A clear moral or lesson. Like in the story of 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf'. The boy kept lying that there was a wolf, and when there was really a wolf, no one believed him. The moral of not lying is very straightforward and kids can understand it easily. Also, colorful and vivid descriptions can make a story fun. If you describe a magical forest with glittering trees and talking animals, it will capture a kid's imagination.
Simple and relatable characters. For example, a little boy or girl who has the same fears or joys as real kids. If a story has a character who is scared of the dark just like many children are, kids can easily connect to it.
Simple and relatable characters are a big part of it. Like a little girl who loves her teddy bear more than anything and has a series of sweet adventures with it. Also, there's usually a positive or funny outcome. For instance, a boy who tries to bake cookies and makes a huge mess but in the end, the cookies turn out deliciously funny - shaped. Another characteristic is that they can teach simple lessons in a very gentle way, like sharing through the story of two kids fighting over a toy at first but then learning to share and have more fun together.
Another great one is 'The Tortoise and the Hare'. The hare was so confident in his speed that he took a nap during the race against the tortoise. The slow - but - steady tortoise won the race. This story shows kids that being consistent and not being overconfident are important traits.
A fun short story usually has an engaging plot, interesting characters, and maybe a touch of humor or surprise.
One fun little kid story could be 'The Three Little Pigs'. It's about three pigs who build different houses to protect themselves from the big bad wolf. Another is 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears', where Goldilocks enters the bears' house and tries their things. And 'The Tortoise and the Hare' is also great. The overconfident hare takes a nap during the race and the slow but steady tortoise wins.
Once there was a little kid named Tom. He found a magic key in his garden. When he turned the key, it opened a door to a world full of talking animals. He befriended a rabbit who could run super fast and they had races together.
Relatable characters also contribute. In 'A&P' by John Updike, the young cashier Sammy who rebels against the store's policy for the sake of some girls in bathing suits is a character many can identify with. His internal monologue and his small act of rebellion make the story an interesting and fun read.
Simple characters like a little boy or girl, an animal. For example, a cat or dog.
Friendship is a common theme. For example, like in stories where a kid makes a new friend, either an animal or another child. Another common theme is adventure. Kids often go on little adventures in these stories, exploring new places or solving small mysteries.
A little kid named Jack was always afraid of the dark. One night, his flashlight broke when there was a power outage. But then he remembered his dad's words about being brave. He started to sing a little song to himself. As he sang, he felt less scared. And soon, the power came back on. Jack realized that he could face his fears if he was brave enough.
Online platforms like Storyberries and Highlights Kids are also great sources. They have a wide variety of fun short stories for kids, which you can access for free or with a subscription.