Children’s Independent Thinking. Fairy Tales at School: A Resource for Teachers, According to Freudian Discoveries

The paper presents an example of school exercise based on creative use of fairy tales in order to stimulate children’s independent thinking. The aim is to use fairy tales in the teaching process as a way to develop independent thinking and creativity, both for teachers and pupils. Fairy tales, among others, the Brothers Grimm stories as well as Aesop’s and La Fontaine’s fables, were analyzed as the possible allies of one’s creativity. In the research, the children were asked to change the ending of a very famous fairy tale as a way to practice their independent thinking. The development and use of independent thinking constitute the special responsibility of teachers/adults in their relations with children.