The Ant and the Grasshopper – A Bedtime Story for Kids
Long ago, an ant called Anya lived in a meadow on the border of a forest. She was determined, worked hard and always used every minute of her day. She was part of a group of ants that trusted the importance of hard labour, working together and looking ahead. Anya stayed very busy all day, using her black carapace to travel, collecting food, making dining tunnels and saving up provisions before winter. Adorable but determined, Anya was an optimist who believed in the value of hardwork to make her future comfortable.
Not much further from the ant colony, there was a happy green grasshopper named Gilly. Because of his long legs, shiny wings and a fiddle created from bark and thread, Gilly became famous for his music everywhere. Each day at dawn, he sat on a daisy, sang songs and played music that carried through the fields around him. Butterflies moved around to his sound, bees stopped buzzing for a moment and flowers seemed to be serenaded by his melodies.
Why are you always working so much, Anya? Gilly inquired, as he watched her carry a giant crumb twice her size. “It is sunny, the wind is calm—definitely, you should not be working right now. Sit down, and relax, listen to some music on this beautiful morning!”
She stopped for a breath, partly winded, but smiling broadly. “No matter how far away winter seems to you, darling, it always arrives much sooner than most of us realise. I should get organised and prepare in advance. As soon as days get cold and the ground freezes over, we use what we have now to survive our winter.”
Gilly chuckled and shook his head. "You ants and your worries! I’d rather live in the moment. Come, take a break. Listen to this new tune I’ve composed!" He began strumming his fiddle with enthusiasm.
He chuckled, shook his head and continued with his relaxation. “Staring at all you ants is enough to make someone worry! I like being present in the here and now. Come, have some rest. Would you listen to the new song I have written?” He started to play the fiddle with great enthusiasm.
But apparently Anya had finished there; she swiftly picked up another seed to carry. Play will come later, Gilly, after all the work is done, she said to her as she left him with his leisure.
Summer went on, day after day. As the ants were seen in organised groups, doing chores and digging dwellings, Gilly enjoyed singing, dancing and being out in the sun. He chucked at the dragonflies, raced with the air and ate the food nearby that he had found. He regularly poked fun at ants for seeming too serious, anxious and…rather ant-like.
After summer was autumn. The colours in the leaves changed to amber and gold, the air got chillier and the days became shorter. The ants devoted more energy, collected the final grains and ensured their homes were safe underground once more. Although his songs were sombre, Gilly went on singing.
“Are you still gathering things?” he asked Anya one day. She was guiding a huge berry towards the entrance to their home.
“Yes,” she said. The cold days of winter are not far away. You need to plan where you’ll get food when there is snow on the ground.”
Gilly said to Anya softly, “You shouldn’t worry so much.” I know something will present itself soon. The natural world will always give us what we need.
Anya’s expression showed her disapproval without an argument. “Gilly, please promise that you’ll be careful.”
“Hey, I’m not worried,” Gilly said with the wink. “Look forward to seeing you in spring!”
And as a result, the first snow of winter came.
The first snow is always breathtaking, with the streets looking clad with pearls and beautiful flakes falling onto the ground. Gilly remained beneath a mushroom, played his fiddle and was captivated by the falling snow. Before we realised, the chilly weather started to settle around us. The frost covered the green grass. The meadow which used to be alive with animals, was now silent and empty.
Also Read: The Bear and the Two Friends Story With Moral for Kids
Amidst this serene beauty was Gilly, not ready and with an empty stomach, who tried to hide under a folded leaf. Lying close to his body was the fiddle he never reached for. Every day was proving to be harder than the one before. The food had been eaten long ago and so he could not find anything to eat. Dragonflies were gone, all the flowers were wilted and the bees had gone back to where they made their homes.
One night when he was very hungry and his wings were frozen, Gilly made his way to the ant hill. He felt only hopelessness and no pride at all. "Anya?" he managed to say something weakly. The tunnel opened and a cosy radiance, along with a faint berry and seed aroma, came out. Anya entered the room, a bit astonished but friendly nonetheless. “Gilly! What became of your songs?” she asked in a gently questioning voice. He said hoarsely, “the wind took them away. In retrospect, my behaviour was childish, Anya. I regret not listening to you.”
He did not have to say anything; Anya helped him into the house. The tunnels felt cosy and they were covered with moss and leaves. Inside the mound, you found dozens of ants sharing tasks of bringing in supplies, caring for the young and resting. Anya gave Gilly a space by the hearth and some honeydew and nuts.
“You don’t need to be kind to me,” Gilly said while tears ran into his eyes. “Everyone makes errors once in a while and so do you,” Anya said, patting him. “At the same time, we gain knowledge from what happens. Rest now. You can look back and then plan for the next steps after you’re back on your feet.”
So, that winter, Gilly stayed with the ants. He did what he was able to do, discovered how important discipline was and over time grew stronger again. He made peaceful songs sharing the value of being thankful, understanding your own limitations and looking forward to the future.
After the snow melted in the spring and the meadow bloomed with colours, Gilly came out of the ant shelter as a fiddler and as a friend. He was still singing, of course and in addition, he worked by storing food and sharing lessons on happily balancing work and play with the young ones.
And Anya? Seeds were still cared for and the future considered—and sometimes, whenever Gilly played, Anya paused for a moment to listen to the music and tap along.
The Moral of the Story:
“Do your best today so that tomorrow will be better.”
The moral of this story is that preparation, working hard and avoiding only living for today are all important lessons for both children and adults. It’s great to live, but being ready for change ahead of time is important. Because life never goes in a straight line, and when a steep curve comes, you should be prepared to navigate it with ease.
Why This Bedtime Story for Kids Still Matters
In reality, the ant and grasshopper fable shows us the need to plan ahead as well as enjoy what is happening now. It leads young people to do their chores and homework first, stay neat and learn the benefits of trying hard.
Parents can use this as a bedtime story for kids to inspire the young minds to think about saving, being organised or assisting at home. It is easy to remember, meaningful and brief.
A Modern Take on a Classic
Many versions of this classic have been made into animation, picture books and songs. In some versions, the grasshopper is not refused, but given advice and allowed a new opportunity, like in our story, to teach that kindness matters and we should give each other another chance. The story has also been shared in management seminars to help people develop good time-management skills and the importance of setting goals.
Variations Around the World
Even though Aesop’s version is the most famous, such stories are found in folklore from India, China and Africa. In the Panchatantra, stories from India often feature wise and smart creatures such as ants as metaphors for wisdom and foresight. Preparation, foresight and balance are always the keywords in these situations.
