The School and Self-Control

School teaches children many moral values they carry into adulthood. These virtues, planted early, build the future man or woman. And dear mother, don’t be surprised that all these virtues gather under one main value: self-control—whether it is with food, anger, hatred, or the urge to say inappropriate words. Here are a few stories for seven-year-old children that teach different virtues through self-control, written by the Latin author Pedro Pablo Sacristán.

Sparky Hooves

Rocky was crying in the yard because some classmates bullied him, as they always did. No matter how much he shouted, complained, or threatened, they never stopped. Then an older boy approached him and said:

“If you want the bullying to stop, you need to be like the little bull, Sparky Hooves. Want to hear his story?”

“Sure!” said Rocky.

Sparky Hooves was a young fighting bull. His field was next to a farmer’s house, and one day he watched bullfighting on the farmer’s TV. He realized this was his destiny, so he prepared for it all his life.

Finally, the day came. In the arena, Sparky was struck in the back—it hurt terribly. He wanted revenge, but he stayed calm. The matador waved his cape to provoke him, but Sparky controlled his anger and stood still. No matter what they did—punching, waving flags, or shouting—he never reacted.

The audience grew bored. Soon, the organizers replaced him with another bull. Sparky returned to his field and lived peacefully, never brought back to the arena.

“Okay, but what does this have to do with me?” asked Rocky.

“Well,” the older boy explained, “they only put Sparky in the arena to enjoy themselves at his expense. The more he reacted, the more fun they had. The same happens when kids tease you—if you don’t react, they’ll get bored and stop.”

At first, Rocky didn’t believe it. But over the next days, he tried to stay calm. It was hard, but slowly, the bullies lost interest and left him alone.

A Problem in Science Class

Mr. Litmus, the science teacher, asked his students to study an animal and present their findings. Some chose dogs, others horses, and some fish. But Sophie’s discovery was the most unusual:

“I found that bees are very angry,” she said confidently.

She explained how she had watched a bee fly peacefully—until it reached a window. Then it buzzed loudly, slamming against the glass over and over. “It wasn’t its wings making the sound—it was screaming in frustration!”

Mr. Litmus smiled and explained that the bee wasn’t angry; it was just an example of limited awareness. They decided to make a list of creatures ranked by intelligence.

The next day caused an uproar—many children placed their parents at the bottom of the list! They said their parents only complained and never listened. While some parents were upset, a few realized the children had a point: intelligence isn’t about being smart, but about acting wisely.

A Lion Without a Roar

There was once a lion who could not roar. No one knew this secret, because he had learned to communicate calmly, persuade others, and listen. His gentleness made him respected across the plains.

But one day, a stubborn bull refused to listen. The lion felt ashamed for not being able to roar, so he built a roaring machine. When he finally used it, the terrifying sound scared not only the bull, but all the animals. They hid for months, leaving the lion lonely and sad.

In time, he realized he didn’t need roaring at all—his calm words were more powerful. He rebuilt trust with his friends and never thought about roaring again.

The Drawing That Spoke

Benty Taylor disliked art and writing. His drawings were messy, and he often gave up. One day, he found a colorful pencil and tried drawing a circle—but failed again. As he was about to throw the pencil away, the circle spoke:

“Hey! Don’t leave me like this. At least draw me some eyes!”

Shocked, Benty drew two dots. “Much better!” said the drawing. Then it taught him how to improve, asking for hair, details, and changes. All afternoon, Benty practiced with joy. By evening, his drawings were better than most classmates.

When he woke up the next morning, the magic pencil was gone. But when he tried drawing again, he realized the secret: it wasn’t the pencil—it was practice and enjoyment that made him better.

Tidy Stationery and Toys

By Sharon Brogden

A boy moved into a new house filled with neatly arranged toys, books, and school supplies. He played happily but went to bed without tidying up.

The next morning, everything was back in place. It happened again for days. But on the fourth day, when he grabbed a pencil, it jumped away and said:

“I don’t want to write with you!”

All his toys and books refused to play with him, until an old teddy bear explained:

“We don’t like being left on the cold, hard floor. We’re happy only when you put us back in our homes.”

The boy remembered how uncomfortable it felt sleeping on a chair once, compared to his warm bed. He apologized and promised to take care of his friends. From that day on, he always put everything back before sleeping.

✨ These stories help children learn patience, self-control, respect, and responsibility in a fun way.