Short Moral Stories for Children and the Lessons
Here are short moral stories for children and the moral behind the story. Have fun!
1. The Boy and the Nuts
Once upon a time, there was a young boy who loved nuts. He found a large tree filled with ripe nut in a nearby field. The boy was excited and began gathering as many as he could. However, his hands were only so big, and he couldn’t carry them all.
In his greed, the boy decided to grab as many nuts as possible. He filled his pockets, held some in his arms, and even tried to carry some with his mouth. As he tried to walk away, he stumbled and dropped all the nuts. They rolled away, and he couldn’t collect them again.
The boy realized that his greediness had cost him the nuts. He learned that being greedy can lead to loss. From that day on, he understood the importance of moderation and being content with what he had.
Moral of the story: Greed leads to loss.
2. The Tortoise and the Hare
In a forest, there lived a hare who was known for his speed. He boasted about his swiftness to everyone, including a slow and steady tortoise. Tired of the hare’s bragging, the tortoise challenged him to a race.
The race began, and the hare quickly zoomed ahead, confident of his victory. Seeing the hare far ahead, he decided to take a nap under a shady tree. Meanwhile, the tortoise continued to plod along steadily, never giving up.
When the hare woke up and saw the tortoise near the finish line, he sprinted as fast as he could. However, it was too late. The tortoise crossed the finish line before him.
The hare realized that his overconfidence and laziness had cost him the race. He learned that being slow and steady can lead to success. From then on, he respected the tortoise’s perseverance and never underestimated others.
Moral of the story: Slow and steady wins the race.
3. The Lion and the Mouse
In a dense jungle, a mighty lion was taking a nap. While he was sleeping, a tiny mouse accidentally ran over his paw, waking him up. The lion was furious and caught the mouse with his sharp claws.
The mouse pleaded, “Please spare my life, mighty lion! I promise that one day, I will help you in return.”
Amused by the mouse’s words, the lion decided to release him. Some time later, the lion got trapped in a hunter’s net. Roaring in distress, he struggled to free himself. The little mouse, remembering his promise, came to the rescue.
With its tiny teeth, the mouse gnawed through the ropes and set the lion free. The lion was grateful and realized that even the smallest acts of kindness should be acknowledged.
Moral of the story: Kindness is never wasted.
4. The Ant and the Grasshopper
Once upon a time, in a sunny meadow, a busy ant was collecting food and storing it for the winter. Meanwhile, a carefree grasshopper hopped around, enjoying the pleasant weather and singing songs.
The grasshopper laughed at the ant’s hard work, saying, “Why are you working so hard? Join me and enjoy the sunshine!”
The ant replied, “I am preparing for the winter when food will be scarce. It’s important to plan ahead and be responsible.”
When winter arrived, the meadow was covered in snow, and the grasshopper found himself hungry and cold. He approached the ant, humbled and regretful, asking for help.
The ant shared some of its food with the grasshopper but also reminded him of the importance of hard work and preparation.
Moral of the story: Hard work and preparation lead to success.
5. The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs
Once there was a farmer who owned a special goose. Every day, the goose would lay a shiny golden egg. The farmer became greedy and wanted more. He thought the goose must have a treasure inside, so he decided to take all the golden eggs at once.
To his surprise, when he opened the goose, there was no treasure inside. The goose stopped laying golden eggs altogether, and the farmer realized his mistake. His greed had caused him to lose the regular supply of golden eggs.
Moral of the story: Greed can lead to losing what you already have.
6. The Boy Who Cried Wolf
In a village, there was a mischievous boy who loved playing pranks. He would often cry out, “Wolf! Wolf!” just to see the villagers’ reaction. The villagers would rush to his aid, only to find out that there was no wolf.
One day, a wolf actually appeared and attacked the boy’s sheep. The boy screamed for help, crying, “Wolf! Wolf!” But this time, the villagers ignored him, thinking it was another prank. Sadly, the wolf took away the sheep, and the boy learned a valuable lesson about honesty.
Moral of the story: Honesty is important, and false alarms have consequences.
7. The Wind and the Sun
One day, the Wind and the Sun had an argument about who was more powerful. To settle the dispute, they agreed on a challenge. They saw a traveler walking by and decided that whoever could make the traveler take off his coat would be the winner.
The Wind blew with all its might, trying to forcefully take off the traveler’s coat. However, the traveler held onto his coat tightly. The more the Wind blew, the tighter the traveler held on.
Then it was the Sun’s turn. The Sun gently shone its warm rays on the traveler. Feeling the warmth, the traveler willingly took off his coat to cool down.
The Sun proved that kindness and gentleness are more powerful than force.
Moral of the story: Kindness and gentleness are more powerful than force sequences.
8. The Fox and the Grapes
One day, a fox saw a bunch of juicy grapes hanging from a vine. The fox jumped and tried to grab them but couldn’t reach. He tried again and again, but the grapes remained out of reach.
Feeling frustrated, the fox walked away, saying, “Those grapes are probably sour anyway!”
The fox belittled what he couldn’t have, convincing himself that the grapes were not worth it.
