What stories do our children grow up with? Who are their heroes?

In ancient times story telling was not just about remembering you tribe's history but also a way of teaching. Children were taught valuable lessons about life, valor and values.

Today we still tell stories to our children but what do they teach?

Little gils grow up with Cinderella, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty. The poor damsel in distress is saved by the prince on the White horse and then they lived happy ever after. So Little girls are taught that they should be saved and not that they can save themselves and while they're at it, other people too. She has to wait for the prince and he is always the silent type-never says a word. The story never tells her that after the wedding he is going to speak, be demanding and have a strong opinion. Furthermore that happy every after takes considerable effort on both sides. In all these stories the little princess is beautiful and have very little other qualities. Take a women's magazine and have a look- 3/4 is about products to make you look more beautiful, younger, slimmer and how to dress according to fashion to catch your prince. Where are the female heroes that did it for themselves? Boudica the Queen of the Iceni that revolted against Roman occupation or Isabella that fought along side her husband Ferdinand to bring Spain under Roman Catholic control or Elizabeth I who rescued England from bankruptcy. These were women that did it for themselves and their country. They assisted in the rescued and was not known for the beauty but for their courage, cunning and the ability to make it in a male dominant society.

The boys are told about super heroes all with some kind of supernatural power. They use their power to rescue the damsel in distress but are not strong on conversation- so brawn over brains. Is that what we expect from the next generation of men? To fight for justice not to negotiate for it? Female magazines are very prone to male bashing but the questions is who taught them? Their mother's of course- she told the stories. Where are the Odysseus of ancient times that used brawn and brains to, even after 20 years, get back to his kingdom and his Queen. There is a guy that did not give up, did not have super powers but persisted until he reached his home again.

One of my childhood favorite stories was and still is "I am David" written by Anne Holm and it is about a small boy's journey to freedom. It is a story that I told my boys when they were small because I wanted them to learn from David. His values and his persistence to be free. David escapes from a concentration camp after WWII and he does not believe that violence solves anything. he is adamant that one should make up your own mind and follow what you believe in. Now, that is a hero with values that one can emulate.

According to " Alans Spot" the most popular children's stories in Korean are stories that were translated from the Talmud. The parents believe that is why the Jews are so smart and they might have a point there. Just look at the nobel prize winners - majority Jews.

So what stories are we telling our kids? Have you considered what you're teaching your child through storytelling?