12 Funny Stories for Kids With Moral Lessons

Humorous short stories are more than just a fun activity. They play a pivotal role in the overall growth and development of the child, particularly in the cognitive areas. Some of our best childhood days were when our mothers or grandmothers used to tell us a really good story right before bedtime or during meal time.

So, why not take a break from screen time and switch to some good old storytelling? These 12 funny stories for kids will bring a smile to your child’s face and will keep them entertained for hours. These humorous stories in English will help with the child’s imagination and language development, and also encourage a love for reading. So, gather the little ones around, grab some snacks and let’s dive into the world of funny short stories for kids!

Funny Stories for Children

Are you looking for a way to bond with your little ones and tickle their funny bone? Look no further! These 12 short funny stories for kids are perfect for bedtime reading or just a fun break from the daily routine. These short humorous stories for children are sure to bring laughter and joy to the entire family. So, get ready to hear some silly jokes, wacky characters, and unexpected twists that will leave your child in stitches!

Here are some of the best of short funny children’s bedtime stories:-

1. The Emperor’s New Clothes

Once upon a time, there was a very proud emperor who loved fancy clothes more than anything else. He spent all his money on new outfits and never wore the same thing twice.

One day, two clever tricksters came to the palace. They told the emperor they could make magical clothes that only intelligent people could see. The emperor was excited and gave them a lot of gold. The tricksters pretended to work, but they made nothing at all.

When the emperor “tried on” the invisible clothes, he could not see anything. But he was too embarrassed to admit it. So he marched through the city wearing nothing at all. Everyone was afraid to tell the truth until a little child shouted, “The emperor isn’t wearing any clothes!”

The moral of the story is that pride and fear of looking foolish can make us believe silly things.

2. The Lion and the Rabbit

Once upon a time, there was a proud, evil lion. He said he was the king of the jungle. Every day, he would mercilessly go hunting and kill many animals for his food. Soon, all the animals were worried. They held a meeting and decided that if the lion continues to do this, then no animal will survive. So, they approached the lion and made a proposal to him. Each day, they said, they would send one animal to the lion’s den. This way, the rest of the animals for that day will be at peace, and the lion will not need to go hunting. The lion liked the plan. So from the next day, the lion would wait in his den while the others sent an animal for his meal. This happened for many days. Finally, it was the turn of a very old but wise rabbit. He was forced to be the meal of the day for the lion. He decided to put an end to this. So, he took a longer route and made sure he got to the lion’s den very late.

The hungry lion, who was angry, roared at the rabbit and asked him why he was late. The rabbit then told him that he was late because another stronger lion was chasing him. He told the lion that the stronger lion claimed to be the king of the jungle. When the lion heard this, he was furious. He asked the rabbit to show him where the other lion was. The rabbit took the lion to a well. He pointed inside and told the lion that the other lion was inside.

When the lion looked in, he saw his own reflection but thought it was another lion. He roared in anger, and the reflection did the same. Brimming with anger, the lion jumped into the well to fight with the other lion, but ended up falling to his death because of his stupidity. The moral of this story is that sometimes, intelligence is more important than physical strength.

3. The Tenth Man

Once upon a time, ten friends crossed a river together. After reaching the other side, they wanted to make sure everyone was safe.

One man counted the others but forgot to count himself. He only counted nine! Each man tried counting, but every time they counted, only nine, because each one forgot to include himself. They began to cry, thinking one friend had drowned.

A wise traveller passed by and saw them weeping. He counted carefully and told them there were ten. Then he gently tapped each man on the head as he counted, including the one counting. When the last man was tapped, he realised he was the tenth!

The friends laughed at their silly mistake.

The moral of the story is that sometimes the answer is simple, but we fail to see it.

4. The Lazy Donkey and the Clever Merchant

Once upon a time, there was a lazy donkey who worked for a merchant. The donkey hated carrying heavy loads and always looked for ways to make his work easier.

One day, he was carrying sacks of salt across a river. He slipped and fell into the water. When he got up, he noticed his load had become lighter because some salt had dissolved. The donkey was happy and decided to fall into the river every day.

The clever merchant soon understood the trick. The next day, he filled the sacks with cotton instead of salt. When the donkey fell into the river, the cotton soaked up water and became very heavy. The donkey struggled to stand up and learned his lesson.

The moral of the story is that laziness and tricks can sometimes make our problems worse.

5. The Crocodile and the Monkey

Once there was a monkey. He lived in a berry tree. One day, a crocodile came near the banks of the river where the tree was located. The monkey felt bad for the tired and hungry crocodile and gave him some berries. Soon, they became good friends. Every day, the monkey would give the crocodile berries. One day, it so happened that the monkey gave him some extra berries to take home for his wife. When the crocodile took the berries to his wife, she loved them. But she was a very mean crocodile. She told her husband that she wanted the monkey’s heart, which would be much sweeter than the berries. So the next day, the crocodile went to the monkey and said his wife had invited him home for dinner. Happily, the monkey agreed.

But when they got to the middle of the river, the foolish crocodile told him the truth, that his wife wants to heat the monkey’s heart for dinner. The monkey was smart, so he quickly told him that he had left his heart in the berry tree, so he had to go get it. Happily, the crocodile agreed. But when they got to the banks, the monkey jumped to the highest branch and saved himself. He then told the crocodile that he would never trust him again. The foolish crocodile was sad, and he had to go home to his evil wife without the monkey’s heart.

