The Hidden Bias in Kids’ Stories—And How to Expand Their Perspective

Source: Rohith Murali for Unsplash

When you think back to the stories you heard as a child—what stands out? The magical creatures? The heroes? The endings?

Now pause and ask: who was the hero? Who got to speak? Who got to be wise, brave, messy, real? And who was left out entirely?

Children’s stories aren’t just entertainment—they're templates for how the world works.

And many of the stories we’ve come to love, often unintentionally, carry patterns of bias that limit whose voices are heard, and how children come to see themselves and others.

Kids’ stories communicate values and hidden bias even when they don’t mean to

In many beloved picture books and fairy tales, heroes tend to be white, male, able-bodied, and straight.

Characters of color may appear, but they’re often sidekicks, villains, or token figures.

Girls may lead—but often within the boundaries of kindness or beauty. And disabled characters? Nearly invisible.

None of this means these stories are “bad.” But if they’re all our children hear, they shape a worldview that’s incomplete—and, over time, inaccurate.

Stories should be “windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors.” - Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop

Unfortunately, most kids today still get mostly mirrors of a narrow few worlds.

Stories expand their world

So how do we fight hidden biases in kids’ stories and expand their perspective? Representation.

Representation isn’t about political correctness—it’s about giving kids the language to understand themselves and others.

Kids who see themselves reflected in stories build confidence and emotional strength. Kids who see others represented develop empathy and awareness.

That means when we expand the range of stories our kids hear—by culture, language, gender, ability—we’re not just teaching tolerance. We’re actively growing open-minded, flexible thinkers.

Language is perspective

This is especially true with multilingual stories. Every language holds not just different words, but different ways of thinking—what linguists call “cognitive framing.” When a child hears stories told in multiple languages, they are learning how to shift perspective and meaning with ease.

It’s more than just language acquisition. It’s identity expansion.

Rewriting the story

Bias in children’s stories isn’t always intentional. But expanding what we offer our kids can be.

We’re building a library of bilingual, bias-aware stories—so that kids can grow up hearing more than just one kind of voice. The stories are short, warm, and rooted in curiosity and care.

The goal isn’t to replace the classics, but to broaden the bookshelf.

To let every child know: you belong in stories. And so does everyone else.

Want your child to hear stories that reflect the world more fully?

Join our beta-testers community to help us shape a storytelling app designed for an inclusive future!

Join the beta!