Such stories have the advantage that children will probably already be familiar with them. Favourites such as 'The Three Little Pigs' and 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears' offer lots of opportunities for mathematical development. And all offer opportunities to explore strong feelings and emotions.
The tales have a long, possibly ancient, history with their roots in oral tradition and were probably written not for children but as powerful allegories for the problems that face humankind.
This is particularly true of the stories that deal with difficulties in family life, such as the loss of a parent and sibling rivalry in Cinderella, or the powerful, contradictory feelings of love and hate that a child can feel towards a parent, as typified by 'good' mothers (who are usually dead) and 'wicked' stepmothers, as in Hansel and Gretel.
Although it can be fascinating to explore these as an adult, a child listening to a fairy story does not need to know or understand the symbolism of the story to benefit emotionally from them.
Older versions of the tales may seem gruesome, but it is important to consider how a scary story can provide a safe 'place' for a child to explore and experience some of their greatest fears. Children will not be harmed or disturbed by hearing the original version, particularly if is told sensitively and revisited often, allowing them to experience fear and emotion in a safe way.
Also attempts in later versions to dilute the power of the original story succeed only in reducing its emotional impact and reinforcing stereotypes and attitudes of the times in which it was written.
Settings should, therefore, build a library of traditional stories and seek out good-quality versions that are well illustrated. Anthony Browne, for example, has produced an excellent retelling of Hansel and Gretel (Walker Books, Pounds 4.99), using a traditional style for the text, with powerful contemporary illustrations (see Resources, pages 18-19).
Even better, practitioners can continue the oral tradition by developing and refining their storytelling skills and techniques.
