© Storyberries 2023

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LET’S DISCUSS THE STORIES ~ IDEAS FOR TALKING WITH KIDS

Co-operation

1. If Pirate Petey and Dread Pirate Bunnikins did not agree to open a carrot shop together, what do you think might have happened to the carrot supply at sea?

2. Do you think it was better that they decided to co-operate? Why or why not?

3. Can you think of a way that you co-operated recently? How do you think it made things better?

Bedtime Story written by Jade Maitre

Illustrated by Faishal Aziz

Music Video by “Tiki Bar Mixer” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Island Meet and Greet” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Master of the Feast” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Ancient Mystery Waltz (Presto)” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Fiddles McGinty” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Lord of the Land” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Moonlight Beach” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The post Carrot Shenanigans with Pirate Petey! first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

© Storyberries 2023

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LET’S CHAT ABOUT THE STORY ~ IDEAS FOR TALKING WITH KIDS

Gratitude

1. In this story, Lulah is very happy with her beautiful day before she meets the fish. Why do you think she is enjoying her day?

2. Lulah ends up having a very nice adventure. Why do you think the fish wants to give her a gift, even though Lulah feels she already has everything she needs?

Community, Co-operation

1. In this story, the fish wants to help Lulah because she helped him. And instead the whale helps Lulah. Then the fish helps the whale. What do you think this says about what can happen when we help people?

Bedtime Story for Kids written by Jade Maitre

Illustrated by Anna Vilchynska

Book design by Jade Maitre

Music Video by “Starting Out Waltz Allegretto” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Devonshire Waltz Andante” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Ascending the Vale” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Starting Out Waltz Vivace” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The post Lulah, The Fish and the Whale first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

© Storyberries 2021

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LET’S CHAT ABOUT THE STORY ~ IDEAS FOR TALKING WITH KIDS

Community, Co-operation

1. In this story, Kurrum has the problem of having dirty teeth, and the baby birds have the problem of being hungry. How do they come together to solve both of their problems?

2. What do you think this story might say about co-operation?

Health

1. Why do you think it’s important to brush our teeth twice a day?

2. What other things should you do every day, to keep your body healthy?

Short Story for Kids written by Prarthana Gururaj

Illustrations by Yulia Zhigulova

Music Video from zapsplat.com

The post Smile, Crocodile! first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

© Polly Humphrey 2020

Bedtime Story written and illustrated by Polly Humphrey

Let’s Chat About The Stories ~ Ideas for Talking With Kids

Co-operation

1. How do the toys in this story co-operate to find the treasure?

2. What do you think is helpful about co-operation with our friends?

About the Author:

Polly Humphrey and her dad wrote and illustrated their first children’s book, TEDDY BEAR PIRATE, based on stories they would make up before bedtime. Polly is a little girl who is visually impaired and has albinism, and is very creative and wants to be a book illustrator when she grows up. In her book, all the crew of the HMS Seashell are all based on Polly’s favourite toys and she enjoys imagining their individual characters as they sail the seas.

Captain Kid’s Treasure is the first story, and she has several more oceangoing adventures for the toys. She plans to release a series of books about Teddy Bear Pirate and his crew.

Teddy Bear Pirate | Free Kids Books Online | Bedtime Stories 

Teddy Bear Pirate and his friends are looking for treasure!

URL: https://www.storyberries.com/bedtime-stories-teddy-bear-pirate-short-stories-for-kids/

Author: Polly Humphrey

Editor's Rating:
5

The post Teddy Bear Pirate first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

Greed is the excessive desire to acquire, consume or possess. It is related to envy – feeling hostility towards someone else who is seen to have more advantage. Envy can carry feelings of sadness, anger, jealousy or resentment. It is usually felt most in children who find it hard to get their needs met; and therefore feel frustrated or insecure, and is often connected to low self esteem. 

Accepting that greed and envy are a natural tendency.

Even from a very young age we can see envy playing out in children. They might  express it in the form of squabbles and tantrums, when they can’t have something they want.  If unchecked; feelings of greed, jealousy or envy can grow and intensify over time.

Why do kids find it so hard to share?

It is not easy for young children to understand the concept of property or to distinguish what is theirs, and what belongs to someone else. If something catches their attention, they take it as if it were their own. They can also find it hard to lend their belongings to others. Forcing children to share is unhelpful – children may see the forced act as a form of punishment; it can spark resentment instead of generosity, thus causing the opposite of what was intended.

Helping kids to express what they need.

