The Camel and His Master

One cold evening, a camel stood shivering outside his master’s warm tent. “Please, may I put just my head inside?” he asked. His master, feeling sorry, allowed him to. But once his head was warm, the camel asked, “Could I bring in just my neck?”

Bit by bit, the camel kept asking for more space until he was all the way inside, taking up most of the room! The master chuckled, realizing he had let the camel take over his cozy spot.

Moral:

Small favors can lead to bigger changes if we aren’t careful.

Additional Lessons:

• Caution: It emphasizes the need to be mindful of how small actions can escalate if boundaries aren’t set.
• Wisdom: It teaches the importance of foresight and understanding potential outcomes of decisions.

Parenting Tip: Teach your child to recognize the importance of setting boundaries. Explain that while it’s okay to offer help or share, it’s also important to be mindful of how small actions can sometimes lead to bigger changes. Encourage them to think about how their actions today can affect others in the future.

Fun Questions for Curious Kids

• What do you think the camel felt when he was cold outside?
• Why did the camel keep asking for more space in the tent?
• How would you feel if you gave someone a small favor, but then they kept asking for more?
• Can you think of a time when you gave a small favor to someone, but it ended up being a bigger favor than you expected?
• How do you think the master felt when the camel took up most of the space?
• What are some ways we can help others without taking too much for ourselves?
• If you were the camel, would you have asked for more space or stayed outside? Why?
• How do you think the master could have stopped the camel from taking over the tent?

Activity Idea

Boundaries in Action
Talk with your child about what boundaries mean and why they are important. Then, have them practice setting boundaries in a role-playing game. For example, pretend that they’re the master of a tent, and a camel keeps asking for more space. How would they politely say “no” or suggest a compromise?

Did You Know? Fun Animal Facts

1. Camels are well known for their ability to survive in the desert, but did you know they can go for weeks without drinking water? They store fat in their humps, which can be turned into water when needed.
2. The average camel can carry up to 400 pounds of weight, which is about the same as carrying a full-sized adult!
3. Camels have three eyelids and two sets of eyelashes to protect their eyes from the blowing desert sand.
4. Camels can run at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour, which helps them escape predators when they need to.
5. A camel’s feet are specially adapted for walking on sand—they have thick, padded soles that act like natural sandals.
6. Camels can live for around 40 to 50 years, making them long-lived animals in the animal kingdom.
7. Despite their reputation for being tough and resilient, camels can be quite gentle and affectionate with their owners, especially after being properly trained.
8. Camels are able to drink large quantities of water in one go—up to 40 gallons in just one sitting!
9. Camels have a great sense of smell, which helps them locate water even when it’s far away.
10. There are two types of camels: the Dromedary, which has one hump, and the Bactrian, which has two.

Download Free Coloring Pages Related To This Story

Bring the story to life with coloring pages designed to spark creativity and make story time even more fun. Coloring helps kids express their creativity, improve focus, and reinforce the story’s themes in a fun, engaging way. After reading together, let them bring the story to life with colors!

Click on any of the free coloring pages below to download or print it!