The Young Crab and His Mother
Why in the world do you walk sideways like that? said a Mother Crab to her son.
“You should always walk straight forward with your toes turned out.”
“Show me how to walk, mother dear,” answered the little Crab obediently, “I want to learn.”
So the old Crab tried and tried to walk straight forward.
But she could walk sideways only, like her son. And when she wanted to turn her toes out she tripped and fell on her nose.
Moral of the story
Lead by example: It’s important to show others how to do things by doing them yourself.
Don’t criticize without trying: Before telling others what to do, make sure you can do it yourself.
Questions for the children
- Why do you think the little Crab wanted to learn to walk differently?
- Can you share a time when you learned something by watching someone else do it?
Post Note: This story is based on Aesop’s fable, written around 600 BC. In this retelling, we’ve used simpler words to make the story easier for young readers to understand.
