Fairy tales have increasingly become the subject of criticism: too violent, too grim, too confusing for today’s children. Should we simply stop reading them? Especially now, when children’s literature offers an overwhelming variety of alternatives. Yet many argue that without fairy tales, a child will struggle to fully understand either classical or contemporary literature.

For countless parents, the question has arisen during bedtime reading:
Is this a sweet bedtime story or a horror tale?
This happens particularly when reading traditional Georgian tales or the Brothers Grimm.

Consider a few examples:
A golden-haired boy fattened by an old woman and her daughter-in-law so they can slaughter him;
Kokrochina, in which the old woman falls into a boiling cauldron;
Or Chiora the Bird, who feeds her chicks to a fox one by one.

And if you close the Georgian fairy tale book in shock and reach for Grimm or Perrault instead, you will find an equally extensive range of violence, cruelty and problematic stereotypes.

Cannibalism?
Hansel and Gretel, the wicked stepmother baked in an oven, and the Evil Queen in Snow White demanding the girl’s heart.

Murder?
Violence and bloodshed are the backbone of classic fairy tales. Stepmothers try to kill stepchildren, stepchildren kill stepmothers, villains are stabbed, burned, chopped to pieces—with no chance of redemption.

Abduction and captivity?
Rapunzel and Beauty and the Beast hinge on themes of imprisonment.

Trafficking?
Snow White survives only in exchange for housework and cooking for seven men.

Necrophilia?
Snow White is kept on display, unburied.

Zoophilia?
Marriage to frogs and various animals.

The list goes on if we interpret these tales literally. Yet for centuries, fairy tales were understood differently: as stories of heroism, courage, sacrifice, friendship, and love.

Stereotypes Embedded in Fairy Tales

Fairy tales are also steeped in stereotypes:
The old woman or stepmother is always evil;
Women who are clever or resourceful use their intelligence for wickedness;
Girls are fragile, passive and valued mainly for their beauty;
They wait for a prince to rescue them, take no initiative, and their ultimate “happy ending” is marriage.

Faced with this, many parents feel compelled to rewrite the stories. Nini’s mother, whose daughter is three, admits she alters or omits violent scenes:

“Whenever death is mentioned—a mother dying, or characters killing each other—I try to change or skip it entirely. I’m not sure if it’s right to alter reality like that,”
says Nata Gogoladze.

Changing Trends in Modern Storytelling

Unlike the fairy tales or cartoons of the last century, modern animation follows entirely new trends. Today’s fairy-tale heroes are far from flawless. Princes sometimes lie; princesses do not always behave in accordance with royal etiquette. Visual stereotypes have nearly vanished. Delicate blonde princesses now stand alongside strong, fearless heroines like Pocahontas.

The best examples of breaking stereotypes are Frozen and Brave, where princesses fight for themselves, do not fall in love at first sight, and view marriage as far from their life’s purpose.

Should We Skip the Dark and Frightening Parts?

Psychologists are divided.

One group argues that shielding children from anything frightening deprives them of the opportunity to learn how to overcome adversity. Fairy tales create the belief that nothing is impossible—that challenges can be faced and resolved.

Another group believes in adapting content to the child’s emotional state, character and, most importantly, age. Otherwise, a bedtime story may easily become the source of nightmares.

“Fairy Tales Prepare Children for Life”

Child psychologist Keti Devadze explains:

“Traditional fairy tales may contain aggression, negative plots or sad stories. Parents often think such tales are unsuitable. But research shows these difficult scenes help children grasp real-life challenges. They must experience mild stress to build the capacity to manage future stress. Fairy tales model problem-solving.”

Because fairy tales usually end well, children internalize the idea that even when bad things happen, everything can turn out fine. That reassuring ending is psychologically essential.

“Through fairy tales, we prepare children for future socialization,”
she adds.

Psychotherapist Diana Nikolaishvili agrees:

“Fairy tales have always played a crucial role in child development. For preschoolers, the frightening elements are metaphors, not literal horrors. These metaphors help children process internal conflicts—between good and evil, desire and duty.”

If a child reacts strongly or fearfully, she recommends discussing the characters and events together, exploring alternative endings, or thinking about how the situation could change.

“Aggression in tales represents the inner struggle that every human faces. Children identify with positive characters of their own gender and learn the social roles associated with it. Fairy tales shape the subconscious model of the world. Reading them is essential for development and socialization.”

Children Need Fantasy-Even Unrealistic Expectations

What would fairy tales be like without evil?

Child psychologist Bruno Bettelheim, who interpreted fairy tales through a psychoanalytic lens, believed that fairy tales are indispensable and should not be sanitized. For him, fairy tales not only present dilemmas but also demonstrate ways to solve them.

Critics often argue that fairy tales create unrealistic expectations. Bettelheim responded that children need fantasy to develop creativity. The happy ending, he believed, offers reassurance and fosters resilience—the belief that even the most hopeless situation can end well.

Five Reasons Why Children Need Fairy Tales

The role of fairy tales has long been debated, yet many adults still underestimate their significance. In some Western countries, parents see little point in reading fairy tales to children under five, believing they cannot yet grasp their meaning.

But fairy tales, in their simplest form, teach communication, emotional understanding and human connections. Many scholars and philosophers assert that the more fairy tales a child hears, the better.

1. Fairy tales help children adapt to different environments.

They offer insight into life in all its forms and help children learn to make decisions in difficult situations.

2. Fairy tales teach emotional regulation.

They foster emotional stability, patience, resilience and self-control.

3. Fairy tales support literacy and cultural understanding.

They teach children how stories are structured—the setting, characters and their roles within a plot.

4. Fairy tales develop imagination.

Knowledge is finite, but imagination is limitless. Without imagination, a child struggles with creativity and originality.

5. Fairy tales strengthen analytical and critical thinking.

Parents can discuss characters’ behavior and explain why some actions should not be imitated. Story discussions teach children to articulate opinions and reason clearly. Fairy tales enrich vocabulary and improve communication skills.

Age Matters

There is little point in reading complex stories to two- or three-year-olds—they simply cannot understand them yet.
Children aged three or four can enjoy tales like The Wild Swans or Little Red Riding Hood.
By age five, they can follow more elaborate plots with unusual characters, such as Cinderella or The Nutcracker.

Parents should trust both their logic and their child’s preferences. Asking questions—
Did you like it? Was it scary or funny? Boring or exciting? Predictable or surprising?
—helps identify what truly engages the child.

With thoughtful selection, fairy tales become more than entertainment. They become a child’s first guide to the complex, surprising, and often challenging world around them.