Children need to learn to ask for what they want, and also to be helped to understand that at times their requests will be refused. In this article, Storyberries offers free books and practical suggestions for encouraging sharing and co-operation.

Talking about sharing in an age-appropriate way

Young children will not understand the concept of sharing or its implications. Just tell them it’s good and encourage them  to share. With older children we can encourage empathy and compassion for the child who doesn’t have what they have, thus delving deeper into the implications of sharing. By helping our children understand the feelings and realities of those around them, we can naturally foster the value of sharing.

Try not to worry – it takes time to learn to share!

Learning to share is a long process, with normal setbacks. Most of us learn best when we are feeling relaxed, so it helps if, as adults, we can let go of our own worries and frustration.

Notice when kids are sharing well

Telling children they are selfish does not help them to share. Labels, far from helping, make situations worse. If a child hears repeatedly they are selfish, they will end up believing it, and that of course is what we want to avoid! Instead, you might say “I love seeing you being generous with your toys!” or “Look how happy your friend Charlie is when you share with him!”

Encourage kids to play together

Children learn best when learning is playful and practical. Arrange for your child to play as much as possible with more children (if there are older children who already know how to share, even better).

Being a role model ourselves

We can set a positive example, and be a mirror for our children, by being generous ourselves.

Share your gifts with the world!

Participating in community activities that promote solidarity and generosity, and inviting the children to participate as much as possible. In this way we can help them to recognise the privileges, strengths and resources they have, and give them confidence that their sharing is making a positive difference to their own and other people’s lives. 

 

Some Free Books About Greed and Sharing at Storyberries

Muncha Buncha Luncha

Kids will love this poem about a child with the nickname of Luncha Buncha who can’t help eating everyone else’s lunches! The minute their backs are turned, Muncha Buncha eats everything, in all sorts of funny combinations! A great poem for talking about greed, personal belongings and sharing.

Numpurrs

Come and see how twenty adorable cats work together to create a wonderful feast. A super book to encourage sharing and co-operation. It’s also a brilliant book for young readers who are learning to count.

Greedy Pig

Everyone in the Guts family loves spaghetti night! Peter Guts is so excited, and so keen to eat lots, that he doesn’t notice that something very unusual is happening! His brothers do, and between them they learn the valuable lesson of sharing.

Article by Luzmery M. Romero Gamboa and Fleur Rodgers

Luzmery works in the area of clinical psychology as a psychotherapist for children, adolescents and families. Since 2016, she has run a Psychological Center in Venezuela called Psicoluz. She offers workshop facilitations to parents, is involved in recreational activities for children, and has been working as a freelancer since 2017 performing online psychotherapy. 

Fleur is a meditation teacher in France and uses a compassion and loving-kindness based approach to meditation and slow-minded living. Fleur posts regularly to Instagram @rodgers.fleur . She has two children, is a qualified teacher in adult education and is the founder of Timeouttobreathe.com 

The post Managing greed and encouraging kids to share first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

© Storyberries 2021

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LET’S CHAT ABOUT THE STORY ~ IDEAS FOR TALKING WITH KIDS

Co-operation, Community

1. How do the sea creatures work together to save themselves and others from the plastic bags?

2. Why do the sea creatures tear the bags up in the story? What would you have done?

3. Why do you think people sometimes work together to make things better for everyone?

Environment

1. How do you think you could prevent plastic from ending up in our oceans?

Short Story for Kids written by Andrea Kaczmarek

Illustrations by Nicola Anne Botha

Music video and sound effects from zapsplat.com, “Frozen Star” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0, License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

About the Illustrator:

After spending 14 years in the hospitality industry, I was afforded the special opportunity to stay home with my two beautiful young sons to help focus on their schooling and development. During this time, I was delighted and privileged to also rediscover my love for the arts. I have been taking the opportunity to refine my skill set, learn some new skills and pick up on current technology which serves the artistic community. Few people ever have the privilege of making their passion their pursuit as well and making a career of it, but I am finally in a position to attempt to do just that. With the support of my family, I am enjoying every moment I spend creating my treasured illustrations and showing my sons what is possible when passion meets perseverance.

You can follow Nicola’s work at her Instagram account @nicolaanneillustrates

The post Lemon Fish Is Sour first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

© Storyberries 2021

LET’S CHAT ABOUT THE STORY ~ IDEAS FOR TALKING WITH KIDS

Co-operation

1. How did Polly, Petronella and the pirates work together to find the treasure?

2. Do you think a pirate could sail the seas without a team? Why or why not?

Short Story for Kids written by Andrea Kaczmarek

Illustrations by Charu Jain
Music Video zapsplat.com

The post Polly Pirate Princess first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

Many children are gentle at heart, but what is not practiced is forgotten, and kindness is a virtue that is also learned. The art of being a good, kind, empathetic and co-operative person is best begun in early childhood.

