From Fairy Tales to Economic Awareness…

Аннотация

Education is a fundamental prerequisite for national progress, economic development, personal, social and professional growth. In the modern world, education is no longer limited to the transfer of basic knowledge; it shapes citizens capable of critical thinking, responsible decision-making, and thoughtful participation in economic and social processes. Early education plays a particularly important role, as it is during this stage that the foundational skills, values, and habits ​​​​are formed, creating the basis for all subsequent educational experiences. Investment in the early development of a children is therefore essential for building human capital and the full realization of citizens' potential. Such investment supports the multifaceted development of children, preparing them for future life while simultaneously generating positive long-term effects, not only on children’s health, well-being, and learning outcomes, but also on the sustained economic development of the country. In this context, economic education and the development of economic awareness along with fostering interest in related issues, have naturally emerged in the modern education. This trend reflects the rapid pace of global economic and social change, and accordingly led to an increase in scientific research and empirical studies on effective strategies for cultivating economic literacy and consciousness from an early age. Economics is an integral part of politics and society, serving not only as a scientific discipline but also as a synthesis of complex knowledge aimed at developing basic theoretical and practical life skills.

Georgian folk tale has been for centuries a multifunctional socio-cultural phenomenon. Beyond its artistic and aesthetic value, it has served as a vital mechanism for the transmission of collective social experience. From early childhood, fairy tale narratives introduce children to models of human relations, the value of labor, and the ideas of ownership and responsibility, which creates a prerequisite for the formation of economic consciousness. In the contemporary preschool educational environment, fairy tales remain among the most effective means of developing value orientations, behavioral norms, and social competencies.

The purpose of this monograph is to analyze Georgian folk tales from the perspective of the formation of economic thinking. The study is based on texts that are actively used in kindergartens and family educational practice and, therefore, have a direct impact on the worldview formation of the modern child. The attitude to labor, forms of obtaining and distributing resources, the confrontation between intelligence and laziness presented in fairy tales create a symbolic space where a child is first introduced to elementary models of economic behavior.

The research was supported by Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia (SRNSFG). 2022 Fundamental Research Grant number FR-22-9547. Project title “From Fairy tales to Economic Awareness“.