A lot can be learned from a childhood spent devouring classic fairy tales like Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, and Rapunzel. For instance, Cinderella teaches children the value of kindness, patience, and resilience in the face of hardship. Cinderella remains kind and hopeful despite being treated unfairly, showing that goodness is always rewarded.
As parents, reading fairy tales like Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and Sleeping Beauty to your child can ignite their imagination and curiosity. These fairy tales for kids transport young minds to magical places filled with fascinating characters and thrilling adventures. Beyond their enchanting narratives, fairy tales offer valuable moral lessons, teaching children the difference between right and wrong in an engaging and memorable way. This blog will explore 15 classic fairy tales for kids and the meaningful moral lessons they impart.
15 Fairy Tales for Kids with Moral Lessons
- The Three Little Pigs
- Jack and The Beanstalk
- The Sleeping Beauty
- Rapunzel
- Cinderella
- Hansel and Gretel
- Pinocchio
- Little Red Riding Hood
- The Frog Prince
- The Elves and the Shoemaker
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- The Princess and the Pea
- The Little Mermaid
- The Candy Fairy
- Rumpelstiltskin
Young children will find this fairy tale completely enthralling. It’s the story of three little pigs who set out to make their way in the world, each building a home to protect themselves. The first pig, eager to finish quickly, constructs a house of straw, while the second pig builds his home out of sticks. The third pig, however, takes his time and carefully builds a sturdy house made of bricks.
Things take a dramatic turn when a cunning and hungry wolf arrives. He easily blows down the first two houses, forcing the frightened pigs to flee. But when he reaches the third pig’s brick house, he meets an unexpected challenge. No matter how hard he huffs and puffs, the sturdy home does not budge. The wolf then tries to enter through the chimney, only to be met with a clever trap set by the wise pig. Ultimately, the wolf is defeated, and the three little pigs learn an important lesson about the value of hard work, perseverance, and wise choices.
Moral of the Story: This beloved fairy tale teaches children the importance of patience, effort, and thinking ahead, showing that those who take shortcuts may face trouble, while those who plan carefully will stand strong in the face of adversity.
Another classic fairy tale for kids, this story narrates the tale of a magical beanstalk that takes young Jack on an incredible adventure. The story begins when Jack, a poor but curious boy, trades his family’s cow for a handful of mysterious beans. Jack’s mother throws the beans away, only to find a towering beanstalk reaching high into the sky.
Eager to uncover its secrets, Jack climbs up the beanstalk and discovers a magnificent castle hidden among the clouds. But inside the castle lives a fearsome giant who hoards treasures beyond imagination—gold coins, a magical harp, and a hen that lays golden eggs. Jack, using his wits and bravery, manages to outsmart the giant and escape with some of the riches. However, the adventure doesn’t end there, as the giant soon realises Jack’s trickery and chases him down the beanstalk. In a thrilling conclusion, Jack quickly chops down the beanstalk, sending the giant tumbling to his doom.
Moral of the Story: This beloved fairy tale captivates young readers with its sense of adventure, magic, and suspense. It also carries important moral lessons, teaching children the value of bravery, resourcefulness, and taking risks while also warning against greed and recklessness. Jack’s journey encourages children to dream big and reminds them that actions have consequences.
Princess Aurora was a beautiful and kind-hearted girl. On her christening day, her parents invited fairies to bless her with gifts. However, they forgot to invite an evil witch. Angry, the witch cursed the princess—on her 16th birthday, she would prick her finger on a spindle and fall into an endless sleep. A good fairy softened the curse, saying she would sleep for 100 years and only awaken with true love’s kiss.
Years passed, and on her 16th birthday, Aurora accidentally pricked her finger and fell into a deep sleep, as did everyone in the castle. Many years later, a brave prince heard the tale of the sleeping princess and set off to find her. He entered the castle, saw the beautiful princess, and gently kissed her. At that moment, the curse broke, and Aurora and the entire castle woke up. The prince and the princess soon married and lived happily ever after.
Moral of the Story: True love and patience can overcome any curse.
A poor couple lived near a garden owned by a wicked witch. When they stole fruits from it, the witch caught them and, in exchange for mercy, took their baby daughter, Rapunzel. She locked the child in a tall tower with no doors or stairs. Rapunzel had long golden hair, and the witch would call, “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair,” to climb up.
