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Common stories with morals


20 Best Short Moral Stories for Kids (Valuable Lessons)

Want to expand your children’s vocabulary? Read to them. That’s all it takes — and there are other benefits to reading aloud to young children as well.

Reading to older children offers a great method to teach them life lessons in a way that they’ll understand. And it’s easier than ever to find these moral stories to read.

There is a large selection of short moral stories for kids online. They range from the classics like The Boy Who Cried Wolf, to somber ones talking about greed. To help you out, we’ve gathered a selection of the most 20 popular stories.

Table of Contents

  • 20 Short Moral Stories For Kids
  • How Moral Stories Benefit Children
  • The Takeaway

20 Short Moral Stories For Kids

1. The Boy Who Cried Wolf

The Moral

Lying breaks trust — even if you’re telling the truth, no one believes a liar.

Once, there was a boy who became bored when he watched over the village sheep grazing on the hillside. To entertain himself, he sang out, “Wolf! Wolf! The wolf is chasing the sheep!”

When the villagers heard the cry, they came running up the hill to drive the wolf away. But, when they arrived, they saw no wolf. The boy was amused when seeing their angry faces.

“Don’t scream wolf, boy,” warned the villagers, “when there is no wolf!” They angrily went back down the hill.

Later, the shepherd boy cried out once again, “Wolf! Wolf! The wolf is chasing the sheep!” To his amusement, he looked on as the villagers came running up the hill to scare the wolf away.

As they saw there was no wolf, they said strictly, “Save your frightened cry for when there really is a wolf! Don’t cry ‘wolf’ when there is no wolf!” But the boy grinned at their words while they walked grumbling down the hill once more.

Later, the boy saw a real wolf sneaking around his flock. Alarmed, he jumped on his feet and cried out as loud as he could, “Wolf! Wolf!” But the villagers thought he was fooling them again, and so they didn’t come to help.

At sunset, the villagers went looking for the boy who hadn’t returned with their sheep. When they went up the hill, they found him weeping.

“There really was a wolf here! The flock is gone! I cried out, ‘Wolf!’ but you didn’t come,” he wailed.

An old man went to comfort the boy. As he put his arm around him, he said, “Nobody believes a liar, even when he is telling the truth!”

2. The Golden Touch


The Moral

Greed will always lead to downfall.

There once was a king named Midas who did a good deed for a Satyr. And he was then granted a wish by Dionysus, the god of wine.

For his wish, Midas asked that whatever he touched would turn to gold. Despite Dionysus’ efforts to prevent it, Midas pleaded that this was a fantastic wish, and so, it was bestowed.

Excited about his newly-earned powers, Midas started touching all kinds of things, turning each item into pure gold.

But soon, Midas became hungry. As he picked up a piece of food, he found he couldn’t eat it. It had turned to gold in his hand.

Hungry, Midas groaned, “I’ll starve! Perhaps this was not such an excellent wish after all!”

Seeing his dismay, Midas’ beloved daughter threw her arms around him to comfort him, and she, too, turned to gold. “The golden touch is no blessing,” Midas cried.

3. The Fox and the Grapes

The Moral

Never despise what we can’t have; nothing comes easy.

One day, a fox became very hungry as he went to search for some food. He searched high and low, but couldn’t find something that he could eat.

Finally, as his stomach rumbled, he stumbled upon a farmer’s wall. At the top of the wall, he saw the biggest, juiciest grapes he’d ever seen. They had a rich, purple color, telling the fox they were ready to be eaten.

To reach the grapes, the fox had to jump high in the air. As he jumped, he opened his mouth to catch the grapes, but he missed. The fox tried again but missed yet again.

He tried a few more times but kept failing.

Finally, the fox decided it was time to give up and go home. While he walked away, he muttered, “I’m sure the grapes were sour anyway.”

4. The Proud Rose

The Moral

Never judge anyone by the way they look.

Once upon a time, in a desert far away, there was a rose who was so proud of her beautiful looks. Her only complaint was growing next to an ugly cactus.

Every day, the beautiful rose would insult and mock the cactus on his looks, all while the cactus remained quiet. All the other plants nearby tried to make the rose see sense, but she was too swayed by her own looks.

One scorching summer, the desert became dry, and there was no water left for the plants. The rose quickly began to wilt. Her beautiful petals dried up, losing their lush color.

Looking to the cactus, she saw a sparrow dip his beak into the cactus to drink some water. Though ashamed, the rose asked the cactus if she could have some water. The kind cactus readily agreed, helping them both through the tough summer, as friends.

5. The Milkmaid and Her Pail

The Moral

Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.

One day, Molly the milkmaid had filled her pails with milk. Her job was to milk the cows, and then bring the milk to the market to sell. Molly loved to think about what to spend her money on.

As she filled the pails with milk and went to market, she again thought of all the things she wanted to buy. As she walked along the road, she thought of buying a cake and a basket full of fresh strawberries.

A little further down the road, she spotted a chicken. She thought, “With the money I get from today, I’m going to buy a chicken of my own. That chicken will lay eggs, then I will be able to sell milk and eggs and get more money!”

She continued, “With more money, I will be able to buy a fancy dress and make all the other milkmaids jealous.” Out of excitement, Molly started skipping, forgetting about the milk in her pails. Soon, the milk started spilling over the edges, covering Molly.

