In a small village sitting between tall mountains, there lived an old man who was known for his wisdom. One day, as he sat by the fire with his young grandson, the boy looked up at him with curiosity in his eyes.

“Grandfather,” the boy asked, “I feel so many strong emotions inside me. Sometimes, I get angry or jealous, but other times, I feel kindness and peace. Why do I feel these two things?”

The old man smiled gently and placed his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Let me tell you a story,” he said.

“A long time ago, there was an old Cherokee chief who had a young grandson, much like you. The chief loved the boy deeply and wanted to teach him an important lesson about life. One day, the boy asked his grandfather the same question you asked me.”

The old man paused, as if remembering the story.

“The chief sat down with the boy and said, ‘There are two wolves inside every person. One wolf is angry, jealous, and cruel. This wolf is filled with hate, greed, and negativity. The other wolf is kind, patient, and loving. This wolf is filled with peace, respect, and hope.’”

The boy listened intently, eager to hear more.

The old man continued, “The boy, feeling confused, asked, ‘Grandfather, which wolf wins? Which one is stronger?’”

The grandfather smiled softly and replied, ‘The wolf who wins is the one you choose to feed.’”

The boy thought for a moment, then asked, “But how do I know which wolf I’m feeding?”

The old man looked deep into his grandson’s eyes. “You feed the wolf with your thoughts, your actions, and your words. If you choose to focus on anger, jealousy, and negativity, you feed the bad wolf. But if you choose to be kind, patient, and loving, you feed the good wolf. Every day, you make the choice.”

The boy sat quietly, pondering his grandfather’s words. “So, if I want to be a good person, I need to feed the good wolf?” he asked.

The old man nodded. “Yes, my child. And remember, it’s not always easy. The bad wolf can be loud and tempting, but the good wolf grows stronger each time you choose respect, kindness, and love. It’s not about being perfect, but about making the right choices every day.”

The boy smiled and hugged his grandfather. “I will feed the good wolf,” he said, feeling wiser and more peaceful than before.

And so, the boy grew up to be a kind and respected man, always choosing to feed the good wolf inside him. Whenever he faced challenges or difficult emotions, he remembered his grandfather’s words and made sure to nurture his inner peace.

Moral:

The character we become is shaped by the choices we make every day. Choose to feed the good wolf within you.

Parenting Tip: Teach your child about emotions and decision-making with “The Two Wolves” story. Use it to discuss how choices in thoughts, words, and actions can impact their feelings and relationships. Encourage them to talk about times they’ve fed either wolf and how they can choose kindness and patience more often.

Fun Questions For Curious Kids:

• Why do you think the bad wolf is tempting to feed?
• Can you name some ways to feed the good wolf in your daily life?
• What happens when we focus too much on anger or jealousy?
• How can helping others strengthen the good wolf inside you?
• What would you tell someone who feels their bad wolf is winning?
• Can both wolves be in your heart at the same time?
• How does kindness or patience make you feel after you practice it?
• What are some activities that can help feed the good wolf?
• Why do you think the grandfather told the boy this story?
• If you were the boy, how would you explain this lesson to a friend?

Did You Know? Fun Facts About Wolves

1. Wolves are incredibly social animals and live in close family groups called packs. They rely on teamwork, much like feeding the good wolf represents working together positively.
2. Wolves communicate through howling, body language, and even facial expressions, showing they experience emotions too!
3. Just like people, wolves can feel loyalty and form strong bonds with their pack members.
4. Wolves are known for their patience and persistence when hunting, qualities that align with feeding the good wolf.
5. The phrase “lone wolf” refers to wolves who separate from their pack temporarily, but most wolves thrive with others.
6. Wolves can travel up to 12 miles (19 kilometers) a day, showing their strength and determination—just like our choice to grow stronger by feeding the good wolf.
7. Each wolf in a pack has a role, teaching us that respect and cooperation make a group strong.
8. Wolves care for their young as a pack, sharing responsibility to ensure every pup is safe and healthy.

Activity Idea:

Wolf Choice Tracker
Create a “Wolf Choice Tracker” with two columns labeled Good Wolf and Bad Wolf. Throughout the day, have your child add marks or stickers whenever they make a choice that feeds either wolf. At the end of the day, discuss what they learned about their decisions and how they can grow the good wolf tomorrow!

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!