Why the Bat Flies by Night
Long ago, when animals could talk, Bat and Squirrel were best friends.
They played together every day in the forest.
Bat was clever and calm.
Squirrel was fast and playful.
At first, they were happy.
But slowly, Squirrel began to feel jealous.
People praised Bat for being smart.
Squirrel did not like that.
One day, Squirrel went to Owl, the wise bird.
“Owl,” said Squirrel, “Bat is strange.
He has wings like a bird, but teeth like an animal.
Where does he belong?”
Owl thought deeply.
Soon, he called all the animals together.
“We must talk about Bat,” said Owl.
“Some animals are confused about him.”
Bat felt hurt and surprised.
He did not know his friend felt this way.
The animals began to argue.
Bat felt scared and confused.
So Bat flew away quietly.
He hid until the forest became calm.
Bat decided, “I will come out only at night.
The night is quiet and safe.”
From that day on, Bat slept during the day.
When the sun went down, he flew freely.
That is why bats fly by night.
Story origin: A traditional Nigerian folktale.
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Lessons From This Story
This story teaches children that jealousy can hurt friendships. Squirrel made an unkind choice because he felt jealous, and Bat lost his place among friends. The story gently shows that talking honestly and being fair helps keep friendships strong.
Word Helper
- Jealous: Feeling unhappy because someone has something you want.
- Friendship: A caring relationship between friends.
- Judge: Someone who decides what is right or wrong.
- Trust: Believing someone will be kind and honest.
- Quiet: Calm and not noisy.
Summary for Parents / Teachers
Why the Bat Flies by Night is a classic Nigerian folktale adapted to help children explore emotions, friendships, and fairness in a gentle and age-appropriate way. Using animal characters allows children to understand complex feelings without fear or harsh themes.
Emotionally, the story helps children recognise feelings such as jealousy, hurt, confusion, and the need for safety. Squirrel’s jealousy shows how difficult emotions can grow if they are not handled kindly. Bat’s choice to hide helps children understand how people may withdraw when they feel misunderstood or hurt.
For moral development, the story highlights how choices lead to consequences. Squirrel’s decision to speak unkindly leads to the loss of trust. Owl’s quick judgment shows the importance of listening to all sides before making decisions. These lessons are presented gently, without punishment or violence, making them suitable for young children.
Socially, the story encourages honesty, communication, and empathy. Children learn that friendships need care and fairness to survive. It opens conversations about resolving conflicts, sharing feelings, and being thoughtful with words.
Culturally, the tale comes from Nigerian oral storytelling traditions, where animals are often used to explain natural behaviours and teach life lessons. Stories like this help children understand cultural wisdom while also explaining why animals behave the way they do.
Overall, this story supports emotional learning, builds moral awareness, and strengthens social understanding. It is well-suited for classroom discussions, story time, and values education, helping children reflect on how their actions affect others.
Discussion Time
- Why did Squirrel start to feel jealous of Bat?
- How do you think Bat felt when his friend spoke against him?
- What could Squirrel have done instead of telling Owl?
- Why do you think Bat felt safer flying at night?
- This story comes from Nigeria. Why do you think people use animal stories to teach lessons in different cultures?
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