Drenched, Molly said to herself, “Oh no! I will never have enough money to buy a chicken now.” She went home with her empty pails.

“Oh, my goodness! What happened to you?” Molly’s mother asked.

“I was too busy dreaming about all the things I wanted to buy that I forgot about the pails,” she answered.

“Oh, Molly, my dear. How many times do I need to say, ‘Don’t count your chickens until they hatch?’”

6. A Wise Old Owl

The Moral

Be more observant. Talk less and listen more. This will make us wise.

There was an old owl who lived in an oak tree. Every day, he observed incidents that occurred around him.

Yesterday, he watched as a young boy helped an old man carry a heavy basket. Today, he saw a young girl shouting at her mother. The more he saw, the less he spoke.

As the days went on, he spoke less but heard more. The old owl heard people talking and telling stories.

He heard a woman saying an elephant jumped over a fence. He heard a man saying that he had never made a mistake.

The old owl had seen and heard what happened to people. There were some who became better, some who became worse. But the old owl in the tree had become wiser, each and every day.

7. The Golden Egg

The Moral

Never act before you think.

Once upon a time, a farmer had a goose that laid one golden egg every day. The egg provided enough money for the farmer and his wife to support their daily needs. The farmer and his wife continued to be happy for a long time.

But, one day, the farmer thought to himself, “Why should we take just one egg a day? Why can’t we take them all at once and make a lot of money?” The farmer told his wife his idea, and she foolishly agreed.

Then, the next day, as the goose laid its golden egg, the farmer was quick with a sharp knife. He killed the goose and cut its stomach open, in the hopes of finding all its golden eggs. But, as he opened the stomach, the only thing he found was guts and blood.

The farmer quickly realized his foolish mistake and proceeded to cry over his lost resource. As the days went on, the farmer and his wife became poorer and poorer. How jinxed and how foolish they were.

8. The Farmer and the Well

The Moral

Cheating will not get you anything. If you cheat, you’ll pay soon enough.

One day, a farmer was looking for a water source for his farm, when he bought a well from his neighbor. The neighbor, however, was cunning. The next day, as the farmer came to draw water from his well, the neighbor refused to let him take any water.

When the farmer asked why, the neighbor replied, “I sold you the well, not the water,” and walked away. Distraught, the farmer went to the emperor to ask for justice. He explained what had happened.

The emperor called on Birbal, one of his nine, and wisest, courtiers. Birbal proceeded to question the neighbor, “Why don’t you let the farmer take water from the well? You did sell the well to the farmer?”

The neighbor replied, “Birbal, I did sell the well to the farmer but not the water within it. He has no right to draw water from the well.”

Birbal said, “Look, since you sold the well, you have no right to keep the water in the farmer’s well. Either you pay rent to the farmer, or take it out immediately.” Realizing that his scheme had failed, the neighbor apologized and went home.

9. Elephant and Friends

The Moral

Friends come in every shape and size.

A lone elephant walked through the forest, looking for friends. She soon saw a monkey and proceeded to ask, ‘Can we be friends, monkey?’

The monkey quickly replied, ‘You are big and can’t swing on trees like I do, so I cannot be your friend.’

Defeated, the elephant continued to search when it stumbled across a rabbit. She proceeded to ask him, ‘Can we be friends, rabbit?’

The rabbit looked at the elephant and replied, “You are too big to fit inside my burrow. You cannot be my friend.”

Then, the elephant continued until she met a frog. She asked, “Will you be my friend, frog?”

The frog replied, “You are too big and heavy; you cannot jump like me. I am sorry, but you can’t be my friend.”

The elephant continued to ask the animals she met on her way, but always received the same reply. The following day, the elephant saw all the forest animals run in fear. She stopped a bear to ask what was happening and was told the tiger was attacking all the small animals.

The elephant wanted to save the other animals, so she went to the tiger and said, “Please, sir, leave my friends alone. Do not eat them.”

The tiger didn’t listen. He merely told the elephant to mind her own business.

Seeing no other way, the elephant kicked the tiger and scared him away. Upon hearing of the brave tale, the other animals agreed, “You are just the right size to be our friend.”

10. When Adversity Knocks

The Moral

We can choose how to respond in difficult situations.

Asha was getting frustrated and tired of life, so she asked her father what to do. Her father told her to bring an egg, two tea leaves, and a potato. He then brought out three vessels, filled them with water, and placed them on the stove.

Once the water was boiling, he told Asha to place the items into each pot and keep an eye on them. After 10 minutes, he asked Asha to peel the egg, peel the potato, and strain the leaves. Asha was left confused.

Her father explained, “Each item was placed into the same circumstance, boiling water. See how each responded differently?”

He continued, “The egg was soft, but is now hard. The potato was hard, but is now soft. And the tea leaves, they changed the water itself.”

The father then asked, “When adversity calls, we respond in the same manner as they have. Now, are you an egg, a potato, or tea leaves?”

11. The Needle Tree

The Moral

It’s important to be kind, as it will always be rewarded.

Once, there were two brothers who lived at the forest’s edge. The oldest brother was always unkind to his younger brother. The older brother took all the food and snatched all the good clothes.

