“If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.”
― Albert Einstein
Did any of you grow up reading fairy tales? What was your first exposure to the story of Cinderella, or fairy tales in general? Did you read it yourself in a book? Was it read to you by a parent or teacher? Did you see it in a film, or on television?
Is it actually important to read fairy/folk tales? Even in college?
― Albert Einstein
Did any of you grow up reading fairy tales? What was your first exposure to the story of Cinderella, or fairy tales in general? Did you read it yourself in a book? Was it read to you by a parent or teacher? Did you see it in a film, or on television?
Is it actually important to read fairy/folk tales? Even in college?
I grew up watching Disney movies, having my mom read me a different fairy tale every night, and absolutely LOVING fairy tales. I was obsessed with fairy tales, my room as far back as I could remember, as a child was Disney princess themed. I was a different princess every year for Halloween, and I loved it. I love reading about the different stories told of "Cinderella". There are also many different forms of the story as movies. I like them all, actually. I think it is important to read fairy tales/folk tales, even though we are in college. It opens up our minds, and our thoughts. What about everyone else?
ReplyDeleteI agree that it opens up our minds more but some people do take it to far, but what can we do to stop it. It's hard not to get wrapped up in a fairy tale land and wishing it was real. I'm just glad we did not end up getting our hearts crushed over really not being princesses.
DeleteAmanda M.
I grew up with my mom reading me fairytales and watching Disney movies, but I wanted to be like Pocahantas; independent, strong willed, and confident. I'm not sure how much of those attributes truly did rub off on me, but it had a huge effect on me. At the same time I knew I could never be her whether it was because my parents told me so or I just realized it was a fairytale. I was a princess for Halloween one year but I was not as devoted as Carly :) I think that reading these fairytales are important for our imagination and creative side of our brain to develop. In college I think it is great to review fairytales because it is interesting how much we still encompass this happily ever after into movies and we as women still want prince charming... Do you agree? Do you think it puts a false and skewed image in womens heads about being overly feminine, passive and almost incompetant to find our way out of the tower?
DeleteKirstin H.
No one was devoted as I was (; Haha
DeleteAt that young of an age I do not think it affects you that much. We are really affected in the teenage years. When we are young that is when we are suppose to dream.
DeleteBrock Richins
I think that it is great for kids to watch Disney movies, and have an imagination so they can strive to grow up and accomplish things in their lives to make them happy.
DeleteChristian Farr
I remember my aunt reading the Disney Cinderella book to me when I was only 3 years old. I also remember the movie from Disney. No matter how many Cinderlla's I see I think Walt Disneys will always be a classic to me.
ReplyDeleteAmanda M.
I agree, Amanda. Disney's version will always be a classic to me, and number one!
DeleteWhat do you girls think about Disney and how they diminish the parental roles? Why do you think they do this? Does it help the story or hurt it?
DeleteKirstin H
I think that maybe the reason for not having the parental roles totally fulfilled is because it would be too happily ever after. There has to be some problem presented to have a climax and a resolution. Otherwise why would we watch it? Every little kids show has these simple steps. We want to see good people overcome things. Not good people just being good with no conflict. Right? Is that why you like Cinderlla?
DeleteKirstin H
I think all the other verions are really weird. Walt Disney's is what we have grown up with so maybe we are bias. I guess walt disneys is the most realistic if that even makes sense.
DeleteBrock Richins
It was interesting reading the other different Cinderella stories from all over the world. But like Brock, I am used to the Walt Disney Cinderella and it makes more sense than the other stories.
DeleteChristian Farr
I liked reading the different versions also. Before now I never thought about any other than Disney might have existed. I watched a few as movies when I was little and alot more since I have girls of my own.
DeleteBrad C.
Has any of the girls in class every wanted to be a princess? Do you remember ever taking your role as a princess to far?
ReplyDeleteAmanda M.
I wanted to be a princess when I grew up, of course. Ha, but I did take it too far, and I would tell everybody I was a princess, and when my brothers would tease me and say, "No you aren't" I would either get mad, or cry. HA.
DeleteI remember in elementary school to it was kind of a contest of who had the best princess costume. But I could see were it could really hurt your self confidence if your costume was not as nice as everybody else's. It is sad to think that kids judge each other on such pitty things.
DeleteAmanda M.
Hey, what about the guys wanting to be Super Heroes? We definetly took that a bit to far as kids. Don't take offense, I am just looking for last day comments.
DeleteBrad C.