How does being kind help our kids?

If children can create an environment of peace around themselves, and not act from a place of selfishness or aggressiveness, they are more likely to be appreciated by others and have healthier self-esteem.

Kindness helps everyone

Kind and compassionate children have a greater sensitivity to people, animals and the planet, which results in a better world.

How do I nurture kindness?

Please read on….Storyberries offers free children’s books, and tips for parents, on the valuable virtue of kindness.

The power of gratitude

Children who know how to be grateful for their families, the people around them, the toys they play with, the opportunity to study, and for their home, develop more empathy and compassion for other people. A grateful child will often be more likely to show kindness and compassion. Find ways to encourage gratitude in your child daily, and show gratitude yourself to provide them with regular modelling for a grateful attitude to life.

Real acts of kindness

Doing social deeds is also an education in kindness. By watching your example, and joining in as appropriate, children get used to giving empathy and acting in kindness. Raising money for a charity or another good cause, offering our time to collect items for those most in need, raising funds for sick children, or finding homes for abandoned cats and dogs, are just some examples.

It’s fun to do things together!

Children are generally very supportive of the people around them, and this is crucial in fostering goodness. They are easily motivated because participation excites them so much. Feeling integrated pleases them and their curiosity gives them wings. Joining in is fun, and if we integrate them into household activities they will gradually acquire the habit of being responsible collaborators. This is very advantageous for them because they then don’t see routine tasks as a burden, but as an activity to enjoy doing together.

Nurturing emotional intelligence

Children need to be able to recognize and manage their own emotions in order to understand others. We can talk about emotions and feelings with them whenever we have the chance, and also encourage our children to give expression to how they feel. The goal of emotional intelligence is to cultivate goodness, making it grow alongside empathy and love.

Practising patience in communication

This life-enriching skill can also be one of the most difficult to learn, but it’s all about trying again and again. A patient child can listen to others without being disturbed. Listening does not mean debating or having to agree with what is said; it is about waiting and then finding the right moment to express ourselves.

Loving kindness

Using many affectionate words and loving, tender gestures (and not only when we want to congratulate or reward) is really important. Spontaneous acts of affection are also a very effective way to convey warmth and kindness. “Just because” moments are easy to foster when children are feeling calm, and they can be very simple – we don’t need to go out of our way to do special things.

 

Some Free Books About Kindness At Storyberries

‘Please’ and ‘Thank You’ Simha!

In this lovely book exploring the importance of good manners, Simha learns that his friends feel happier, and are more willing to co-operate, when he treats them with kindness and good manners.

My Best Friend Crow

A beautiful tale of a young girl who feels sad that her grandmother chases away the crows when she feeds the pigeons in the park. Through her acts of kindness Rusty becomes best friends with Crow.

The Fairy Garden

The fairies at the bottom of the garden are delighted to find gifts left out for them by a girl and her golden cat. The kindness of the young girl builds trust and soon they all become friends.

 

Article by Luzmery M. Romero Gamboa and Fleur Rodgers

Luzmery works in the area of clinical psychology as a psychotherapist for children, adolescents and families. Since 2016, she has run a Psychological Center in Venezuela called Psicoluz. She offers workshop facilitations to parents, is involved in recreational activities for children, and has been working as a freelancer since 2017 performing online psychotherapy. 

Fleur is a meditation teacher in France and uses a compassion and loving-kindness based approach to meditation and slow-minded living. Fleur posts regularly to Instagram @rodgers.fleur . She has two children, is a qualified teacher in adult education and is the founder of Timeouttobreathe.com 

The post Helping kids to be kind first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

“Not fair.” Wendi was cross. “You promised we could go to the climbing park.”

“But, it is going to rain, and the climbing park is outdoors.” Mum shook her head.

Wendi looked out of the window. “But it isn’t raining, just clouds, it isn’t raining at all…”

“The weather lady says so, and she knows, rain in the afternoon.” Mum looked out of the window.

“I expect that weather lady got it wrong.” Wendi went to her bedroom.

She stared out of her bedroom window. “Silly weather lady,” she whispered – and then the rain started.

“Oh.” Wendi looked up at the sky. “Not so silly weather lady.”

