group to continue the discussion!
