h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Is it just me or some of these replies just a little stark.
Is there actually anything wrong with tales of faerie and nonsense why not have little leprachauns at the end of the rainbow or elves building fairy rings in the forest. i quite like introducing humour and mysticsm at an early agethe world is real enough when you have to go there lets have some fun as kids and those guiding them it is really good fun trying to invent ways that natural occurances may have developed using flights of fancy go on try it

I don't think there's anything wrong with letting kids believe in fairies etc, or, indeed, in telling them they exist. Childhood is supposed to be a magical time, full of fairies, Santa, and monsters under the bed (as for monsters under the bed, I believe the best way to deal with them is not to say they don't exist, as the child knows jolly well they do, but to make a big thing of 'killing' or getting rid of the monster, so the bed is safe again) and if children don't believe in these things, they tend to grow up far too fast. Most children realise these things aren't true by themselves, and feel quite proud of themselves for doing so, and I, for one, wasn't scarred in any way by realising Santa was just Mum and Dad!

having monsters under the bed was the best thing that ever happened for children because it meant they actually went to bed because they were too scared to get out of bed in case the monster grabbed their ankles! also there are many monsters that live behind the bedroom door so running up the stairs and then slamming your door open will swash them behind it and they will no bother you any more

i remember vividly the moment not only realised that i had not been completely honest in my description of the assorted monsters but also realised that this would be a fun thing to indulge the old git in. teenage girls have a completely marvellous way of patronising their dads.

The most important thing to remember is how this tales affect the child. There are many sides to it, and I'm sure none of you want me to break out my psychology notes, but the main thing is to make sure that these tales can have no negative effect in their lives. There are many ways it can effect them: emotionally, socially, physically, mentally... many of those are things you wouldn't be able to tell if the child is suffering in. You do not know the depths of the childs emotions (and depending the age, they wont either), you will not know what is happening on the play ground, you will not know if they are developing a phobia. It is also important that if the child seems to have figured out that these things are lies, you tell them the truth.

The first rule of psychotherapy ethics: Do NO harm.
Same applies to this.