Snowflake parents change fairy tales in case they upset their little darlings

ONCE upon a time, parents would tell their children fairy tales and not be worried about the big, bad PC brigade.

Sadly those days are far, far away. Now snowflake mums and dads are changing classic plots to avoid upsetting their little darlings and falling foul of political correctness.

A poll claims around a quarter of parents think Sleeping Beauty is inappropriate because she is awoken by being ‘kissed without consent’.

And the same proportion said they avoid reading the Ugly Duckling in case it encourages ‘body-shaming’. Liam Howley, of musicMagpie, which commissioned the research, said: ‘Times have changed and there are many elements to these classic tales which for some don’t really fit into society as they once did.’

The survey of 2,000 parents by OnePoll.com found a quarter admitted to altering a story over fears it is inappropriate or scary.

A third of parents thought it was ‘cruel’ that the Gingerbread Man is eaten by a fox and 36 per cent are concerned by how the Pied Piper of Hamlin lured children away.

A further one in four even claimed it was wrong to read Cinderella because she was forced to do all the household chores against her will. And more than a quarter feel the same about Robin Hood – a man who stole from others.

A third dislike Hansel and Gretel due to the children being abandoned alone in the forest. Even Pinocchio leaves 27 per cent of parents worrying as the story tells the tale of a boy who runs away from home and lies to people.