The oldest brother used to go into the forest in search of firewood to sell in the market. As he walked through the forest, he chopped off the branches of every tree, until he came upon a magical tree.

The tree stopped him before he chopped its branches and said, ‘Oh, kind sir, please spare my branches. If you spare me, I will provide you with golden apples.’

The oldest brother agreed but was feeling disappointed with how many apples the tree gave him.

Overcome by greed, the brother threatened to cut the entire tree if it didn’t provide him with more apples. But, instead of giving more apples, the tree showered him with hundreds of tiny needles. The brother fell to the ground, crying in pain as the sun began to set.

Soon, the younger brother became worried and went to search for his older brother. He searched until he found him at the trunk of the tree, lying in pain with hundreds of needles on his body.

He rushed to him and started to painstakingly remove each needle with love. Once the needles were out, the oldest brother apologized for treating his younger brother so badly. The magical tree saw the change in the older brother’s heart and gifted them with all the golden apples they could need.

12. A Glass of Milk

The Moral

No good deed goes unrewarded.

There once was a poor boy who spent his days going door-to-door selling newspapers to pay for school. One day, as he was walking his route, he started feeling low and weak. The poor boy was starving, so he decided to ask for food when he came to the next door.

The poor boy asked for food but was denied every time, until he reached the door of a girl. He asked for a glass of water, but seeing his poor state, the girl came back with a glass of milk. The boy asked how much he owed her for the milk, but she refused payment.

Years later, the girl, who was now a grown woman, fell sick. She went from doctor to doctor, but no one was able to cure her. Finally, she went to the best doctor in town.

The doctor spent months treating her until she was finally cured. Despite her happiness, she was afraid she couldn’t afford to pay the bill. But, when the hospital handed her the bill, it read, ‘Paid in full, with a glass of milk.’

13. The Ants and the Grasshopper

The Moral

There’s a time for work and a time for play.

One bright autumn day, a family of ants was busy working in the warm sunshine. They were drying out the grain they had stored up during the summer when a starving grasshopper came up. With his fiddle under his arm, the grasshopper humbly begged for a bite to eat.

“What!” cried the ants, “Haven’t you stored any food away for the winter? What in the world were you doing all summer?”

“I didn’t have time to store any food before winter,” the grasshopper whined. “I was too busy making music that the summer flew by.”

The ants simply shrugged their shoulders and said, “Making music, were you? Very well, now dance!” The ants then turned their backs on the grasshopper and returned to work.

14. The Bundle of Sticks

The Moral

There’s strength in unity.

Once upon a time, there was an old man who lived in a village with his three sons. Although his three sons were hard workers, they quarreled all the time. The old man tried to unite them but failed.

Months passed by, and the old man became sick. He asked his sons to remain united, but they failed to listen to him. At that moment, the old man decided to teach them a lesson — to forget their differences and come together in unity.

The old man summoned his sons, then proceeded to tell them, “I will provide you with a bundle of sticks. Separate each stick, and then break each into two. The one who finishes first will be rewarded more than the others.”

And so, the sons agreed. The old man provided them with a bundle of ten sticks each, and then asked the sons to break each stick into pieces. The sons broke the sticks within minutes, then proceeded to quarrel among themselves again.

The old man said, “My dear sons, the game is not yet over. I will now give you another bundle of sticks. Only this time, you will have to break them together as a bundle, not separately.”

The sons readily agreed and then tried to break the bundle. Despite trying their best, they could not break the sticks. The sons told their father of their failure.

The old man said, “My dear sons, see! Breaking every single stick individually was easy for you, but breaking them in a bundle, you could not do. By staying united, nobody can harm you. If you continue to quarrel, then anyone can quickly defeat you.”

The old man continued, “I ask that you stay united.” Then, the three sons understood there’s power in unity, and promised their father they would all stay together.

15. The Bear and the Two Friends

The Moral

A true friend will always support and stand by you in any situation.

One day, two friends were walking through the forest. They knew the forest was a dangerous place and that anything could happen. So, they promised to remain close to each other in case of any danger.

All of a sudden, a big bear was approaching them. One of the friends quickly climbed a nearby tree, leaving the other friend behind.

The other friend did not know how to climb, and instead, followed common sense. He laid down on the ground and remained there, breathless, pretending to be dead.

The bear approached the friend lying on the ground. The animal started to smell his ear before slowly wandering off again because bears never touch those who are dead.

Soon, the friend who hid in the tree came down. He asked his friend, “My dear friend, what secret did the bear whisper to you?” The friend replied, “The bear simply advised me never to believe a false friend.”

16. The Miser and His Gold

The Moral

A possession is as important as what it’s used for.

There once was an old miser who lived in a house with a garden. The old miser used to hide all his gold coins under stones in his garden.

Every night, before he went to bed, the miser went out into his garden to count his coins. He continued the same routine every day, but he never spent a single, golden coin.

One day, a thief saw the old miser hiding his coins. Once the old miser went back into his house, the thief went to the hiding place and took all the gold.

The following day, as the old man came out to count his coins, he found it was gone and started wailing loudly. His neighbor heard the cries and came running, asking what had happened. Upon learning what had occurred, the neighbor asked, “Why didn’t you just save the money inside your house where it would’ve been safe?”

The neighbor continued, “Having it inside the house would make it easier to access when you need to buy something.” “Buy something?” answered the miser, “I was never going to spend my gold.”

