Reading fairy tales to children before bed is a bedtime ritual. When babies listen to their favorite stories they feel comfortable and calm for a good night’s sleep. A study published in the British Medical Journal highlights the hidden value of these age-old children’s stories. They teach children about the importance of healthy sleep. The study’s researchers evaluated popular fairy tale stories and found that they are much more than comfort stories for youth.
Also read: No set time to sleep? Studies show it can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke by 26%, even if you sleep 8 hours.
Classic Fairy Tales and Their Meanings
Every childhood story contains a deep allegory that may not be immediately obvious even to adults when reading it for the first time.
Researchers analyzed the underlying meanings of Snow White, The Princess and the Pea, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, and Peter Pan and linked it to sleep disorders.
snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
In Snow White, the names of the dwarf characters all point to different aspects of bad sleep. For example, Sleepy, Grumpy, and Bashful show common effects of sleep deprivation, such as irritability, fatigue, and difficulty socializing. The researchers further said that these behaviors are often associated with sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea, which affects sleep quality and causes daytime behavioral difficulties. The story of Snow White shows how lack of sleep impairs mood and concentration. The character of the Doctor in Snow White was having difficulty speaking, suggesting that the slurred speech was a result of lack of sleep. Constant sneezing allergies can get worse due to poor sleep as lack of sleep affects the immune system. The story of Snow White shows the dark side of sleep deprivation and how it also significantly affects socialization.
the princess and the pea
In The Princess and the Pea, the Princess can’t sleep because there’s a pea stuck in the mattress. Being a true princess she felt uncomfortable, her sensitivity was so heightened that even a small pea would keep her awake. But looking closer, researchers linked lack of sleep to a metaphor for autism spectrum disorder. Sensory processing issues, such as being overly sensitive to certain, even minor, stimuli can make it hard for children to fall asleep.
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Goldilocks was not picky because finding the ‘just’ right environment for sleep is also important. The researchers reported that a comfortable bed and a room that is not too hot or too cold, but “just right” and is dark and quiet, is ideal. Temperature is important to create an environment conducive to sleep.
Peter Pan
The story of Peter Pan introduces the symptoms of parasomnias. It is abnormal and undesirable behavior during sleep such as walking, sleep talking, confusing arousals and night terrors. The roots go back to some traumatic experiences. In the story, Peter Pan himself experiences nightmares. The story also touches on factors that can trigger parasomnia such as stress and lack of sleep, as reflected in Peter’s experiences being chased by Captain Hook and his crew.
Bearse Screener for Children’s Sleep Problems
Taking inspiration from the Goldilocks story, BEARS Screener can help detect sleep problems in children. He identified five key areas: bproblems with editing time (difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep), Eexcessive daytime sleepiness (extreme tiredness during the day), AWaking up at night (waking frequently), Rsleep regularity and duration (consistent sleep patterns and adequate sleep), and SNodding (a possible sign of sleep disorders such as sleep apnea). With the help of this simple assessment tool, caregivers can easily identify and address potential early sleep concerns in children.
Also read: Disturbing model shows what people sleeping less than 6 hours will look like in 2050
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions you may have about a medical condition.
