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My Favorite Fairy Tale
Once upon a time, I would spend hours listening to a recording of a story called ‘Mickey and the Beanstalk’. It is a retelling of the infamous Jack and the Beanstalk. In this version, Willie the Giant has taken the magical harp from Happy Valley to his castle up in the sky. Can Mickey rescue the harp, and Donald and Goofy too? Of course he can! And everyone lives happily ever after. I could still quote much of the storyline today.
Fairy tales, although the early versions were indeed quite grim, have transformed over the years. They are now much happier, magical tales with whimsical characters. While there is always a villain of some type, he or she is eventually defeated, and indeed, everyone does live happily ever after. Think Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, and Tangled.
5 Ways to Celebrate National Fairy Tale Day
February 26th is National Tell a Fairy Tale Day, and that seems like a perfect fit for Long Distance grandparents wanting to bridge the distance with grandkids. We have been thinking of some simple ways to celebrate across the miles.
Read a fairytale while you video chat.
If you’ve picked out a book ahead of time you could also send some fun templates for the grandkids to use to make props . We’re including templates to use for a magic wand, a shield and a mask that you can send here.
Create your own fairy tale!
Use the game called Tell Tale (sold at most department stores) to take turns creating a story with your grandkids. We have used this game for several years at a local after school program. It is one of the most often requested activities when homework is completed. What the kids don’t realize is all the learning that is happening in addition to the fun. Melissa Taylor, in Brightly affirms that “storytelling aids in a child’s neurological development, sparks creative thinking, improves vocabulary, encourages imagination, improves listening skills, and develops literacy.”
If your grandkids are preschool aged, check out this option. This fun Create and Tell Me a Story Cards, Fairy Tale Mix-Up set is perfect for the younger set with it’s simple pictures and easy to hold cards.
Create your own story from start to finish!
Make sure it has a setting, hero and a villain! Kids will have fun creating the elements of their story. The can imagine their ‘land’, and come up with the characteristics of the villain and hero. One rule we have instituted is the ‘nobody dies’ rule. The villain can be defeated for sure, but you might also consider having the villain decide to change his or her evil ways. It’s such a valuable lesson for kids to understand that people can be impacted by good and change for the better. Then you can work together to create the story based on those things.
Illustrate & Publish Your Story
If you decide to create your own story, you could also write it down and draw some pictures. Then, as a fun surprise, you could even ‘publish’ your work! Have your kids scan/text/email you the grandkids drawings, then print them, compile them into a simple book and send it back to them. Shutterfly and Chatbooks often offer some great discounts for creating books too!
Finger Puppet Storytelling
Purchase your own set of these adorable finger puppets and use them to tell a well known story, or make up your own. Search “finger puppets” on amazon and there are LOTS of great options!
So here’s to all you heroes dressed as grandparents helping to bridge the distance by celebrating random holidays! We really do hope that you have fun tales to tell, and that you experience a ‘happily ever after’ kind of moment with your grandkids on National Tell a Fairy Tale Day!