When hearing this, the neighbor picked up a stone and threw it. Then, he said, “If that’s the case, then save the stone. It’s as worthless as the gold you’ve lost. ”

17. The Dog At the Well

The Moral

Always listen to what elders say and don’t defy them.

A mother dog and her pups lived on a farm. On the farm, there was a well. The mother dog always told her pups never to go near or play around it.

One day, one of the pups was overcome by curiosity and wondered why they weren’t allowed to go near the well. So, he decided he wanted to explore it.

He went down to the well and climbed up the wall to peek inside. In the well, he saw his reflection in the water but thought it was another dog. The little pup got angry when his reflection was imitating him, so he decided to fight it.

The little pup jumped into the well, only to find there was no dog. He began to bark and bark until the farmer came to rescue him. The pup had learned his lesson and never went back to the well again.

18. Controlling Anger

The Moral

Anger is like a knife — one of the most dangerous weapons. When you use it, the wounds will heal, but the scars remain.

Once, there was a young boy. This boy had problems controlling his anger. When he got angry, he would say the first thing that came to mind, even if it affected people.

One day, his father gifted him a hammer and a bundle of nails, then said, “Whenever you get mad, hammer a nail into the backyard fence.”

In the first days, the boy used up half of the nails. Over the next weeks, he used up fewer nails, until his temper was under control. Then, his father asked the young boy to remove a nail for each day he didn’t lose his temper.

On the day when the boy removed his last nail, his father told him, “You have done good, boy. But, can you see the holes in the wall? The fence is never going to be the same. Likewise, when you say mean things in anger, you’ll leave a scar.”

19. The Leap at Rhodes

The Moral

It’s the deeds that count, not the boasting words.

Once, there was a man who visited foreign lands. When he returned, all he could talk about was the wonderful adventures he had and the great deeds he had done.

One of the feats he told was about a leap he made in a city called Rhodes.

“The leap was so great,” the man said. “No other man can make such a leap. Many persons in Rhodes saw me and can prove I am telling the truth.”

“No need for witnesses,” said one who was listening. “Suppose that this city is Rhodes, now show how far you can jump.”

20. The Wolf and the Sheep

The Moral

A person’s ulterior motives are easy to spot if someone is paying attention.

A wolf had gotten seriously hurt during a fight with a bear. He wasn’t able to move, and so, could not satisfy his thirst or hunger.

One day, a sheep passed by his hiding place, and so the wolf decided to call out to him. “Please fetch me some water,” said the wolf. “That might give me some strength to get some solid food.”

“Solid food!” the sheep said. “I suppose that means me. If I brought you something to drink, it would merely be to wash me down. Don’t speak to me about fetching a drink.”

How Moral Stories Benefit Children

Moral stories offer several benefits for children of all ages. They work to engage your child’s imagination, are entertaining, and can make your little one smile. Short moral stories work well at getting your child’s attention, keeping them focused during the length of the story.

However, the best moral stories will also teach a truth to your child. Children, especially younger ones, love repetition, and with moral stories, that’s the whole point. The more you read the same moral stories, the more your child will familiarize with the story and the moral lesson (1).

Reading Tip

When you read the story, remember to discuss the situations and events that occur, if your child is old enough. This is an excellent teachable moment, as well as providing an opportunity for bonding (2).

The Takeaway

Short moral stories for kids are fantastic for teaching valuable life lessons in a fun way children can understand. Short stories work well as they’re just long enough for your child to concentrate.

There’s a large selection of great stories online, and here you have 20 examples to get you started. When reading the story, try to discuss the content afterward with your child.

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15 Benefits of Reading to Children: Reasons to Read!

One of the most powerful things you can do for your child is to read with them.

Reading has numerous benefits for children, including a positive effect on development, communication, and school performance.

We’ve put together why reading is so important for children, and some great book ideas to get started.

Table of Contents

  • When Should You Start Reading To Children?
  • The Benefits of Reading to Children
  • Book Recommendations for Kids

When Should You Start Reading To Children?

Even when your baby is a newborn, it’s a great time to introduce reading. Here are some of the reasons why (1):

  • It gives you another bonding opportunity for snuggles and interaction.
  • Your child will be preparing, even when they don’t know it, for reading on their own someday.
  • It can help your baby develop language skills.
  • They’ll pick up on a variety of emotions.

The Benefits of Reading to Children

Here are some of the ways your child can benefit from reading.

1. Language Neural Connections

The neural connections in the brain are fueled by listening to someone reading so your child will get a vocab boost just by hearing you read. Listening to reading is shown to increase a baby’s receptive vocabulary (2). Receptive vocabulary means the words they understand.

2. Cognitive Development

When you’re reading to them, your child will pick up on the cognitive perks — they’ll start to take in what you’re saying and they’ll learn things about numbers, colors, shapes, animals, or anything else you’re reading about.

They’ll start to understand cause and effects, and their logical thinking ability will be more developed.

3. Fosters a Strong Relationship

The family that reads together stays together. It gives you two one more way to spend time bonding. You’ll have a lot of ways already, but there’s something especially relaxing about reading time.

