Stories are of different types. There are sub-genres of stories like fantasy, humorous, mythological or moral. The most popular stories always contain some sort of moral lessons. Whether it is Aesop’s fables from Greece or Panchatantra tales from India, all the popular stories convey values and lessons. Even fairy tales like Cinderella or Alice in Wonderland can be educative for kids. If in Cinderella, one gets to learn about unpredictability of life, Alice in Wonderland cautions children against wandering too far from their homes. Stories have moral that greatly impact the mind and personality of the kids. They positively affect the physical, social and emotional development of the kids.
All the cultures, whether it is Indian, Greek, Roman, Egyptian or Chinese, have a strong culture of stories. Myths, legends, fables, fairy tales, folklores, parables etc are essential elements of the journey travelled by human civilization over the course of the history. The tales are passed from one generation to another and that’s how we have kept thriving on moral lessons inculcated in us with the help of these stories. When parents or teachers narrate stories with moral lessons to the kids, they do a great service to the nation as kids are the future. All the great epics and religious texts are great source of moral stories.
Even story as simple and evergreen as tortoise and the hare has wonderful moral value. It teaches us the virtue of slow and steady wins the race. Moral stories help kids in identifying what is right and what is wrong, what is good and what is bad. The most well known stories with morals are fables. Famous fables help in teaching importance of values like hard work, honesty, bravery, patience and integrity.
Apart from Aesop fables, Panchatantra, Hitopadesha, Jataka Tales, epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata, plenty of other short story books have tales with morals. For instance, ‘The Ugly Duckling’ by Hans Christian Anderson is an inspiring tale of transformation of an ugly duckling into a graceful swan. ‘Red Riding Hood’ by Brothers Grimm teaches the value of bravery and strength. Many of you must have read ‘The Boy Who cried Wolf’ that highlights the importance of speaking out the truth.
Moral stories are those stories that impart moral values and virtues young ones. Most of the parents read moral stories to their children when they are young so they grow up to be honest, courageous, and smart enough to face life. These small stories heard during childhood helps a child mould up into a generous human.
Here you can browse some of the best moral stories that help you apply the moral learnt through these in everyday life.