A fable is a short story that teaches us a lesson or moral. It is very common for the protagonists of fables to be animals, often with human characteristics, which serve to guide the reader through the teaching or message.
The messages of the fables are usually positive, educational or motivational values , and therefore they are stories (either told orally or read) that were transmitted from parents to children generation after generation. Being short, they are also ideal stories to transmit to the little ones before going to bed, and because of their simplicity it is easy for children to understand well the moral of these stories.
This transmission has meant that, for years, children have learned the importance of being kind, selfless and generous through such well-known fables as “The Tortoise and the Hare” or ” The Lion and the Mouse “, both in this case from Aesop. In fact, many common sayings come from his fables, such as the idea that “honesty is the best policy” or that you “look before you jump.” Although there are more popular fable writers, such as Samaniego, Aesop is undoubtedly one of the best known, and it is believed that he was a Greek slave who made up stories, although there is no certainty that he actually made up those popular stories. What is certain, however, is that Aesop’s fables, like many others, are timeless and so wonderful that they continue to be told and are still useful to this day.
Benefits of reading fables as a family
Children who are used to hearing fictional stories and fables are likely to have a richer and more advanced vocabulary , a better understanding of stories, a kinder nature, and a tendency toward empathy and better social behavior. But not only that, because by learning lessons through fiction, we can also help our children to better understand their school studies and improve their techniques, thanks, among other things, to that more advanced level of reading and analysis skills.
The act of reading fables and stories to children can also increase family ties of affection, creating a question-and-answer environment in which the child can question the nature of the story and ask different questions, and parents find ways to explain the metaphors and the teachings in a simple way, becoming tireless guides of their little ones. In addition, reading in a group and as a family is an excellent soothing against stress and gray days, so all are advantages.
In conclusion, we must reserve some of our time as parents to educate our children with stories, fables and legends , because it will never be wasted time for multiple reasons.
Ideas to read fables to the little ones and get it right
- Whether they are more or less easy to understand, fables can be much better understood and more accessible to young children if we put a real effort into telling them . For example, to convey the full message of a sad fable, one should have a sad tone of voice or vice versa, and always with effusiveness and good intonation.
- It is very important to read stories and fables to children in a way that appeals to them, and doing so requires a special skill set. For example, we must learn to control the volume and intonation of our voice. The behavior and gestures of each character in a fictional story should be carefully considered and distinguished as well, so that the child can easily understand the message and feel more interested in the overall narrative .
- It is recommended that when we read these stories to the little ones, we choose a fable that we know will have a positive effect on the mental well-being of the child in question. That is why it is very important that we study the content first, to ensure that it is acceptable and is not too complicated or inappropriate. Something that you can save on the fables of the Forest of Fantasies , which have already been carefully reviewed, selected, and sometimes versioned with a more modern touch, eliminating all those inappropriate content that these ancient writings can contain.
Making sure to choose a story that has positive motivations and / or that instills good values is essential so that, in addition to being something that entertains and entertains us, it makes us learn important and valuable things for life, such as friendship, generosity or empathy and respect for others. It is certainly important to clearly explain the difference between good behavior and bad behavior to children, and fables can be a mechanism to make it sensational and full of magic and fantasy.