Because you’re actively doing something, you won’t be able to concentrate on anything else but you and your baby. When you’re reading, there’s no way you’ll be able to surf your phone — you’ll be totally engaged in the moment. That’s good news for both you and your baby in terms of bonding.

4. Simply Fun

Having fun can be a benefit all on its own. It can cut down on the stress a child feels — and yes, children can have stress too, just like adults can.

Time spent having fun can lead to better sleep, more positive feelings, and even stronger relationships (3).

5. Calming Influence

Young children aren’t exactly known for being calm — especially when you want them to be. It seems they have a knack for getting wound up right when you most want them to wind down, like at bedtime.

Reading can help them calm down so you can both get some sleep. You may want to start a half-hour before bedtime. Tuck them in, dim the lights a bit, and read to them in a softer soothing voice.

6. Improves Communication

If you want to have a close relationship with your children where you can talk about anything that’s on your mind, reading is a good place to start.

When you read to your children, you do more than just say the words printed on the page. You interact — you ask them questions, they ask you some. You discuss how the people in the book are feeling and anything else that crosses your mind or your child’s mind.

That’s how communication grows — by sharing those little moments and building trust and conversation so eventually, you’ll be able to broach those bigger subjects.

7. Better Performance in School

Even the act of reading to your child can set them up for better grades in school. It doesn’t matter if they don’t understand the words you’re telling them yet. Early learning experiences like reading to your child will enhance their school performance (4).

They’ll learn to love reading or at least realize it’s important, and reading is a skill they’ll use in every subject they tackle in school.

8. Lengths Attention Span

So much of today’s world is working against our desire to help our children develop their attention spans. With video games, cell phones, and tablets, it can be hard to get a child to stick with something that takes a little more attention and dedication than they’re used to.

Reading is something that’s slower-paced than what your child is used to. And that’s a good thing in today’s click-bait world.

Pro Tip

If they are introduced at an earlier age to books and reading, it won’t be as much of a shock to their system. They’ll be used to the process and their attention spans will benefit from it.

9. Better Listeners

When your child doesn’t know how to read yet, their only clues about what’s happening in a book are the pictures they see and the words they hear you say.

You’re opening up a whole new world to them with the tale you’re spinning and they will be listening carefully, even when you don’t think they are. You’ll realize just how observant kids are someday when you’re trying to have a private conversation with your spouse or friend and suddenly realize your child is eavesdropping on every word you say!

Having that quiet time with you now will get them accustomed to listening instead of just being silent.

10.

Builds Imagination

Have you ever watched a movie version of a book you’ve read and been disappointed because it wasn’t quite how you’d envisioned it when you were reading the book? That’s your imagination at work.

Your child’s imagination can be unlocked by activities such as unsupervised play and reading. They get sucked into a make-believe world and they feel like they are part of the action. They imagine how they would feel or act if they were thrust into the situations the main characters find themselves in.

And for some children, reading a book makes them imagine their own tales. Most writers were first hardcore readers before they wrote a word of their own (5).

11. Raises IQ

Reading comprehension is kind of like having a superpower. It gives you the ability to understand complicated questions.

Remember those dreaded word problems in school when you were doing math? Those ones you had to use all your concentration on just to figure out how to compute what they were asking you for? Reading comprehension made solving those possible.

The way to answer a problem correctly is to first fully understand what it’s asking, and that’s what reading comprehension can do for you.

12. Improves Critical-Thinking Skills

It’s not enough just to listen to the words of a book to improve this skill though. You and your child will have to put in more effort than that.

The key isn’t just to actively listen to the tale, your child has to attempt to understand what they are reading or hearing to get the most out of the book. Encouraging your young child to do that may seem difficult, but all you have to do to get them started is to ask questions. One of the questions, for instance, can be what the main character should do to get themselves out of the jam they might find themselves in.

13. Helps Develop Empathy

If there is one thing this world needs more of, and one thing experts say children are losing, it’s empathy (6). Empathy is how well your child can understand someone else’s feelings.

To help develop their empathy, you can get books that will aid their ability to relate to other people and what they might be going through. There are a lot of books geared toward inclusion and how being bullied can make someone feel.

To assist with their empathy, you can ask questions while you are reading the book about how your child would feel if they were the main character. If they had a potty training accident, for instance, you can ask them if they would be sad or embarrassed.

14. Builds Coping Skills

Seeing how other people deal with their emotions can help your child learn to handle their own. They can learn important coping skills from reading or being read to.

Point out when a character is mad, sad, or disappointed. Show them the picture in the book that allows them to see that expression on the character’s face. That will help them recognize the emotion as well as figure out ways to deal with it.

15. Helps Through Life Stages

Life stages like potty training or transitioning to kindergarten is scary stuff for a young kid. I still remember being terrified to attend kindergarten. Books can help children who are going through these stages feel braver and ready to tackle a new challenge.

Book Recommendations for Kids

When you’re looking for books for your child, you need to not just consider the type of interests they have, but also their reading level. If you find books that are too hard for them to tackle, they’ll lose interest quickly and it will add to their frustration.

Here is how you can determine if the level will be good for your child:

  • Most children’s books have the reading level listed on the front or back cover.
  • Look at how difficult the words are. If you’ve been listening to your child read, you should be able to tell if they’ll be able to handle it.
  • Use an app to help you determine the level. With apps, like Literacy Leveler, you just scan in the ISBN code on the book, and you can look up the reading level online.
  • Ask for recommendations from teachers, fellow parents, and librarians.
  • Use the Accelerated Reader website to find out the difficulty level of a book.

