Taking care of children, whether you’re a parent or a sitter, can be equally fun and challenging.
They may have little bodies, but they would often leave you wondering where they get their seemingly limitless supply of energy. This causes playtime with them to be a lot of fun because somehow, you are transported all the way back in time to your childhood. But then, once it’s done, you find yourself out of breath and gasping for air.
Their energy, unlike yours, is still high even at bedtime which makes it difficult to put them to sleep. This is when you decide to whip out your secret weapon: bedtime stories for babies and kids. These stories are enough to wind them down and get them settled in.
While there are a lot of great modern bedtime stories out there today, nothing beats the classics — those stories that we grew up with and have held close to our hearts.
10 of the Most Interesting and Memorable Children’s Bedtime Stories
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The Boy Who Cried Wolf
Most of our childhood bedtime stories contained valuable lessons that we can use in life. One such example is this story from Aesop’s Fables that emphasise the importance of being truthful at all times because people will find it hard to believe a habitual liar even if he or she is already telling the truth.
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The Ugly Duckling
This classic story about an ugly little duckling that experienced rejection all his life resonates with a lot of us. What we thought was a story about bullying when we were children turned out to be a beautiful story about self-discovery and self-acceptance when we became adults.
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Midas and the Golden Touch
Another childhood favorite, this story wonderfully incorporates a very good moral life lesson about how greed will get the best of us if left unchecked. Your kids will get a kick out of Midas’ special powers and will learn a very valuable lesson at the same time.
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The Ant and the Grasshopper
Another classic from Aesop’s Fables, the story about the little hardworking ant and the lackadaisical grasshopper is a fun and entertaining way of teaching children the value of hard work and preparing for the future.
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Cinderella
Regardless of which version you tell, whether it’s the Disney version or the other not-so-popular but equally enchanting ones, the story about Cinderella, her glass slipper, and finding her true love will never fail to capture your kids’ hearts.
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Beauty and the Beast
Yet another Disney favorite, this fairy tale about a lovely young lass taming the dreaded Beast and falling in love with him despite his appearance will always remain an inspiring tale that children will treasure their whole lives.
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The Emperor’s New Clothes
Pride, just like greed, can make a person do really dumb things, just like the emperor in this childhood favorite fairy tale. When you’re proud and boastful, it will be hard for you to admit a fault and live a life of constant denial of the obvious truth.
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The Hungry Mouse
One short story that also emphasises the consequences of greed and how it can get you into situations you can’t get out of is this tale about the hungry mouse. Because of his hunger, the mouse ate a basket full of corn and grew too big that he could no longer get himself out of the basket. Now how many of us can relate to the mouse?
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Aladdin and the Magic Lamp
Join Aladdin on his quest for adventure, love, and fulfillment whenever you tell your children of his tales. Again, you may choose to go with the typical Disney version or the original folk tale. Either way, you and your kids will surely enjoy the story and feel like you’re on a magic carpet ride each and every time.
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Oh, the Places You’ll Go
One of people’s all-time favorite Dr. Seuss stories, this light-hearted children’s story teaches kids about the value of the decisions that they make and how these decisions will affect their lives for better or worse. It tells kids that life is a balance of both good and bad and that they have the power to succeed by making the right decisions.
What about you? What are some of your favorite bedtime stories as a child? What are the stories that you tell your children or nephews and nieces? Share them with us in the comments section so we can all take a trip down memory lane and relive the stories of our childhood.
