One of the ground rules in writing my 'grandpa' stories was to keep
within the youngsters' range of comprehension and imagination, and
about living things, objects, activities and places to which their
imaginations could relate. In fantasy stories, when my grandchildren
were very young, for instance, I animated toys familiar to them, or
modified characters from their favorite books and sent them off on
adventures that did not frighten or cause them apprehension for the toy's
safety. At the story's conclusion, the toys and characters were back in a
familiar and comfortable setting.
Deliberate destructive behavior in stories and anecdotes for the very
young, I believe, serves no useful purpose. The young are already
exposed to far more negative forces in the general run of storybooks,
television shows, Internet games and the real world. Grandpas and
grandmas don't need to pile them on. To the contrary, grandparents can
influence a young mind toward reason and compassion. The tales they
tell can be stabilizing forces in the day-to-day bustle and high excitement
of the very young and, by the nature of a grandparent's role, suggest
channels for positive values.