Good Ideas for Babies

  • Books Ideas for 1-Year-Olds
  • Book Ideas for 2-Year Olds

Book Ideas for Toddlers

Looking for more ideas for your toddler? Read our in-depth guides:

  • Interactive Books Recommendations
  • Books Ideas for 3-Year-Olds
  • Book Ideas for 4-Year Olds

Book Ideas for Preschoolers

Want more ideas for preschoolers? Check out these great reads by age group:

  • Books Ideas for 4-Year-Olds
  • Book Ideas for 5-Year Olds
  • Book Ideas for 6-Year Olds

Book Ideas for Elementary School Children

Want more ideas for elementary school kids? Check out our guides!

  • Books Ideas for 7-Year-Olds
  • Book Ideas for 8-Year Olds
  • Book Ideas for 9-Year Olds
  • Book Ideas for 10-Year Olds
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Funny and not very stories with morals.

1. One day a mouse noticed that the owner of the farm had set a mousetrap. She told the chicken, the sheep and the cow about it. But they all answered: "The mousetrap is your problem, it has nothing to do with us!"

A little later, a snake fell into a mousetrap and bit the farmer's wife. In an attempt to cure her, they prepared chicken soup for his wife. Then they slaughtered a sheep to feed everyone who came to visit the sick woman. And, finally, they slaughtered a cow to adequately feed the guests at the funeral. nine0003

And all this time, the mouse was watching through a hole in the wall and thinking about things that had nothing to do with anyone!

MORAL: If something doesn't directly concern you, don't think that it won't hit you on the head.

2. The eagle was sitting on a tree, resting and doing nothing.
The little rabbit saw the eagle and asked:
- "Can I also sit like you and do nothing?"
"Of course, why not," he replied.
The rabbit sat down under a tree and began to rest. Suddenly a fox appeared, grabbed the rabbit and ate it. nine0003

MORAL: To sit and do nothing, you have to sit very, very high.

3. A horse fell ill on the farm.

Veterinarian:
If he doesn't get up in the morning, I'll put him to sleep.
The horse did not get up in the morning. A ram was lying nearby:
- Come on, get up or you'll die!
The horse got up.
Farmer:
- It's a miracle! This must be celebrated! On this occasion, we will slaughter a sheep!

MORAL: Never mind your own business (but don't forget the mousetrap story). nine0003

4. Three people moved stones. One of them was asked: - What are you doing?
He wiped the sweat off his forehead and replied, “I’m hunched over.”
They approached the second and asked: - What are you doing?
He rolled up his sleeves and said matter-of-factly: “I make money.
They asked the third: - What are you doing?
He looked up and said: “I’m building the Temple. ”

MORAL: Life is filled with meaning only for those who pursue a great goal.

5. A taxi driver brings a well-known millionaire in the city. He pays exactly according to the counter. nine0011 Taxi driver:
- I gave your son a ride yesterday, so he left me 100 dollars for tea.
- Well, so what do you want: his dad is a millionaire, and I'm an orphan.

MORAL: Only those who have earned their own money truly know their value.

6. Naked wife

The man went to shower as soon as his wife got out. Suddenly, a bell rang from the front door, and a steamed woman, wrapped in a towel, went to see who was brought there. Neighbor Bob was on the threshold. Before the lady could even say a word, Bobby exclaimed, "If you drop that towel, I'll give you 800 bucks." After a little thought, the woman decided to show her beautiful body to her neighbor and did what he asked, appearing completely naked in front of him. After admiring for a few seconds, the neighbor gave 800 dollars and retreated. nine0003

Throwing on the towel again, a little embarrassed, but pleased, the lady returned home. "Who was it?" the husband asked. "Our neighbor Bob," replied the unsuspecting "stripper." "Excellent! Did he accidentally remember the $800 he owes me?” the man asked.

Moral of the story: do not hide important information from people who are "in the same boat" with you, and then you can avoid undesirable consequences. And secondly, there are no miracles and there are no “honest” too good offers either. nine0003


7. The Boss and the Genie

The secretary, the manager and their boss were all walking together for lunch. Unexpectedly, an old oil lamp was found on the way. After rubbing it in an attempt to examine the drawing, they accidentally called the genie, who invited everyone to fulfill one wish. The secretary volunteered first. “I want to be in the Bahamas, ride there on a speedboat and not think about any worries!”. No sooner said than done, the secretary took off forever to rest on the islands. “I wish to be in Hawaii, relax in the company of a personal masseuse and have an endless supply of cocktails!” The manager exclaimed and also went on vacation. "Well, now it's your turn," the genie turned to the boss. After thinking for a moment, he replied: “Let those two idlers be back in the office after lunchtime is over.” nine0003

Moral of the story: Always let your boss speak first.


