Rapunzel: A Bedtime Story for Kids on Patience and Resourcefulness

In a tall, lonely tower with no doors and only one high window, lived a girl named Rapunzel. She had been placed there as a baby by a selfish enchantress. For years, her only companion was her incredibly long, golden hair. The enchantress was the only person she ever saw.

A Resourceful Spirit

As Rapunzel grew, she became lonely, but she did not let her sadness take over. Instead of just waiting to be rescued, she decided to be resourceful. Being resourceful means using what you have around you to solve a problem in a clever way.

Rapunzel had two things in abundance: time and hair. She spent her days learning and practicing. She read the few books in her room over and over until she knew them by heart. She watched the birds build their nests and learned their songs. And she learned how to weave. She would take the golden strands of hair that fell from her brush and, day by day, patiently wove them together. At first, she made small bracelets, then longer ribbons. Over time, she learned to weave the strands into a thin, but surprisingly strong, cord. It was her secret project, a small hope she kept hidden.

A Secret Plan

Every day, the enchantress would stand at the bottom of the tower and call out, "Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!" Rapunzel would let her long, thick braids fall from the window, and the enchantress would climb up.

One day, a prince was riding through the forest and heard Rapunzel's beautiful singing. He was enchanted and returned every day to listen. He saw how the enchantress visited and learned the secret words. The next evening, after the enchantress had left, he called out, "Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!"

When Rapunzel saw the kind prince, she was startled but not afraid. They began to talk, and soon, they were meeting every evening. The prince wanted to rescue her, but they had no way for her to get down from the tower.

Patience and Perseverance

"I have a plan," Rapunzel said, showing him her secret, woven cord. "It is almost long enough. I have been patient and worked on it every day."

She told the prince, "Each time you visit, bring me a skein of silk. I will weave it into my rope to make it stronger and longer." The prince agreed. Night after night, he brought her silk, and night after night, Rapunzel resourcefully wove it into her growing ladder.

Finally, the day came when the rope was long enough to reach the ground. That night, Rapunzel secured her rope, said goodbye to her lonely tower, and bravely climbed down to her freedom with the prince. She learned that while patience is important, you don't have to just wait for things to happen. You can be resourceful, use your mind, and work little by little to create the solution you need.