How are the versions of “Beauty and the Beast” and “Hansel and Gretel” different from other versions you’ve read or watched in film/tv adaptations? Why would versions of “Hansel and Gretel” or “Beauty and the Beast” be important for children? What themes in these tales are still relevant today?  
 
How would you approach the task of using fairy tales in the classroom or with children in an informal setting? Share your thoughts on Bettelheim’s theories about fairy tales and children. Do you think his ideas (as mentioned in the power point notes) are relevant? How might one use Bettelheim’s ideas in the classroom? Or is this possible? 

The slide show wasn’t working for me. I tried to find Bettelheim’s theories with Google. I agree with him that fairy tales are effective for dealing with children. They show children the realities of life even though they are design as fairy tales. I also agree that fairy tales and a lot of other children’s stories are good for children because they use pictures and symbols to get the point across, and children work well with pictures and symbols.  

I think fairy tales should be discussed between teacher and child and parent and child so that the child understands the story better. I don’t remember ever being taught the moral lesson of the fairy tales I read and watched. I think it would be very valuable to talk about it. Also, I think any discussion setting starting at a young age is really helpful for children to learn how to talk and communicate with others and with adults. 

The story of “Hansel and Gretel,” is one that I didn’t read much as a child. Before I read it I couldn’t remember any of it and after reading it I only remembered the part with the witch and candy house and how they got away. I think the theme that is still relevant today is that sometimes children can be a little quicker than their adults. They can outsmart their parents, but in this case it was for good reason. Children are not stupid and shouldn’t be treated like they are. 

“Beauty and the Beast” was my favorite Disney movie as a child. The theme of “Beauty and the Beast” is really good for children and adults. It’s all about sacrifice and seeing past what they eyes first see and getting deeper. First Belle let her father go and took her father’s spot, so he could be saved from being a prisoner and spare his life. And then Belle fell in love with the Beast despite his ugly appearance and ugly heart. She saw the good in him and brought the beauty out of him.