8. The priest and psalm 129

On his way home, the priest saw a nun on the side of the road, stopped and offered her a ride. She agreed. Sitting in the car, the woman crossed her legs so that the dress rose, revealing pretty slender legs. During the trip, the priest could not take his eyes off her feet, as a result of which he almost got into an accident. Having somehow managed to control, he casually put his hand on the nun's leg. She looked at the priest and said: “Father - do you remember Psalm 129? The priest, embarrassed, withdrew his hand. After some time, the lustful clergyman again attached himself to the nun's leg. “So you remember Psalm 129?” she asked again. “I beg your pardon, sister, but the flesh is so weak,” the priest tried to justify himself, removed his hand, and was no longer naughty until the end of the trip. Soon they arrived at their destination, the nun got out of the car, and looking coquettishly at the priest, went about her business. Having reached the church, the clergyman nevertheless decided to refresh his memory and take a look at this psalm 129. It said: "Go on and seek, only in this way will you find glory."

Moral of the story: If you are not well informed about your work, you may miss out on great opportunities.


9. Lazy hare

One crow sat on a tree and did nothing all day. A hare ran past, saw a serene crow, he liked the picture, and he asked: “Can I sit like this all day, relax and mess around?” “Of course, why not?” replied the bird. Then the hare blissfully fell apart under a tree, closed his eyes and forgot about all the troubles. Suddenly, a fox jumped out from behind the bushes, saw a relaxed hare and ate it. nine0003

Moral of the story: In order to sit and do nothing, you have to be very, very high.


10. Crazy turkey

A turkey is talking to a buffalo: “I want to climb this tree, but I don’t have enough strength.” "Don't worry," says the buffalo. “Here, peck at my manure, there are a lot of useful substances, you will gain strength and energy.” The turkey followed the advice, pecked at the poop and managed to climb onto the lower branches of the tree. The next day, repeating the process, energy drinks, the bird jumped already in the middle of the tree. In the end, after four days, the turkey, fairly sagging from manure, managed to climb to the very top. Seeing a crazy bird on top of a tree, the farmer knocked it out with a well-aimed shot from a gun. nine0003

Moral of the story: All sorts of rubbish and trashy deeds can push you to the very top, but they won't keep you there.


11. Bird in manure

A small bird flew to warmer climes, but winter overtook her. The poor creature froze and fell down in the middle of the field. A cow passing by accidentally piled a whole pile of manure on top of the bird. Being under this heap, the bird unexpectedly found that it warmed up, it became warm and good. She even burst into tears from pleasure. A passing cat heard the chirping and decided to find out where it came from. Finding a “chirping” cow cake, the cat tore it open, pulled out the bird and ate it. nine0003

Moral of the story:
1. Not everyone who puts a heap on you is an enemy.
2. Not everyone who gets you out of the dung is a friend.
3. If you are buried up to your ears in poop, sit there and keep your mouth closed..

- "Underpants on a chandelier - all the money in the house."
The Russian man is a practical man. He collected all the underpants that he found and hung on the chandelier. Waiting for money...
At night, a call . .. a man picks up the phone, the voice of Prime Minister Putin is on the phone:
- “Man, take at least part of your shorts off the chandelier, there is not so much money in the treasury!”
Morality is magic by magic, but you need to correct for reality...

13. A hare is sitting on a stump, writing something. The fox runs past.
What are you writing, hare?
- Diploma work.
- About what?
- About how hares eat foxes.
— Yes, where did you see this?
— Let's go, I'll show you...
After a while, the hare sits again and writes something. The wolf is running.
— What are you writing, oblique?
- Diploma on how hares eat wolves.
- Are you crazy?
- Come with me...
Further, the hare writes, the bear approaches.
- What are you writing?
- Diploma on how hares eat bears.
- Where is this seen?
— Let's go, I'll show you...
The last picture: a cave, a mountain of fox, wolf, bear bones. In the middle, gnawing at a bone, lies a huge lion. nine0011 Moral: it is not the topic of the diploma that is important, what is important is who your leader is!

14. Once seen from sleepwalkers,
Mouse got into a beer keg,
And in the beer began to drown. “Sink! Save someone!
I'm dying in Zhiguli beer! Oh, how simple my death is!
I would be 100 times happier to die in the paws of a cat!”
"Well, well," said the cat from the window.
“I can pull you out, but will you turn into food ?!”
"Hurry save! nine0011 I'm going to the bottom! 100 times dearer to me is death in the wild!”
And the mouse from death in alcohol, was fortunately saved.
But finding himself in terrible paws,
Trembling to the tip of the tail,
Beer spreading the smell, the mouse eluded the cat!
“Where is your word?! Your Honor?!
You promised to let me eat you!”
"Oh, what are you!?" the mouse squeaked,
“I promised this drunk !!!”
Morality is knocking right at the door: Do not believe a drunk woman !!! nine0003

Moral principles - definition, norms, real life examples

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Every person lives in a society and follows certain rules of behavior. One part of the rules is regulated by law, the other by moral norms. In this article, we will learn what moral norms are and what principles exist in the modern world.

Definition of moral principles

Moral principles is a set of moral rules that apply to an individual, group of individuals, or society as a whole. Most often acquired from childhood.

In other words, moral principles are requirements that must be strictly followed in all life situations.

The formation of moral principles is strongly influenced by upbringing, family relations, religion, environment, culture. What seemed unacceptable and reprehensible some time ago may become the norm and not cause censure. And vice versa: some things that were considered ordinary can become completely unacceptable. nine0003

It is moral principles that allow a person to choose the right path in life and influence decision-making in accordance with his conscience throughout his life path, give him a general direction of activity.