One day, a prince heard her singing and discovered her secret. He visited often, and they fell in love. But when the witch found out, she cut Rapunzel’s hair and sent her far away. The prince, in his despair, became blind. After a long search, he finally heard Rapunzel’s voice. She cried when she saw him, and as her tears touched his eyes, his sight was restored. They were reunited and lived happily ever after.
Moral of the Story: True love and perseverance can overcome even the toughest obstacles.
How can one possibly not find something to love in this classic rags-to-riches tale of a kind-hearted young girl who overcomes adversity and finds her happily ever after? Cinderella is the timeless story of a mistreated servant girl who, despite enduring cruelty from her wicked stepmother and stepsisters, never loses her kindness, patience, and hope. With the help of her magical Fairy Godmother, she gets the chance to attend the royal ball, where she captures the heart of a charming prince. But as the clock strikes midnight, the spell breaks, leaving only a glass slipper behind—her one chance at being reunited with her true love.
Moral of the Story: This beloved fairy tale for kids continues to enchant generations with its themes of resilience, inner beauty, and the belief that goodness will always be rewarded. It teaches children that kindness and perseverance can lead to wonderful opportunities and that no matter how difficult life may seem, hope and magic can always be found in the most unexpected places.
This fairy tale for kids is sure to tug at the heartstrings of your little one. Hansel and Gretel is the gripping tale of a brother and sister who are cruelly abandoned in the woods by their stepmother when their family runs short on food. Left to fend for themselves, the clever siblings stumble upon a mysterious house made entirely of syrupy candies and a garden filled with lollipops. But their relief quickly turns to fear when they realise the house belongs to a wicked witch with sinister intentions.
This classic fairy tale is a thrilling mix of adventure, courage, and clever thinking. It teaches children valuable lessons about resilience, resourcefulness, and the importance of sticking together in difficult times. Despite their dangers, Hansel and Gretel use their wit and bravery to outsmart the witch and find their way back home, proving that hope and intelligence can lead to triumph even in the darkest moments.
Moral of the Story: Never trust strangers, even if they treat you well.
Pinocchio is a timeless tale of a wooden puppet who longs to be a real boy. While he is thrilled to be alive, his greatest wish is to have a normal life—one without a nose that grows longer every time he tells a lie. Guided by his conscience, Pinocchio embarks on a journey of self-discovery, facing temptation and learning the importance of honesty, kindness, and responsibility.
This beloved fairy tale teaches children that telling the truth is always the best choice and that actions have consequences. As Pinocchio navigates his adventures, he learns that integrity and good deeds bring him closer to his dream. In the end, his transformation into a real boy is a heartwarming reminder that honesty and virtue are always rewarded.
Moral of the Story: Disobedience does not pay.
One day, Little Red Riding Hood visited her grandmother, carrying a basket of goodies. Her mother warned her not to talk to strangers. But she met a cunning wolf in the woods who tricked her into revealing her destination.
The wolf ran ahead, locked Grandma in a cupboard, and disguised himself in her bed. When Red Riding Hood arrived, she noticed something strange—Grandma’s big ears, big teeth! As the wolf leapt to grab her, woodcutters nearby heard her scream and rushed in to save her. They freed Grandma, and the wolf ran away, never to return.
Moral of the Story: Always listen to your elders and never trust strangers.
A young princess lost her golden ball in a pond. A frog promised to return it if she let him live with her. She agreed, but once she got the ball, she ran away.
The frog arrived at the palace, and the king insisted the princess keep her word. Reluctantly, she let the frog stay. When he asked for a kiss, she hesitated but finally kissed him. Suddenly, the frog turned into a handsome prince! He had been under a curse, and only a kind-hearted princess could break it. They soon married and lived happily ever after.
Moral of the Story: Keeping promises and being kind can lead to wonderful rewards.
A poor shoemaker and his wife had just enough leather to make one last pair of shoes. But the next morning, they found the shoes already made, and they were beautiful! A customer bought them, and the couple could buy more leather. Night after night, mysterious hands made new shoes.
One evening, they hid and saw tiny elves working hard to make shoes for them. The shoemaker and his wife were touched and decided to sew warm clothes for the elves as a gift. When the elves found the clothes, they happily danced away, never to be seen again.
Moral of the Story: Hard work and gratitude bring unexpected blessings.
Snow White was a beautiful princess whose stepmother, the queen, was jealous of her beauty. The queen had a magical mirror, which told her Snow White was the fairest of all. Enraged, she ordered a huntsman to take Snow White into the forest and get rid of her. But the huntsman let her escape.