Moral of the story: Don’t belittle what you cannot have.
9. The Three Little Pigs
Once upon a time, three little pigs decided to build their own houses. The first pig built a house of straw, the second pig built a house of sticks, and the third pig built a strong house of bricks.
A hungry wolf noticed the flimsy houses and saw an opportunity. He huffed and puffed, blowing down the houses of straw and sticks easily. The terrified pigs ran to the third pig’s house, which withstood the wolf’s fierce blows.
The wolf realized that shortcuts and laziness could lead to disaster, while hard work and diligence paid off in the end.
Moral of the story: Diligence and perseverance pay off.
10. The Gingerbread Man
In a kitchen, a baker created a gingerbread man cookie. As soon as the baker opened the oven, the gingerbread man sprang to life and jumped out of the window, shouting, “Run, run, as fast as you can! You can’t catch me, I’m the Gingerbread Man!”
Everyone he encountered, whether it was a cow, a horse, or a farmer, tried to catch him, but he always ran faster. However, as he crossed a river, he met a sly fox. The fox offered to help him cross but had ulterior motives.
As they reached the other side, the fox gobbled up the gingerbread man in one bite, proving that trusting strangers blindly can lead to trouble.
Moral of the story: Don’t trust strangers blindly.
11. The Boy Who Planted a Tree
Once, in a village, there lived a young boy named Jack. Jack noticed that the village had very few trees, and the environment was becoming polluted. Determined to make a difference, he decided to plant a tree.
Jack planted a small sapling and took care of it every day. He watered it, protected it from harsh weather, and watched it grow. Years passed, and the sapling turned into a magnificent tree, providing shade and fresh air to the village.
The villagers were inspired by Jack’s dedication and started planting trees too. The village transformed into a green and healthy place, all thanks to the initiative of one boy.
Moral of the story: One person’s actions can make a significant impact on the environment.
12. The Greedy Elephant
In a jungle, there was a kind and generous elephant named Ellie. Ellie had a big and beautiful garden where she grew delicious fruits. The animals of the jungle would often come to Ellie for help and to enjoy the fruits from her garden.
One day, a greedy monkey named Max came to Ellie’s garden. Max saw all the tasty fruits and couldn’t resist his temptation. He started taking more than his share, leaving little for others.
Ellie noticed Max’s behavior and decided to teach him a lesson. She confronted Max and explained the importance of sharing and considering others’ needs. Max felt guilty and apologized to Ellie and the other animals.
From that day forward, Max learned the value of sharing and became a more considerate and generous monkey.
Moral of the story: Sharing and considering others’ needs is important.
13. The Rainbow Fish
In the deep blue sea, there lived a beautiful fish named Rainbow. Rainbow had shimmering scales in all the colors of the rainbow. However, Rainbow was proud and selfish, refusing to share its beauty with the other fish.
One day, a little fish approached Rainbow and asked if it could have one of its shiny scales. Rainbow arrogantly replied, “No, I won’t give away my beautiful scales.”
The little fish was disappointed and swam away. Rainbow noticed that the other fish avoided it because of its selfishness. Feeling lonely, Rainbow sought the advice of a wise octopus.
The wise octopus explained that true happiness comes from sharing and making others happy. Realizing its mistake, Rainbow decided to share its scales with the other fish. As Rainbow shared its scales, the ocean became filled with colorful fish, and Rainbow felt a sense of joy and belonging.
Moral of the story: True happiness comes from sharing and making others happy.
14. The Magic Paintbrush
Once, there was a young girl named Lily who loved to paint. One day, an old man noticed Lily’s talent and gifted her a magic paintbrush. He said, “This paintbrush will bring to life anything you paint.”
Excited about her new gift, Lily started painting all sorts of things: beautiful flowers, delicious fruits, and even animals. Everywhere she went, she used her paintbrush to create wonders.
However, Lily soon realized that not everyone appreciated her gift. Some people became jealous and demanded her to paint only for them. They wanted to keep the magic paintbrush to themselves.
Lily thought about what the old man had said and decided to use her gift for the benefit of everyone. She painted breathtaking landscapes and shared them with the entire village. The villagers were grateful and admired Lily’s selflessness.
Moral of the story: Sharing one’s gifts and talents can bring joy and benefit to many.
15. The Wise Owl and the Foolish Birds
In a dense forest, a group of birds lived happily on a tall tree. One day, a wise old owl visited them and noticed that the birds were always fearful and worried. The owl asked them why they were so anxious.
The birds explained, “We fear that the tree will fall and harm us.”
The wise owl replied, “Don’t worry, my friends. I have observed this tree for many years. It is strong and healthy. You should focus on enjoying the present instead of worrying about the future.”
The birds realized the truth in the owl’s words and started living their lives joyfully, singing and playing without fear.
Moral of the story: Live in the present and enjoy the moment instead of worrying unnecessarily about the future.
16. The Miser and His Gold
In a small village, there lived a miserly man named Thomas. Thomas loved his gold more than anything else and would spend hours counting and admiring it. He never shared his wealth with others and hoarded it all for himself.
