Tommy is a good-hearted boy, but he gets angry quickly and says hurtful words. His wise father will teach him a lesson he'll never forget about the power of words and their lasting impact!
🔨 The Bad Temper
There once was a little boy named Tommy who had a bad temper. He would get angry quickly, shout, and say words that hurt other people's feelings.
One day, his father gave him a bag full of nails and a hammer, and said:
"Tommy, every time you get angry and lose your temper, you must hammer a nail into the wooden fence behind our house."
On the first day, Tommy drove 37 nails into the fence! It was a difficult day filled with anger and frustration.
Over the next few weeks, Tommy began to learn how to control his anger. The number of nails he hammered each day gradually decreased.
Tommy discovered something important: that controlling his anger was much easier than driving those hard nails into the wood!
Finally, the day came when Tommy didn't lose his temper at all. He ran to his father excitedly and told him about this wonderful achievement.
His father smiled proudly and said: "Well done, my son! Now, for each day that you can control your temper, pull out one nail from the fence."
Days passed, and Tommy worked hard to control himself. Finally, he was able to tell his father that all the nails were gone!
His father took him by the hand and led him to the fence. They stood in front of it, and his father said in a loving and wise voice:
"You have done well, my son, and I'm proud of you. But look at these holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same again."
His father continued lovingly: "When you say harsh words in anger, they leave wounds in people's hearts, just like these holes. Even if you say 'I'm sorry' a thousand times, the wound is still there."
Tommy understood the lesson well, and from that day on, he thought carefully before speaking when he felt angry.
💝 Values and Moral Lessons:
- Anger Management: Learning to control negative emotions is very important
- Power of Words: Words have a deep and lasting impact on others
- Patience and Perseverance: Changing behavior requires time and continuous effort
- Think Before You Speak: We must think carefully before we speak
❓ Comprehension Questions:
- How many nails did Tommy hammer on the first day?
- What did Tommy discover about controlling his anger?
- What did his father ask Tommy to do after he controlled his temper?
- What lesson did the father teach his son in front of the fence?
- How did Tommy's behavior change at the end of the story?
🤔 Critical Thinking Questions:
- Why do you think the father used nails and a fence to teach his son this lesson?
- Could the father have taught the same lesson in a different way?
- What do you think about the father's statement that wounds remain even when we apologize?
🌱 Questions Connecting the Story to Daily Life:
- How do you deal with anger when you feel it?
- Have you ever said hurtful words to someone and regretted them? How did you handle it?
- What are some ways that can help you stay calm when you get angry?
🎨 Interactive Activities:
🖍️ Drawing Activity:
Draw Tommy hammering nails at the beginning, then draw him calm and happy at the end. What differences do you notice?
🎭 Acting Activity:
Act out different scenarios with your friends: one showing anger and its effects, and another showing calmness and solving problems with kind words.
📝 Feelings Journal Activity:
Write in a small notebook every day: How were your feelings? Did you get angry? How did you handle the situation? What could be improved?