Paradox Seen in Moral Stories Affecting Preschoolers
SIU Carbondale researchers John and Sandra Lutzker with Jill Corzier report that reading mixed moral tales to 3 and 4 year olds can provoke imitation of negative behaviors days after reading. They tested 11 books including Noisy Nancy Norris and Contrary Woodrow, noting preschoolers miss the intended lessons, with older children less prone to mimic bad acts.