One night, a thief broke into Thomas’s house and stole all of his gold. When Thomas discovered the theft, he was devastated. He realized that his obsession with wealth had cost him not only his gold but also the joy of helping others.
From that day forward, Thomas learned the value of generosity and started sharing his wealth with those in need. He discovered that true wealth lies in making a positive impact on others’ lives.
Moral of the story: The true value of wealth is in its ability to benefit others.
17. The Honest Woodcutter
Once, a woodcutter accidentally dropped his axe into a river. Distraught, he sat by the riverbank, wondering how he would continue his work without an axe. Suddenly, a beautiful fairy emerged from the water, holding a golden axe.
The fairy asked, “Is this your axe?”
The woodcutter replied honestly, “No, that is not mine.”
Impressed by his honesty, the fairy rewarded the woodcutter by giving him not only his own axe but also the golden axe. The woodcutter returned home, grateful for his integrity.
Moral of the story: Honesty is always rewarded.
18. The Magic Seeds
In a small village, there was a poor farmer named Sam. One day, a mysterious traveler gave him a handful of seeds and said, “These are magic seeds. If you plant them with love and care, they will grow into something extraordinary.”
Excited, Sam planted the seeds and diligently cared for them. The seeds sprouted into beautiful flowers of various colors and fragrances. Sam decided to share the flowers with the entire village, bringing joy and beauty to everyone.
As the flowers blossomed, they also attracted many visitors to the village. Sam’s act of kindness not only brought happiness to others but also helped the village prosper through tourism and trade.
Moral of the story: Acts of kindness and generosity have far-reaching positive impacts.
19. The Boy and the Starfish
One morning, a young boy went for a walk on the beach. He noticed that the shoreline was covered in starfish that had been washed ashore by the tide. The boy started picking up the starfish one by one and throwing them back into the ocean.
An old man passing by saw the boy’s actions and said, “There are too many starfish. You can’t save them all. What difference does it make?”
The boy picked up another starfish, gently tossed it into the ocean, and replied, “It makes a difference to this one.”
The old man understood the boy’s point. Together, they started helping the starfish, knowing that even small acts of kindness can make a significant impact on individuals.
Moral of the story: Every act of kindness, no matter how small, can make a difference to someone.
20. The Frog and the Scorpion
Once, a scorpion wanted to cross a river but couldn’t swim. It approached a frog and asked, “Could you please carry me on your back across the river?”
The frog hesitated, knowing that scorpions are known for their venomous stings. But the scorpion pleaded, “If I sting you, we will both drown. It’s in my interest to safely reach the other side.”
Convinced by the scorpion’s reasoning, the frog agreed and started swimming across the river with the scorpion on its back. However, halfway across, the scorpion stung the frog.
Shocked and in pain, the frog asked, “Why did you sting me? Now we will both die!”
The scorpion replied sadly, “It’s in my nature. I couldn’t help it.”
Moral of the story: Some people have destructive tendencies that cannot be changed. Be cautious in trusting those who have repeatedly shown harmful behaviour.
20. The Ant and the Grasshopper
In a sunny meadow, an ant worked diligently, collecting food and storing it for the winter. The grasshopper, on the other hand, spent its days singing and enjoying the warm weather.
When winter arrived, the meadow turned cold and food became scarce. The grasshopper, who hadn’t prepared for the season, grew hungry and cold. Seeing the ant’s well-stocked supplies, it approached and asked for help.
The ant replied, “I worked hard during the summer to gather food. You should have done the same instead of idling away.”
Moral of the story: It is important to work hard and plan for the future.
21. The Greedy Dog
A dog discovered a bone and, eager to keep it for itself, walked near a pond. As the dog looked into the water, it saw its reflection and mistook it for another dog with a larger bone.
Driven by greed, the dog jumped into the water to snatch the other bone. As it opened its mouth to grab the “bigger bone,” it dropped the bone it had, losing both in the process.
Moral of the story: Greed often leads to loss, and it is better to appreciate what one already has.
22. The Little Red Hen
A little red hen found a grain of wheat and asked her animal friends for help planting it. However, none of them were interested in assisting her. Undeterred, the hen planted the wheat, nurtured it, and eventually harvested a bountiful crop.
When the hen asked her friends for help in turning the wheat into flour, baking bread, and enjoying the fruits of their labour, they all wanted to partake. But the hen refused, as they had not contributed from the beginning.
Moral of the story: Those who don’t contribute to a task should not expect to reap the rewards.
23. The Boy Who Stole Apples
A young boy had a habit of stealing apples from his neighbour’s tree. One day, the neighbour caught him red-handed. Instead of punishing the boy, the neighbour sat him down and explained the importance of honesty and respecting other people’s property.
The boy felt remorse and apologized sincerely. From that day forward, he developed a sense of integrity and worked hard to make amends for his actions.
Moral of the story: Honesty, respect, and making amends are essential for personal growth and redemption.
We hope you enjoy these stories and find them useful for teaching moral lessons to children.