Why are Nursery rhymes and childrens stories so depressing?

Question

i mean seriously London Bridges falling down, ring around the rosey pocketfull of posiey ashes ashes we all fall down, humpy dumpy, hansel and gredel,three blind mice, little red riding hood, little miss muffet, repunzel, snow white, rock a bye baby,

and the list goes on but why is it supposed to be for 3 year olds

Answer 1

Most are historical. Check the link below.

Ring around the Roses was about the plague

London Bridge was taken out by invaders

Humpty Dumpty was the name of a large cannon

It goes on and on, but most were historical happenings.....the rhymes often were to remember something that happened, to make fun of it, or to get kids to remember something (usually a moral).

Answer 2

When the nursery rhymes were `made up` the lives and times of the people were very depressing. The stories were set in rhyme so that the people, most of whom were unable to read, could more easily learn them. It was a way of teaching history to children, The posies in their pockets were bunches of herbs and plants they believed would protect them from the great plague that infested London. London Bridge did burn in the 1666 fire that burned most of London to the ground. I think that even the other nursery characters must have had some basis in truth, and were added to the repertoire if only for some light relief.!

Answer 3

I don't know, but maybe it's a way of teaching little ones that although life can really suck, we have to make the best of it and move on? A way to take your mind off the horrors of life and yet not totally sweep them under the rug? Just a thought.

Answer 4

for some reason they find these misshapes as fun and enjoying. For example why does a small child laugh when you push them on a swing and pretend that they are kicking you and make you fall down. I guess it's to make light of things.

Answer 5

Often nursery rhymes and fairy tales have historical meaning and/or intended for adults but, over the years, the language have been altered to appeal to children.

Answer 6

because most of the stories or ryhmes as you mentioned were written a long time ago when people had very little, most of em are taken from real things that happened and thats just what people wrote about then,
they are so much cuter now,
hope that answers your question.