What is fairy tale therapy and how does it work?
Find out how fictional stories can help children cope with anxiety and build self-confidence.
Definition of fairy tale therapy
Fairy tale therapy is a psychological method in which fairy tales can be used to solve various problems:
Educational;
Psychotherapeutic;
Educational;
Behavior correction and others.
It is easier for children to assimilate information from the example of others, and fairy tales play an important role here. Illustrated fairy tales are especially useful, which help the child better understand the emotions of the characters and delve into the plot.
How does fairy tale therapy help children?
Fairy tales allow you to play out various situations with the child and solve unresolved problems, for example, fears. Suppose a child is afraid of thunderstorms and downpours. In the book "Pony Joshka" by Maya Lazarenskaya, there is a fairy tale that helps to cope with this fear. Let's look at an example. According to the plot, a small horse named Yoshka enjoys riding children in the park, but as soon as it starts to rain and Joshka sees puddles, he falls into a stupor. Every puddle seems deep and dangerous to him. No matter how much he is persuaded, Joshka cannot overcome his fear and move from his place. But one day he is rescued by a boy who offers Yoshka a delicious apple. Step by step, the pony reaches for the treat and completely forgets that he was just afraid to take a step towards the puddle. A child, listening to this fairy tale, understands that he also has certain fears and in order to stop being afraid, you just need to switch your attention to something else, pleasant.
How can parents read therapeutic fairy tales correctly?
In order for a fairy tale to have a therapeutic effect, it is important not only to read it, but also to discuss the content with the child:
Why did the hero do this?
What would have happened if he had acted differently?
What would you do in such a situation and why?
What did the hero feel?
If the child has questions after the fairy tale, do not ignore them. They are important for working through fear. It is important to remember that fear is a normal reaction to danger, and it is necessary not only to work through the fear, but also to explain to the child how to behave in a dangerous situation.Книга
At what age can you engage in fairy tale therapy?
When choosing fairy tales, it is important to take into account the age of the child. For kids 1-2 years old, simple quatrains and short plots are suitable, for example, the poem by Agniya Barto "Our Tanya cries loudly". With children of 3-4 years old, you can move on to short prose, fairy tales with a simple plot. It is important to familiarize yourself with the plot in advance to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Are any fairy tales suitable for fairy tale therapy?
Some fairy tales are built on intimidation, which can exacerbate children's fears. Ideally, fairy tales should not use words that cause fear, so that the child does not begin to be afraid of what he was not afraid of before.
Who is fairy tale therapy suitable for and when should you consult a psychologist?
Fairy tale therapy helps both in the fight against existing fears and in their prevention. However, if the child has panic fear, sleep problems or other symptoms, fairy tale therapy should be part of a comprehensive approach, including work with a child psychologist. At the first signs of a problem, it is better to consult a specialist so that the child can quickly and effectively cope with his fears.
