Teaching Your Children How to Avoid Everyday Dangers Through Reading

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One of the hardest issues as a parent is how to talk to kids about difficult lessons and issues. While some conversations are difficult, we have to do what we need to do to keep kids safe and educated. No parent wants to talk about stranger danger, drugs or other issues. But ignoring those issues are far worse…kids can learn about them the wrong way. Or worse…they could be a victim.

However, storybooks, fairytales and other books are the perfect way to talk to kids about difficult issues in a non-stressful way. Reading stories together also helps parents talk to kids about what they might do in a certain situation or when posed with a danger.

Here are the top five stories that help parents broach difficult subjects with kids:

Little Red Riding Hood

Red walked alone while traveling to her grandma’s house. According to StopBullying.gov, there is safety in groups. Hanging out with friends keeps kids from being targets of bullies, but traveling with groups also keep kids safer. Talk to kids about the decisions Red make in her travels. Should she have talked to the Wolf? Should she be traveling alone?

Snow White & the Seven Dwarves

Snow White was seemingly befriended by a helpless older woman, who wasn’t what she appeared to be. True to her trusting ways, Snow White accepted a seemingly harmless apple from the old woman. The apple, of course, was poisoned. Stranger danger is the ideal topic with Snow White. Bad people don’t wear black cloaks and look harmful, some look like sweet friends. Use Snow White to illustrate to kids how important it is that they do not ever accept food from or talk to strangers alone. They always need to talk to mom or dad before accepting any gift or treat.

Dumbo

The sweet elephant was born with ears much too big for his body. But, while those ears made him different, they also made him unique and special. Those ears let him fly! The story of Dumbo teaches kids that everyone is different. And our differences make us special. While Dumbo was teased for his ears, they turned out to be his greatest gift. Also, use the story to illustrate that it is never ok to tease or bully someone.

The Tortoise and the Hare

The hare thinks he will undoubtedly win a race against the slow tortoise. He’s so sure of himself that he naps along the way and wakes up too late. Unfortunately, his boastful attitude combined with laziness cost him the race against the slow but steady (and determined) tortoise! This story teaches kids that being boastful and arrogant can cost us in the end. Slow and steady wins the race…but so does dedication and integrity!

The Emperor’s New Clothes

The emperor wanted the finest outfit, and he met tailors who promised him a suit that was invisible to all who were unworthy. When the emperor debuted his new clothes, all the public saw was a naked emperor. They all felt they were just too unworthy to see the divine clothes. But a child spoke up and announced the truth: the emperor was naked! This story teaches kids about vanity…and peer pressure. And, sometimes, the truth is right in front of you….

Stories teach children about both the beauty and the wickedness in the world. Parents can use stories as a means to help teach kids difficult lessons that they must learn. Fairytales and storybooks open up a seemingly harmless world to kids and enable parents to use this magical world to teach kids what not to do and how to stay safe in a world that isn’t always a fairytale.

This is a guest post written by Cassie Brewer.