Once upon a time… Halloween (and some not-so-sweet stories)

It’s late October, cobwebs are taking over the shop windows, and the youngest is jumping out at everyone around the house shouting “Boo!”, with a little quilt over her head. Meanwhile, the eldest has dug out every monster and ghost story on the bookshelf… Shivers guaranteed on the mat!

Playing at being scared is always fun, but between us, how many of us are still a little haunted by the stories we read as children? Parents abandoning their children in the woods, a witch who wants to eat them, an ogre lurking nearby… The old classics weren’t exactly comforting! So should we keep telling our little ones these sometimes frightening stories? What if those monsters could also help them get to grips with their fears?

Perrault’s and the Brothers Grimm’s fairy tales began as folk stories passed down through the generations. Life in the countryside wasn’t always easy in those days, and some stories served as warnings for children. But the wolf, the ogre and the witch aren’t there just to give us the shivers. They also embody fears that children (and sometimes adults!) know well: being abandoned, losing someone they love, or facing danger alone.

Fairy tales let children explore their anxieties in an imaginary world, where they can keep them at a safe distance. And story time happens somewhere reassuring, snuggled up with a parent: it’s easier to face a dragon in a book than one under your own bed! Besides, stories get read and reread (and reread again and again!). Children know when the wolf will appear, they’re ready for the witch, and they know the hero will win. Even if the story still has them spellbound, they feel more in control because they already know how it ends.

Another thing we love about fairy tales is that the hero isn’t always the strongest. Tom Thumb is tiny, while Hansel and Gretel are vulnerable and abandoned in the woods… yet they find ways to get through it. The message is (partly!) reassuring: even when you’re small, you can be brave, clever and resourceful. Yes, there are monsters in stories, but they don’t always win in the end.

So how do you choose the next story? Every child, at every age, has their own pace. Some already love a thrill; others need more time. And of course, if a story doesn’t feel right, we don’t push it. 

For the littlest ones, peekaboo games may be enough. They learn that when a character disappears, they’re never far away — perhaps just under the next flap!

At nursery age, children can get to grips with their fears through stories with funny endings or villains who are a bit silly… The danger soon passes. From around six, some children already enjoy a proper plot and a good scare, whether they read alone or with someone beside them. We try to listen to our children and offer a mix of books, from classics to contemporary stories. Whether it’s a tale that sends shivers down their spine or a picture book that challenges stereotypes, we can always talk about it once the book is closed.

Luckily, libraries and bookshops are full of treasures, so everyone can put together a collection of books that feels just right for them. And our douillettes are still the perfect companion for feeling safe and snuggling up together over a story.