A few days ago I was watching a news segment where a highly-respected doctor was discussing how he believed its wrong for our children to have a fascination with fairytales and princesses. His theory is that these fantasies reduce their ambition and puts too much emphasis on personal beauty, and might be ruining them instead of empowering them.
Now, I may not have a doctorate’s degree but, I happen to believe the exact opposite. These fantasy stories do empower children. It helps them develop an imagination and gives them optimism which makes them believe they can achieve anything. The doctor argued that pretending to be a damsel in distress might lead to a passive way of thinking, and a need to always be taken care of and adored.
I say – what’s wrong with wanting to be taken care of or adored?? Every woman should wake up feeling loved and adored every day! Not only does it boost our self-esteem, but it also validates our self-worth. These are things that we should be proud of, not ashamed of.
With all due respect, I think the doctor might be reading a little too deep into these stories. I understand that as parents we have to teach our children that beauty is only skin deep, and that every child is special, but banning these fantasies might be a little extreme. If anything, these tales teach our children valuable lessons that are imperative for their moral development. Often these stories teach them how good can triumph over evil, or how kindness and generosity outweighs being greedy and selfish.
These are lessons we should be proud to teach our children, not shield them from. You are only a child once, and pretty soon they will figure out how cruel this world can be. So why not give them a little bit of optimism in forms of pirates and fairies?
I don’t condone our children being raised naïve or spoiled, but I wholeheartedly believe that giving them room to believe and dream makes them a happier person, and maybe even a brighter adult. With all the negativity in the world, you have to give kids something to believe in. Whether it’s Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, or the Tooth Fairy, it’s just a bit of hope and happiness, and what’s the harm in that?
When we give our children a positive outlook on life we’re giving them the tools to succeed in life. And if we teach them to dream, believe, and imagine at a young age – who knows, maybe their dreams will come true!
Meet sonsiLiving’s newest blogger, Jenny Moyett! Jenny is the brains behind Babblings of a Mommy, a lifestyle blog dedicated to family, fashion, beauty & style. She resides in New York with her husband, 7 year old daughter, and tail-wagging morkie.
