The Importance of Fairy Tales
February 24, 2026 Ms. Renu Paul
I was intrigued after reading a quote attributed to Albert Einstein that "if you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales." Putting its authenticity aside for the moment, fairy tales can incite genius, whether it is aimed at the level of elementary school students or middle schoolers (even young adults can be beneficiaries of reading imaginary narratives). With the exploration of interstellar Space Age in the horizons, information in science and technology is now in overload mode and access to data available at the stroke of a keyboard or the strike of a keypad. The future laurels in education, therefore, will not be handed to those who can regurgitate information but those can successfully analyse and interpret it.
Imaginary narratives have the ability to foster curiosity. One's interaction with such stories at an early age can help activate parts of the brain that are central to intelligence and the receptivity towards learning. Minds that can frame questions well and are open to different perspectives will, more likely than not, be more empathic towards people and situations in emotional maturity; in other words, they will be responsible stewards in dealing with complexity and uncertainty among processes and events. As a result, critical thinking skills as well as conceptual reasoning ability will bear fruit and have transactional value well into adulthood.
Imaginative thinking cannot be forced--only nurtured through storytelling and reading tales of adventure and wonder that stretch the imagination in a fun and meaningful way. Reality and the status quo will not be a barrier for such students because by visualizing opportunities, objects and fantastic worlds can give rise to new discoveries and innovation in science, applied science and the arts.
It is not by chance that the stories of flying vehicles and heroic deeds that once leaped across the page would later become the blueprint for modern engineering marvels!
Go...read a fairy tale today!