It started out with nursery rhymes, then short stories involving mostly animal characters, and then I started to own a large variety of Disney movies. Watching them as a kid made my imagination run wild and watching them today I still enjoy how cheesy it makes me feel. I would prefer that I raise my own kids with my movie collection rather than the insane stuff they have now teaching kids to grow up faster than they should doesn't exactly exemplify a happy childhood. More like depressing, demented puberty in most cases.
ReplyDeleteRebecca B
When it comes to Cinderella the first and usually only version I think of is the Disney version. So I agree with both Amanda and Carly and the Disney version will always be the classic to me too.
ReplyDeleteMarcus C.
I've come to the realization that it's not the Cinderella story I object to, or even the Disney film--I had the record of the songs from Cinderella (boy, that tells you how old I am :)) and I used to put on my sisters' ballet recital dresses and dance to it. I think the main thing I take issue with is Disney's MARKETING of its princess line--and the pressure it puts on mothers to be the fairy godmother and buy all the fancy products for their daughters. It's also the Disney programming that bothers me, and the pressure for girls of younger and younger ages to dress like the "princesses" of Disney television shows (Hannah Montana, etc.). Anything that encourages kids to grow up faster than necessary is problematic, in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI agree but I never thought as being the fairy god mother for buying my kids stuff, sometimes I just wanted them to be quite so I would buy them something. But that is what it comes down to and it makes me realize if I keep buying my kids things they are going to expect it and it will be hard for them growing up if someone else tells them no.
DeleteAmanda M.
Resolution to our problems: Don't watch all the new shows and movies! Just stick to the oldies. Kids don't need action figures! I don't have kids and don't know what its like to have a child beg for a toy, but this is my solution. :) I think that the marketing is terrible though and almost takes away the fun fantasy fairytale. What happened to children's imaginations? We didn't have action figures when we were little.. WE were the action figures. We pretended to be them wen sang their songs ect..
DeleteKirstin H.
Oldies are great. I do have 2 girls and alot of people might say I am too hard. But we have always told them that when they start crying the answer will be no. It has seemed to work for us. That is not saying it has taken all of the crying away, but has not been too bad.
DeleteBrad C.
Hey, I had records also, but I never put on a princess dress. Wait, I was told that my older sister and her friend dressed me and my brother up in dresses once within the torture of her babysitting role. There might, well I'm sure, my mother has pictures.
DeleteBrad C.
I agree, the Disney Marketing is a bad thing. I have something kind of funny to share though. After buying our girls things like that, we found that their imagination worked better with more simple things, for example the box that items came in.
DeleteBrad C.
By the way, thanks for the thoughtful comments on this post. I really enjoy hearing your thoughts on this topic.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the teacher on marketing. All Halloweens little girls usually want to be Disney Princesses because they want to be special. So in a big way Disney markets fairytale princesses to make money during the holidays. Also how Whitby talks about kids wanting to grow up faster than they already do is a big problem too. I remember when I was a kid I also wanted to be the age I am now, but now I would do just about anything to be the age I was then.
ReplyDeleteMarcus C.
I think that the Disney channel with its divas and icons is more responsible for making little girls want to grow up faster. The magic fairy tales with princesses keep their imagination going I think, and doesn't really make them more adult-like in my opinion.
DeleteI agree, Devin. Some examples are Lindsay Lohan who started out on Disney (and we all know how big of an angel she is...not) Hillary Duff, and Selena Gomez. Sure, some are great role models, but some...aren't.... However, the idea of living in a castle and marrying "prince charming" makes girls want to grow up, be girly and get married to somebody.
Deletei grew up watching Disney movies and i love them. Not all girls that watch the princess movies always want to be a princess. growing up i just wanted to be daddy's little girl. i think moms' make a big deal out of the princess thing. girls just want to grow up and find princes charming and live Happily Ever After!
ReplyDeleteJackie M.
the little girls don't see the wrong things in princess movies; they see the cute love love story that they some day hope to find.
ReplyDeleteJackie M.
I think that I mostly read fairy tales in children's books as a child. I don't have any sisters, so we didn't have very many of the "princess" Disney movies. The only one we did have was Snow White. Whether it's important or not to read fairy tales, we'll probably continue reading them to our kids. Especially the stinky cheese man.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the other day on the princess topic, and i thought,"Is it Disney's fault for the 'princess culture?'"
ReplyDeleteJackie M.
I think it is the mothers fault for the 'princess culture' because if the mothers buy everything their daughters ask for then they will think that everything they ask for they can get.
DeleteJackie M.
That's a very good point, Jackie. If you show your child that he or she won't get everything they want and teach them to work for what they want, that sticks with the child later in life.
