By Aesop

A frisky young Kid had been left by the herdsman on the thatched roof of a sheep shelter to keep him out of harm’s way. The Kid was browsing near the edge of the roof, when he spied a Wolf and began to jeer at him, making faces and abusing him to his heart’s content.

“I hear you,” said the Wolf, “and I haven’t the least grudge against you for what you say or do. When you are up there it is the roof that’s talking, not you.”

Do not say anything at any time that you would not say at all times.

Moral of the Story

“The Kid and The Wolf” by Aesop is a short story that offers a valuable lesson for children about the importance of considering the safety of one’s situation before speaking or acting. Here’s a simple explanation of what children can learn from this fable:

In the story, a young goat, called a Kid, feels very safe on the roof of a sheep shelter because it is high up and away from predators like wolves. When the Kid sees a Wolf down below, it starts to mock and tease the Wolf. The Wolf responds not with anger, but by pointing out that the Kid feels brave because it is out of reach on the roof. The Wolf implies that if the Kid were on the ground, it wouldn’t dare to say such things.

From this story, children can learn that sometimes, like the Kid, people might feel safe and act boldly or say things they wouldn’t normally say if they were face-to-face with someone or in a less secure position. This teaches children about the concept of “thinking before speaking” and encourages them to only say things that they would be comfortable saying in any situation, not just when they feel safe or unthreatened. This helps in developing a sense of responsibility and respect for others, no matter the situation.

Additionally, it teaches the importance of understanding the context of one’s actions and words, and how safety and position can affect one’s bravery and speech. It’s a reminder that true courage and respect involve considering how one’s words can affect others, regardless of how protected or confident one might feel in the moment.

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Source: www.gutenberg.org

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