“Come on, quickly into the tipi before the dragon sees us!” Even if the children’s room with the small play tent doesn’t reveal it at first glance: Lukas and his friend Jonas are in a fairy tale world full of mythical creatures. Right now, the brave heroes are crouching in their blue tipi, hiding from the big bad dragon that is causing trouble in the area. Just yesterday, they were fearless Indians, and the day before that, courageous cowboys. When Lukas and Jonas spin adventurous stories, they are in the midst of a creative process. Creativity and imagination are engaged and encouraged. The more children are exposed from an early age to tales of heroes, princesses, and magical worlds, the easier it becomes for them to create their own exciting stories. In this article, we summarize exactly how fairy tales and stories can promote children’s development.
Training Imagination and Fantasy with Stories and Fairy Tales
Who doesn’t know this phenomenon: we read a book and then watch the corresponding movie. Often, we end up disappointed by the visual version. This is because when reading or listening to stories, people create their own images in their minds. In children, the ability to create their own images from what they hear usually develops between the ages of 3 and 7. Fairy tales are designed to tell the story in short, concise sentences. Ideally, fairy tales avoid many embellishments. This has the advantage that children are not given predetermined images. They must use their own imagination and create their own mental picture of the story. This ability is also important for later creative thinking. Those who cannot develop their own fantasies will find it difficult to come up with their own ideas in the future.
Stories Provide Morals and Values
Children especially still need to learn prevailing morals and values. These not only offer clarity and security but also form the basis for their later individual worldview. Stories and fairy tales are particularly well suited for this learning process. Often, the basic principle is the same: a hardworking, honorable hero must first pass many trials before the happy ending awaits. This conveys the message to children: “You can achieve anything if you stay true to yourself and face your fears.” Also, good usually triumphs over evil. While the diligent, pretty girl later marries the prince, the mean stepsister is punished. This black-and-white world helps children orient themselves in our complex world and understand connections.
Stepping into Another Role with Fairy Tales and Stories
Like Lukas and Jonas, children develop their own little adventures from what they hear and slip into their favorite roles during play. Whether fearless hero or diligent princess—by empathizing with the
role, they develop an understanding of certain behavior patterns. Children who know many fairy tales and stories have more guidance on how to behave in certain situations. In addition, the little ones are encouraged to continue the story in role play or create their own little adventure. This, in turn, promotes children’s creativity and imagination. And the best part: children love to occasionally dive into a magical, imaginative world that invites dreaming and offers exciting challenges.
howa: The Right Toys for Immersing in Another World
For children to dive into their little imaginative world, they need their own
retreat. This can basically be anything from a treehouse to a pillow fort. The family company howa offers
play tents, tipis, and playhouses that can be wonderfully transformed into a robber’s den or an Indian tent. Here, the little ones can simply be by themselves and escape everyday life for a short time. howa play tents are lovingly crafted and fit seamlessly into any interior style.