DeleteI dont think you can blame Walt Disney. I think you have to blame the parents for this culture.
DeleteBrock Richins
I think it is the parents fault for treating their daughter like spoiled princesses and giving them whatever they want. It's not Walt Disneys fault at all.
DeleteChristian Farr
The whole idea of princess culture is just brought out more and more by media. I'm wondering before mass media how was princess culture spread and was it quick or slow growing?
ReplyDeleteMarcus C.
Has anyone seen the shows with the little girls that are in the beauty pagents and some of them are brats and they think they are little princesses. It makes me think when are the parents going to step and let these girls be kids and stop letting them think they are living in a fairy tale? Any thoughts?
ReplyDeleteAmanda M.
I don't think they think they're living in a fairytale. I think they understand it to be real life. This is how they get ahead in life is by beauty a fame. Which is even worse than thinking your living in a fairytale. The mothers are stripping the children's innocence and childhood away from them and living out their dreams through their children. I think children shouldn't be compared to their external beauty. Parents should be finding their inner beauty and strengths. Those are what are going to empower them later in life. We all end up old and saggy when we get old. Who wants to just have looks going for them, when we know we have this fate of growing older?
DeleteKirstin H.
I have seen te TV shows Toddlers and Tiaras, and it disgusts me. I did pagents as a child, but I did MAKE-UP LESS contests. So NO make up was allowed whatsoever. It was a natural beauty pagent. Which I think that is how it should be as you're a child. Girls grow up so fast nowadays it is insane to me. They want to wear make up, want to be grown ups, and sadly more and more teenage girls are getting oregnant.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me sad to see such young girls grow up so fast. Has anybody else seen different ways children want to grow up too fast?
PS I agree with Marcus, I wanted to grow up soooo badly when I was young, now I would do anything to be back to the age where the biggest thing to worry about was "cooties"...
And the contreversial tv show is what I am writing essay number 3 on.
DeleteCould Mothers be to blame for the "Princes culture?"
ReplyDeleteJackie M.
I think that if both mother and father helped the little girl create their own princess it wouldnt be as big of a deal
DeleteJackie M
It has to be a majority the parents fault. I mean kids are kids, they can not buy princess stuff and build that culture. Sometimes I think this princess culture is a bad thing.
DeleteBrock Richins
Why doesn't Disney point out the honesty attributes?
ReplyDeleteJackie M.
Disney is probably wanting the young girls to learn from the princess and try to be honest and humble in all that they do. But I could be wrong.
DeleteChristian Farr
Would the "princess culture" be a big deal if Disney did point out the honesty and kindness the princesses have?
ReplyDeleteJackie M.
I think that if Disney showed more of how the princesses were honest and humble girls would want to be like that too.
DeleteJackie M.
The sad things is I do not think people will do that because it wont sell as much. Everything is about money these days. I could be wrong though
DeleteBrock Richins
If the princesses did look like brats and spoiled in his movies then it would be a big deal. But since Disney did point out how humble and kind the princess are then its not a big problem.
DeleteChristian Farr
Does each Disney Princess teach a different lesson? or are they all the same?
ReplyDeleteJackie M.
I think they tell different stories. You have the helpless damsel-in-distress movies and you have the heroine princess movies. But there does seem to be a common thread and that is to go beyond what you were predistened to do.
DeleteI would agree with you carl, the stories are a little different but all teach the same thing. That you can live happily ever after, even with the trials that confront you.
DeleteBrock Richins
I can't say that I grew up "reading" the fairytale stories... It was such a long time ago that I don't really remember. I can definately say that I know the stories because of the Disney movies. I love Disney! I remember reading the Grimm version of Cinderella in elementary school and being super grossed out and freaked out. It's important to read a few fun articles in College because it's already dry enough and throwing in something like a few Cinderella stories really helps to keep things going.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you guys think of Walt Disneys movies and how he portrayed the princess image?
ReplyDeleteChristian Farr
What do you guys think are some the characteristics that Disney princess show?
ReplyDeleteChristian Farr
I kind of remember growing up reading fairytales but it wasn't something I did frequently I don't think. I believe my first exposure was to fairytales was through books most likely read by my parents.
ReplyDelete-Ashley Bench
Do you guys think that the princess fairytales have change a lot since we were reading them as kids?
ReplyDelete-Ashley Bench
Wow, this subject must be the hot one. There are sure alot of comments. Fairytales are definetly good to be a part of. I always find them or a movie that you know is not real as a bit of excape to the life that we are actually in.
ReplyDeleteBrad C.