“We’ll go to the climbing park another day.” Mum watched as the rain splashed.

“How does the weather lady know about the weather.” Wendi asked.

“Well, she has got a weather station, I think.” Mum was not sure.

“Grandpa might know; we’ll ask him tomorrow.”

And that’s what Wendi did, she asked her Grandpa.

“We can build a little weather station in the garden if you like, Wendi,” Grandpa explained.” You’ll need a wind vane to see how the wind is blowing, we can make that”

“We can make a rain gauge, to measure how much rain has fallen.”

“And, I’ve got a good thermometer for outdoors.”

“A thermometer, what is that? Wendi was puzzled.

Grandpa laughed “A thermometer measures the temperature, how warm or cold it is.”

“Thermometer.” Wendi was pleased with her new word.

“And last of all, we need a Barometer, that’s a big word too, Wendi.” Grandpa explained “A barometer tells us what the air pressure is, I’ve got one, too.”

“But what’s air pressure?” Wendi asked.

“Well, if the air pressure changes, the weather will change.”

Grandpa laughed and promised to help Wendi build a little garden weather station.

Grandpa and Wendi worked hard.

Wendi made the wind vane with paper cups on a stick. “Like a pinwheel.” Wendi laughed.

They put up a bright ‘Windsock’, silly name, with red, yellow and blue ribbons too. “It isn’t a sock at all.” Wendi stuck the ribbons on. “But we can see how windy the wind is.”

The rain gauge was easy, a glass jar with the measures written on the side. They put it into the grass, so it couldn’t get knocked over.

The Barometer and the Thermometer were easy too, and they found a good place near Wendi’s playhouse. And Grandpa made a stand, so Wendi could check every day.

“And now the most important thing, Wendi…”

Grandpa fixed a chart on the wall of her playhouse. “You have to keep a chart, a list of all the wind, rain and temperature changes. That’s when you’ll see how the weather is changing. Then you really will be a weathergirl.”

All Wendi’s friends visited her garden weather station.

“Rain, Windy, Sun, Snow, Hot, Cold, Cloudy, Stormy, Very Windy – Wendi had painted a picture for all the things a weathergirl has to say.
She held up two pictures – “Rain and very windy tomorrow.” And she put on her yellow rain hat and all her friends laughed.

The next morning the wind started and later the rain poured down.

“Wendi is a weather girl” Wendi’s friends laughed.

With Grandpa’s help, Wendi looked at the sky and checked her weather station.

Wendi was a very good weathergirl – until one icy cold winter day.

“When will it snow? Wendi, we want know…”

That was the big question. It was very cold, Wendi put up her Freeze card.

“Tomorrow, it will snow tomorrow…” Wendi was sure.

But it didn’t snow, not even one tiny snowflake.

“Wendi, you aren’t a weathergirl at all. You promised snow and snowmen.”

Wendi asked Grandpa. “My weather station says snow, but there is no snow.”

. “No weathergirl is always right, but it will snow soon, I am sure…”

And two days later, the snow fell and covered up Wendi’s weather station. So that you could hardly see it.

Wendi’s friends were happy now, they got out their sledges and they made a big snowman.

“Thank you, Wendi Weathergirl, we got our snow….”

“I am a weathergirl, but it isn’t my snow, the snow clouds are the secret.” Wendi smiled

But Wendi had a big problem. She didn’t tell her friends – they were all so happy having fun in the snow.

Wendi whispered the problem to Grandpa “The weather is changing, in a day or two it will get warmer, then the snow will go.”

“Aah.” Grandpa smiled “Let your friends play in the snow today, tell them tomorrow…”

© Andrea Kaczmarek / Storyberries 2020

LET’S CHAT ABOUT THE STORY ~ IDEAS FOR TALKING WITH KIDS

Co-operation

1. How did Wendi and her grandfather work together to create the weather station in this story?

2. Do you think Wendi could have done it on her own? Why or why not?

3. Why do you think Wendi’s grandfather was happy to show Wendi about weather stations?

Nature, Conversation

1. What is the weather like where you live? 

2. How might you make your own weather station?

Short Story for Kids written by Andrea Kaczmarek

Illustrations purchased on license.

Music Video:  “Hep Cats” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Golly Gee” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Happy Boy Theme” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Happy Boy End Theme” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Holiday Weasel” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Frost Waltz (Alternate)” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.comby/4.0/, “Enchanted Valley” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The post Wendi’s Weather Station first appeared on Bedtime Stories.