Any person goes through several stages of moral development at different stages of his life, and his own moral principles can change under the influence of external factors.

Moral principles are something that is formed and can change throughout life, is relevant for a particular society and for each person separately, without these principles the existence of a harmonious society is impossible. nine0003

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The history of the term "morality"

It is impossible to say exactly when society first thought about what morality is.

The earliest source that describes this concept is the parables of Solomon (mid-10th century BC). During the life of Homer, conscience, virtue, honor, legality were well known to society. nine0003

Confucius (VI-V centuries BC) wrote about issues of morality and morality, who considered mercy, philanthropy and integrity to be the most important universal human values.

Cicero made a great contribution to the formation of the concept of morality. He talked a lot about the relationship between ethics, morality and law. He sought to show that it is impossible to separate the concepts of law and morality, since together they allow us to rid society of chaos and create order. Of course, Cicero, who lived in the 1st century BC, was far from a pioneer in this topic. But it was he who introduced the definition of morality, which we are guided by today. nine0003

Pythagoras, Socrates and Plato also raised questions of morality and morality in their contemporary society, gave examples of highly moral behavior by the standards of that time.

The term "morality" originates from the Latin moralitas, moralis, mores - tradition, folk custom, behavior, and later - temper, character, mores. Ancient Roman authors translated the word as "corresponding to good morals." In the 18th century, a similar word was used in French and meant "equal to the law, legal." The word "morality" also came to Russian through French ( la morale ) in the 18th century.

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Approaches to understanding morality

There are four approaches to understanding morality:

  1. Religious. Its adherents believed that the source of morality is the absolute. To curb his passions, a person is forced to turn to God for help. Faith in him helps to fulfill the absolute rules of conduct.

  2. Evolutionary. In the process of natural selection, a person acquires and inherits a certain line of behavior. According to this version, morality comes from the instinct of people's sociability.

  3. Naturalistic. The origin of morality is nature. The human mind defines natural moral values ​​as good or evil.

  4. Culturological. Morality is one of the elements of the culture of society.

Basic functions of morality

Morality performs the following functions:

  • Integrative function of morality — harmonizes the inner state of a person.

  • The evaluative function of morality is connected with a person's ability to determine the criteria for his own and others' actions based on the concepts of good and evil. Moral assessment is expressed in praise, censure, agreement, etc.

  • The regulatory function of morality - determines the activity, taking into account the needs of the surrounding people, the whole society. Morality establishes social norms that must be observed, imposes sanctions and maintains rules of conduct. nine0003

  • The controlling function of morality is to check the compliance of human behavior with the norms that are established in society. Control of oneself on the basis of condemnation of others or conscience.

  • The educational function of morality is a mechanism for teaching life in society: how to learn to reckon with other people. Morality teaches to understand and accept their needs and interests, forms the personality of the individual, his worldview and personal concepts of good and evil.

    • nine0209

    The value-oriented function of morality forms the life values ​​and moral goals for each person, lays the concept of the meaning of life.

Classification of moral principles

A person realizes moral principles as behavior that determines the nature of relationships in society.

The following moral principles are distinguished:

  • The principle of humanism is the highest human value, which is expressed in love for one's neighbor, protection of dignity, in recognition of the right to a happy existence and self-realization. nine0003

  • The principle of altruism is a moral norm that calls for selfless support to those in need.

  • The principle of collectivism is the possibility of coexistence to achieve a common goal. It consists of cooperation, mutual assistance, democracy.

  • The principle of justice - equal rights and freedoms for all members of society. Social and economic benefits are available to all without exception and are distributed depending on the amount of effort on the part of each person. nine0003

  • The principle of mercy is the willingness to sympathize and help those who ask, regardless of social status and appearance.

  • The principle of peacefulness is based on the recognition of human life as the highest value. Assumes respect for national and regional characteristics, state sovereignty. Peacefulness contributes to the maintenance of public order, mutual understanding of generations.

  • The principle of patriotism is love for the motherland, concern for it, willingness to defend it from enemies, pride in state achievements, respect for history and respect for the national heritage. nine0003

  • The principle of tolerance means respect, acceptance and correct understanding of the rich diversity of cultures of our world, forms of self-expression and ways of manifestation of human individuality. In other words, the acceptance of cultural diversity without the desire to suppress or correct them.

Moral principles of communication

Moral norms and principles in the context of communication:

  • self-respect and showing respect for interlocutors; nine0003

  • priority of other people's or public interests over personal ones;

  • conscious avoidance of the use of life's blessings in order to achieve the goal;

  • unleashing complex social problems and working in extreme conditions for the sake of higher goals or ideals;

  • responsibility and free care for those in need;

  • building relationships with members of society on the basis of kindness and benevolence; nine0003

  • recognition of the inviolability of the personal dignity of every person;

  • courtesy and respect for the interlocutor, the use of generally accepted ethical standards;

  • communication is a two-way process, not a monologue, each participant contributes to it;

  • equality of parties involved in communication, regardless of gender, age, social status;

  • sincerity in expressing feelings, truthfulness of the transmitted information; nine0003

  • clarity and accessibility for all participants in communication;

  • the sequence and correct order of communication elements, for example, question-answer, prompting for a response.

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