The Farmer and the Clever Donkey

One morning, a farmer’s old donkey was wandering around the field when he accidentally fell into a deep, dark well. The poor donkey brayed loudly, calling for help. The farmer rushed over and looked down into the well. “Oh no!” he exclaimed.

But then, he frowned. “This donkey is old, and I don’t really need him anymore,” the farmer thought sadly. “It’s best to put him out of his misery.” So, he decided to fill up the well and bury the donkey.

The farmer grabbed a shovel and started tossing dirt into the well. The donkey was shocked when the dirt landed on his back. But instead of giving up, the clever donkey thought, If I shake the dirt off and step on it, I can get out!

With every shovelful of dirt, the donkey shook it off and took a step up. Dirt after dirt, shake after shake, step after step, the donkey rose higher and higher.

The farmer kept shoveling, not realizing what the donkey was doing. Finally, to the farmer’s amazement, the donkey stepped out of the well, dusty but victorious!

The farmer smiled, realizing how clever and determined his old donkey truly was. “You taught me a lesson today,” he said, patting the donkey. “Even when life throws dirt at you, you can rise above it!”

Moral:

Turn your troubles into stepping stones.

Additional Lessons:

Bravery: The donkey shows bravery by not giving up, even when faced with a challenging and potentially life-threatening situation.
Courage: The donkey’s courage shines through as it uses each challenge (the dirt) to rise higher and escape from the well, demonstrating persistence in the face of adversity.

Parenting Tip: Use this story to teach your child resilience. Life will throw challenges their way, but with a positive attitude and creativity, they can overcome obstacles and grow stronger.

Fun Questions for Curious Kids

Why do you think the donkey didn’t give up?
If you were the donkey, what would you have done?
How do you think the farmer felt when he saw the donkey climb out?
Can you think of a time when you turned a problem into something good?
Why is it important to keep trying, even when things seem hard?
What would you say to the donkey to congratulate him?

Did You Know? Fun Facts About Donkeys and Farming

Donkeys are incredibly strong and can carry up to 20% of their body weight!
Donkeys have excellent memories and can remember places and faces for years.
A donkey’s bray can be heard up to 60 miles away in the desert!
Donkeys are very social animals and often form strong bonds with their companions.
Wells have been used for water since ancient times, with some dating back over 8,000 years!
Farmers often use donkeys to guard sheep or goats because they can chase away predators like foxes.
The saying “stubborn as a mule” often applies to donkeys, but their caution is actually a sign of intelligence.
Donkeys are great problem solvers and can figure out ways to get out of tricky situations—just like in the story!
Wells are traditionally dug in areas with underground water, and farmers rely on them to irrigate crops.
Donkeys’ hooves are perfectly adapted for rocky terrain, helping them stay steady on uneven surfaces.

Activity Ideas

Stack the Stones Challenge

Gather several small objects like books, blocks, or toys. These represent “obstacles.”
Create a pretend “well” by placing a large container or box in the center of the room.
Challenge your child to “fill the well” by stacking the objects inside it one by one, using the stack to climb higher. Each item they stack brings them closer to “escaping” the imaginary well.
The goal is to teach kids that even obstacles (the blocks) can be stepping stones to achieving their goals.

After completing the challenge, discuss how the donkey in the story used a similar strategy to solve his problem.

Obstacle Hop Adventure

What You’ll Need:

Small pillows, cushions, or pieces of paper (to represent “dirt”)
A safe open space

How to Play:

Lay the pillows or cushions on the floor in a zigzag path. These represent “obstacles” that the donkey must use to escape the well.
Pretend the floor is the “well” and the cushions are stepping stones.
Challenge your child to hop from one “stone” to the next without touching the floor. Each hop symbolizes shaking off an obstacle and stepping up.
Once they reach the “top” (the end of the course), celebrate their cleverness and perseverance!

Ask your child how they felt while hopping over the obstacles. Relate it to the donkey shaking off the dirt to rise up and how challenges can sometimes help us grow stronger or smarter

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!