Children’s fairytales are being rewritten for resilience

UK – London's Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) charity is retelling classic children's stories to support young people facing challenging life moments. Together with communications agency Adam&Eve/DDB, GOSH is releasing six stories that tackle themes such as loss, illness, isolation and sadness. The first is a poem, Dee without Dum, which re-invents the narrative of Alice in Wonderland to instead explore separation anxiety.

Alongside the reworked stories, GOSH is launching an online hub with resources and activities that incorporate play as a core part of coping with difficulties. By doing so, the charity recognises the importance of teaching tenacity among early age children. Laura Walsh, head of play at Great Ormond Street Hospital, says: ‘Play is a superpower at the fingertips of all children, and it’s especially important at times of change or worry, when building our children’s resilience can help them to cope with life’s challenges.’

Growing up in an increasingly uncertain world, Generation Alpha will benefit from age-appropriate yet uncondescending communications that address these more jarring topics.