Conference: “The Importance of Fairy Tales on Childhood Development”

On March 10, 2006, SUF held an international conference on “The Importance of Fairy Tales on Childhood Development” (L’importanza della fiaba nella crescità dei bambini). This event was part of the Uno Scambio da Favola initiative that had culminated in the production of the children’s opera “Snow White.” The conference was organized with the collaboration of Meyer Children’s Hospital and with additional assistance from the Tuscan Counseling Association. Conference speakers explored various aspects of instructional and therapeutic use of the fairy tale and story-telling with children.

The panel of speakers included local mental health professionals, a children’s story writer, a well-known American developmental psychologist and Syracuse University home campus professor, and a famous Italian sociologist/ psychologist. It is this latter, Dr. Paolo Crepet, who was perhaps responsible for the draw of over ninety participants from all over Italy to the event. Crepet, author of numerous popular volumes on social psychological issues, and regular guest on the television talk show “Porta a Porta,” addressed several issues of adolescence, suggesting that the metaphoric language of the fairy tale may be used as a means of improving communication between parent and child, as well as encourage self-esteem by identification with heroes of these tales.

The numerous participants represented an eclectic mix of fields and nationalities including American and Italian teachers, international students of psychology, mental health professionals, and members of the medical community. Professionals from the mental health and medical fields were able to earn continuing education credits for their attendance.