My question to you this evening is this…if you were friends with Cinderella and she were to board a chariot that would turn into an angry pumpkin at midnight, would you tell her, or would you have her enjoy her ride in the chariot and figure it out her on her own?  I remember watching it at the Niagara Falls Public Library sometime around 1980.  I knew the chariot would turn into a pumpkin on her, and I hated it.  I still hate it.  Angry pumpkin, I thought. Why not just let her keep her seat until she arrived home?  This is also why I hated musical chairs – when the music stops, there ain’t no chair to sit in and you lose. 

In Hans Christian Andersen’s Emperor story, the emperor walked around nude – and everybody knew it but him.  He was happy to be walking around in the buff, but once a child said something, the rest started to chime in.  And that was the problem with Cinderella.  We all knew what would happen, and she knew it could – but hoped it wouldn’t…and it did.  She was deceived by a miracle, albeit with an expiration date. The chariot is so appealing, though.  Fortunately, the pumpkin did not have teeth and did not bite.  But imagine if it did. 

Fairy tales, with their enchanting narratives and moral lessons, have long been a part of children's literature. Two such tales, The Emperor's New Clothes and Cinderella, offer more than just entertainment; they are powerful tools for teaching children essential life skills, such as prediction and critical thinking. Any stories such as these can be used to help children develop the ability to anticipate and understand the consequences of their actions.  Maybe even help to keep them safe.

Hans Christian Andersen's story is a classic that teaches the importance of honesty and the follies of vanity. The emperor, obsessed with his appearance, gets fooled by two weavers who claim to make a suit visible only to those who are fit for their positions. There is no suit. The story culminates when a child, unburdened by the adults' fear of speaking out, points out the emperor’s lack of clothing.  Today, one of these hypothetical weavers can alter your life; only a child speaks the truth.

This story can be a tool to teach children about prediction and consequences. Ask children to guess what might happen next at different story points and discuss why the townspeople pretended to see the clothes. This encourages them to think critically about actions and consequences, an essential skill in predicting future outcomes. 

Cinderella is a tale of resilience and the rewards of kindness. Cinderella remains kind and hopeful despite her hardships, eventually leading to her happy Disney ending. This story teaches children about empathy and perseverance.  And we all know they need these traits – because Disney’s endings are well…Disney’s.  Old Walt doesn’t address the angry pumpkin Cinderella could be sitting in.  She needs only the child from the emperor’s story to tell her what’s up.   

While reading 'Cinderella,' parents and educators can pause to ask children what will happen next and why. Will Cinderella go to the ball? What will happen when the clock strikes midnight? These discussions help children understand the link between character actions and story outcomes, enhancing their predictive skills.  Wanna go a step further?  Ask the kids to mix the characters and the stories – kind of like I just did. 

Predictive skills are crucial in real life as they help children anticipate consequences and make better decisions. Children can learn to think ahead, plan, and adjust their behavior by understanding that actions have consequences. These skills are fundamental in problem-solving and critical thinking.

Interactive storytelling, where children are asked to predict outcomes or suggest alternate endings, can be particularly compelling. This makes the reading experience more engaging and encourages children to apply their thinking in a safe and fun environment.

Parents and teachers can extend these lessons beyond the stories. Encourage the littles to predict potential outcomes in everyday situations, discuss possible scenarios, and reflect on the outcomes. This ongoing practice will enhance not only our kids’ predictive skills but also their overall cognitive development.  Then maybe they won’t wind up inside an angry pumpkin.