As children, we’ve been taught many rules that we ought to follow, like “you mustn’t lie” or “you ought to work hard”. But the rationale behind why these rules should be followed is often lost on children nowadays, mainly because they lack the necessary life experience to empathize and reach an understanding. This is why stories are such an important tool to explain morality to young children. Through the example set to us in “The Boy Who Cried Wolf”, we learnt not to lie by relating to the boy and experiencing the consequences of telling lies. The story teaches us to be responsible for our own actions. In essence, moral stories are a powerful tool for instilling values and nurturing empathy, critical thinking, and fostering emotional and social development in children. 

However, this isn’t the only purpose morality serves in stories. Besides teaching us to differentiate right from wrong, morality may also be used by authors to develop their characters and engage their reader by evoking empathy. Oftentimes, the moral choices made by the characters can drive the plot forward and act as a reflection of their personalities. Character development can also be expressed as they overcome their moral conflicts and ultimately arrive at the right choices.

Morality in stories enriches the narrative, engages the audience on a deeper level, and provides opportunities for learning, reflection and emotional connection between the reader and the story’s world. So the next time you read a story to your child, why not consider emphasizing the possible moral lessons that the tale might teach?