“When a child feels truly seen, they begin to see themselves differently.”
As a storyteller, I have often watched little eyes widen with wonder, giggle with glee, or glisten with the quiet ache of knowing. Stories do what no instruction manual can — they bypass resistance and speak directly to the soul.
In my years of being with children — listening, guiding, facilitating — I’ve come to realize that what they need most is not correction, but connection. Not the pointing finger, but the open hand.
When we meet a child in a moment of mischief, forgetfulness, or emotion, our instinct might be to correct. But what if we paused? What if we reached for a story instead — one that helps them see, feel, and reflect, without shame or fear?
Let me take you into two such stories: The Lizard’s Tail and The Lion’s Feast. They are not just tales for children. They are quiet mirrors for us — the adults too.
Here’s one story that reminded me how growth often happens quietly.
The Lizard’s Tail
By Shobha Viswanath
The lizard then goes in search of a replacement. He meets a squirrel, a monkey, a cow, a dog, a cat,
and even an elephant. Each one refuses — not out of selfishness, but because their tail is part of who they are.
The squirrel says, “I need mine to run.”
The monkey says, “Mine helps me swing.”
The cow swats flies, the dog wags, the cat doesn’t hear… and so on.
Eventually, the lizard returns home disappointed. But his mother simply smiles and shows him —
his tail has already begun to grow back.
As we read and sang the song together:
🎵
“I asked the squirrel, give your tail, give your tail…
No! No! said the squirrel, it helps me run so well!”
I watched the children laugh, repeat the lines, and slowly settle into the deeper truth.
This gentle tale reminds us that children don’t always need fixing — they need time, trust, and presence.
Growth often happens quietly, while we’re busy offering solutions.
Like the lizard’s mother, we must learn to wait with love and say, “You’re already growing —
even if you don’t see it yet.”
Another story that sparked joy and learning in my students was
The Lion’s Feast
By Lavanya Karthik
In this story, we meet a lovable old couple—Muthu Mama and Muthu Mami—living in a quiet forest hut.
Every Friday, they go to buy groceries.
One day, on their way back, they come face-to-face with a roaring lion. The children loved that part—
we roared together with all our might! Thinking quickly, Muthu Mami says,
“Please come to our home tonight! We’ll serve you hot dosa, chutney, and sambhar.”
The lion agrees and lets them go.
Back home, the couple cooks a feast—golden dosas, spicy chutney, and steaming sambhar.
The aroma fills the air and so does their appetite. “Just one dosa,” they say… and one becomes many…
until the entire feast is gone!
When the lion arrives and finds nothing, he roars in fury. Muthu Mama and Muthu Mami run away in
fear, leaving the lion behind in their home.
The children giggled with delight, asked questions like,
“Why didn’t they save some?”
“Will the lion eat them next time?”
And then, with full voices and knocking hands, we sang:
🎵
“Somebody’s knocking at my door…
Somebody’s knocking at my door…”
Knock! Knock! Knock!”
Beneath the giggles was a quiet understanding — A promise made must be kept.
Even to a lion.
The Story Is the Bridge
Neither of these stories comes with moral lectures. There’s no finger wagging, no forced conclusions.
Just space. Space to laugh, feel, reflect — and choose better next time.
That’s what children need. That’s what we all need.
When we tell stories, we don't just fill time — we fill hearts.
We shift from managing behaviour to meeting the child. From punishing the mistake to pausing beside it.
So the next time a child acts out, fibs, or forgets — instead of rushing to correct,
consider reaching for a story.
Because stories connect.
And connection… transforms.
Correction changes behaviour. Connection changes lives.
by-
Ms.Subhashini.N
Language Enhancement Expert
The Indian Public School-Erode International
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