Telling folktales is a powerful tool that parents use to pass on their beliefs and values to their children. Discuss three or more beliefs and values you learnt from the stories you heard when you were a child.

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Great! Here are three possible beliefs and values that can be conveyed through folktales:

1. Respect for elders: Many folktales feature wise elderly characters who provide guidance and teach valuable lessons. By listening to and following the advice of these elders, younger characters show respect for their knowledge and experience. For instance, in the African folktale "The Lion's Whisker," a young boy learns to respect his grandmother's wisdom by following her instructions to pluck a lion's whisker in order to cure his stepmother's illness.

2. Perseverance and hard work: Folktales often feature characters who must overcome difficult challenges and obstacles in order to achieve their goals. By persisting and putting in effort, these characters eventually succeed. This teaches children the value of hard work and determination. For example, the Hmong folktale "The Stonecutter" tells the story of a man who wishes to be more powerful than anyone else, and is transformed into various powerful beings – including a mountain and the sun – before finally realizing that his own hard work and perseverance are the most valuable attributes.

3. Honesty and fairness: Many folktales warn against lying or cheating, emphasizing the importance of honesty and fairness. Characters who are deceitful often suffer negative consequences, while those who behave ethically are rewarded. The Indian folktale "The Clever Rabbit and the Foolish Lion" shows how a clever and honest rabbit outwits a deceitful lion who tries to eat him by convincing the lion to jump into a well. In the end, the rabbit escapes unharmed and the lion is trapped at the bottom of the well.