Snow White found a cottage where seven kinds of dwarfs lived. They took her in. But when the queen discovered Snow White was alive, she disguised herself as an old woman and tricked her into eating a poisoned apple. Snow White fell into a deep sleep.
One day, a prince found her and was so enchanted by her beauty that he kissed her hand. The kiss broke the spell, and Snow White woke up. She and the prince married, and the evil queen was never seen again.
Moral of the Story: Kindness and goodness always triumph over jealousy and evil.
A prince wanted to marry a real princess, but how could he tell who was genuine? One stormy night, a young girl arrived at the palace, claiming to be a princess. The queen decided to test her. She placed a tiny pea under twenty soft mattresses before the girl went to bed.
The next morning, the girl complained that she had barely slept because something hard had been pressing against her. The queen was overjoyed—only a true princess would be so sensitive! The prince married her, and they lived happily ever after.
Moral of the Story: True worth is often revealed through small details.
In a deep underwater kingdom, a little mermaid longed to see the human world. One day, she rescued a drowning prince and fell in love with him. She sought the help of a sea witch, who offered her legs in exchange for her voice but warned that if the prince did not marry her, she would turn back into a mermaid forever.
Though the prince liked her, he did not recognise her as the one who saved him. He was set to marry another princess. Heartbroken, the little mermaid accepted her fate, but at the last moment, the prince realised the truth and chose her instead. They lived happily ever after.
Moral of the Story: True love is about sacrifice and patience.
Long ago, a magical fairy lived in a faraway land, rewarding kind children with colourful candies. One day, she disguised herself as an old, hungry woman and sat under a tree in a village. There, two little boys, Tit and Xeon, saw her and asked if she needed help. She told them she was hungry, so they gave her the only bread they had, which their mother had sent them to buy.
When they returned home, they worried their mother would scold them. But instead, she smiled and said, “A kind heart is worth more than a loaf of bread.” That night, someone knocked at their door. To their surprise, they found a basket full of candies and a note from the Candy Fairy, thanking them for their kindness.
Moral of the Story: Kindness and generosity are always rewarded in unexpected ways.
Once upon a time, a poor miller boasted to the king that his daughter could spin straw into gold. The greedy king locked her in a room filled with straw and demanded she prove her talent. Desperate and scared, a mysterious little man visited the girl, who offered to spin the straw into gold in exchange for her jewellery. On the third night, when she had nothing left to give, he made her promise to give him her firstborn child.
Years later, after she became queen and had a baby, the little man returned to claim his reward. Heartbroken, the queen begged for a way out. He agreed to spare her child if she could guess his name within three days. After many failed attempts, she finally discovered his name—Rumpelstiltskin—leading to his furious downfall.
Moral of the Story: This classic fairy tale for kids teaches children the importance of honesty, keeping promises, and thinking carefully before making decisions. It also highlights the value of cleverness and perseverance in overcoming challenges.
The Importance of Fairy Tales for Kids
Fairy tales are more important for those young minds than you might have thought. Here are some reasons why these fables are ever important.
- Help children handle problems:
- Develop a child’s imagination:
- Teach the basics of storytelling:
- Enrich a child’s imagination:
Kids learn from the characters in stories, connecting to their very own insecurities and anxieties. This helps them deal with similar situations in their own lives.
Hear it from the genius himself! Albert Einstein is quoted as saying, ‘When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than any talent for abstract, positive thinking.”
Fairy tales for kids are a great way to teach concepts Like story development and conflict resolution. Moreover, they help kids differentiate between fiction and nonfiction stories.
Fairy tales stretch the limits of a child’s imagination. The world we live in today has become quite a scary place. However, fairy tales remind children to always look on the bright side and bask in the beauty and wonder of that same world.
Conclusion
As mentioned before, reading fairy tales with children is a wonderful way to spark their imagination and curiosity. These timeless fairy tales for kids encourage creative thinking and play a crucial role in shaping a child’s character. Moreover, through fairy tales, children learn valuable life lessons, helping them understand morality and the impact of their choices, no matter how big or small.
We hope you enjoyed this collection of classic fairy tales for kids! If you are looking for short stories with morals, check out our blog, 30 Short Moral Stories For Kids In English.
For more insights on your child’s health, nutrition, and learning, visit EuroKids Blogs. You can also check out EuroKids Preschools for the first step in your child’s learning journey.