6. The Parrot Who Wouldn’t Stop Talking

Once upon a time, there was a parrot named Chatter who loved to talk. Chatter talked in the morning, talked in the afternoon, and even talked in his sleep.

The other animals in the forest grew tired of his constant noise. But Chatter never listened when they asked him to be quiet. He believed his voice was the most beautiful in the world.

One day, a cat came quietly into the forest. The other birds stayed silent to stay safe. But Chatter kept talking loudly and did not notice the danger. The cat followed his voice and almost caught him! Chatter barely escaped.

After that day, Chatter learned that sometimes it is wise to stay quiet.

The moral of the story is that talking too much without thinking can lead to trouble.

7. Two Cats and the Monkey

One day, two cats found a piece of bread. But they kept fighting for it. The first cat said it was his, but the second cat refused and claimed it to be his. A clever monkey that was walking their way decided to help them. He took the bread and told them that he would split it in half and share it equally with them. The cats agreed. But when he did this, one piece was bigger than the other. So he took a bite to make it equal. But this time, the other piece was bigger. This went on for a while. He kept taking a bite off each bread to make sure it was the same size. However, in the end, he ate up the whole bread. The angry cats asked him why he did that, and the clever monkey replied, saying that if they had dealt with the problem on their own, this wouldn’t have happened, but since they were stupid and could not do that, they both lost what they could have. The happy monkey went home while the two cats remained hungry.

8. The Clever Little Mouse

Once upon a time, there was a tiny mouse who lived in a farmer’s house. One night, he found a big piece of cheese inside a trap. The mouse was hungry but also careful. He walked around the trap and noticed the metal bar that would snap shut. Instead of jumping in, he slowly pushed the cheese with a stick. SNAP! The trap closed loudly. The mouse smiled and safely ate the cheese afterwards.

The moral of the story is that thinking before acting can save you from danger.

9. The Greedy Little Bird

Once upon a time, there lived a little bird in the forest named Tweetie. Tweetie loved to eat and was never satisfied with what he had. He would always ask the other birds for more food.

One day, the other birds had had enough of Tweetie’s greediness and decided to teach him a lesson. They decided to put a big pile of food in front of Tweetie and tell him to eat as much as he wanted.

So, they placed the food in front of Tweetie, and he started eating like there was no tomorrow. He ate and ate until he finally burst! The other birds chuckled and told Tweetie, “See, you can never be too greedy!”

The moral of the story is that being greedy can lead to unpleasant consequences, and it is always better to be satisfied with what we have. With great memorable names and a simple story, this makes for a great short, funny story for children and adults alike.

10. The Boastful Frog

Once upon a time, there was a small frog who lived in a quiet pond. One day, he saw a big ox drinking water nearby. The frog was amazed by how large the ox was. “I can be just as big!” he said proudly. He puffed up his body as much as he could and asked the other frogs, “Am I as big as the ox now?” “No,” they replied. So he puffed himself up even more. “What about now?” “No,” they said again. The frog puffed and puffed until suddenly—POP! He burst.

The moral of the story is that boasting and trying to be something you are not can lead to trouble.

11. The Monkey and the Mirror

Once upon a time, there was a playful monkey who found a shiny mirror in the forest. When he looked into it, he saw another monkey staring back at him.

He made a funny face. The “other monkey” made the same face. He showed his teeth. The other monkey did too.

Angry, he shouted, “Stop copying me!” But the monkey in the mirror did not stop. In frustration, he threw the mirror on the ground, and it broke.

Only then did he realise he had been looking at himself the whole time.

The moral of the story is that sometimes the problem we see is our own reflection.

12. The Proud Peacock

Once upon a time, there was a peacock who loved his colourful feathers. Every day, he would spread his beautiful tail and admire himself.

One afternoon, he saw a crane flying high in the sky. “Your feathers are so plain,” the peacock said proudly. “Look how beautiful mine are!” The crane smiled and replied, “Your feathers are beautiful, but mine help me fly.” The peacock looked at his heavy tail and realised he could not fly like the crane.

The moral of the story is that beauty is not as important as usefulness.

FAQs

1. Why do children remember moral lessons better when they are wrapped in humour?

Humour lowers resistance and increases emotional engagement. When kids laugh, their brains release dopamine, which improves memory retention. This makes the moral feel natural rather than preachy.

2. Can funny moral stories accidentally encourage the wrong behaviour?

Yes, if the humorous “bad behaviour” is more entertaining than the consequence, children may focus on the comedy instead of the lesson. Balance and clarity are key to ensuring the moral stands out.

This was our mix of funny short stories and funny long stories in English. Stories are a timeless tradition, passed down from generation to generation. They entertain children and also enhance their imagination and creativity. Furthermore, they can also improve their vocabulary and teach valuable life lessons through their morals. So next time you’re tucking your little one into bed, consider sharing a short, funny story with them. So let’s embrace the power of storytelling with these good funny stories for kids!

Also Read:

Short Stories with Morals for Kids
Indian Mythological Stories for Children
Akbar and Birbal Stories with Morals for Kids

Our Editorial Policy

Parenting is a huge responsibility, for you as a caregiver, but also for us as a parenting content platform. We understand that and take our responsibility of creating credible content seriously. FirstCry Parenting articles are written and published only after extensive research using factually sound references to deliver quality content that is accurate, validated by experts, and completely reliable. To understand how we go about creating content that is credible, read our editorial policy here.