The Boy Everyone Feared and the Boy Everyone Loved
In Class Five, everyone knew one boy.
Gopal.
The moment he entered the classroom, the noise dropped. Some children quietly moved their bags away. Some avoided eye contact. Gopal was strong, rough, and aggressive. He pushed others when he wanted his way. A few children had been beaten by him before. No one dared to complain.
Gopal knew this.
And somewhere inside, he felt powerful.
Yet, something troubled him every day.
There was another boy in the class.
Adnan.
Adnan was not strong. He did not shout. He did not scare anyone. Yet, everyone liked him. Children shared their lunch with Adnan. They helped him with homework without being asked. They saved seats for him. When Adnan smiled, the classroom felt lighter.
Gopal noticed this again and again.
They feared him.
But they loved Adnan.
That question stayed in his mind.
Many parents see this contrast early in school life. It is often linked to how children learn social skills and emotional awareness, something we explore deeper in How to Develop Social Skills in a Digital World
One evening, Gopal sat quietly at home. His grandfather noticed it at once. He had seen many children grow and knew when a heart was restless. After some gentle questions, Gopal finally spoke. He asked why everyone helped Adnan so easily while they stayed away from him in fear.
His grandfather listened patiently. He did not interrupt. He did not judge. This kind of listening is often what helps children open up, something many parents struggle with, as discussed in How to Communicate Effectively with Your Child: Building Trust and Understanding
After thinking for a while, his grandfather said he would give Gopal the answer in one week, but only if Gopal agreed to one condition. Gopal agreed immediately. He was ready to do anything to understand.
The next day, his grandfather took him behind the neighbourhood park. The place was bushy, dirty, and silent. Hardly anyone came there. Pointing to the ground, his grandfather said that for the next seven days, Gopal must play there after school. Then, without another word, he walked away.
Gopal looked at the ground and felt uncomfortable. He thought to himself that his grandfather would never know. That day, instead of going there, he went to the main park. It was clean. Flowers bloomed everywhere. Children laughed and ran freely. The air felt fresh. Gopal enjoyed himself.
The same thing happened the next day. And the next. Every day for a week, Gopal chose the clean park. He did not think about fear or rules. He simply went where he felt happy.
This simple choice reflects something important. Children naturally move towards places where they feel emotionally safe, a concept deeply connected to raising emotionally strong and confident children
After one week, Gopal went confidently to his grandfather, expecting an answer. Instead, he froze. The television was playing a video. It showed Gopal playing in the clean park every single day.
His grandfather smiled gently and asked why he chose that park.
Gopal replied honestly. He said the bushy ground was dirty and lonely. No one liked being there. The clean park felt good. It made him happy. His grandfather asked if he was not afraid of getting caught. Gopal shook his head. He said he did not think about fear. He only thought about where he felt good.
His grandfather placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled. He said Adnan was like that clean park. His behaviour was like flowers. People felt good around him. Then he added that when we scare or bully others, we become like the bushy ground. People may come there out of fear, but no one wants to stay.
This lesson connects closely with what many parents face while setting limits. Fear-based discipline may bring short-term control, but balanced discipline builds respect, as explained in Balanced Discipline for Positive Growth
Something changed inside Gopal at that moment.
The next day at school, Gopal surprised everyone. He apologised. He stopped pushing others. He started speaking kindly. At first, the class did not know how to react. Slowly, smiles returned. Fear disappeared. Friendship took its place.
Gopal had learnt a lesson he would never forget.
People may fear a bully, but they always love a kind and friendly person.
How Parents Can Help a Child Become Friendly and Kind
Children do not learn kindness from instructions.
They learn it from experiences.
The first step is emotional safety. When a child feels heard at home, they do not need to dominate others outside. This is especially important for parents raising strong-willed children, as shared in What No One Told Me About Parenting a Strong-Willed Child
Parents can help by listening patiently, even when the problem feels small or when the child is wrong. Asking open questions and staying calm builds trust over time.
Model friendly behaviour at home. Children copy what they see more than what they hear. Calm reactions and respectful words go a long way. This approach also supports raising kind and empathetic children in a competitive world
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What if my child behaves like a bully sometimes?
This is often a sign of unmet emotions. Talk calmly. Understand what the child is trying to express. Correct the behaviour, not the child.
2. Should parents punish bullying behaviour?
Discipline is important, but punishment alone does not teach empathy. Explaining consequences works better than fear, as discussed in 5 Parenting Lessons That Make Life Easier
3. Can friendly behaviour really be taught?
Yes. Kindness is a skill. Like communication or emotional control, it grows with guidance and practice.
A Small Request to Parents and Readers
If this story touched you, please share it with other parents.
Stories have a quiet power. They reach hearts before rules do.
You may also enjoy other stories from our Moral Story Series: Shaping Values, One Story at a Time
Leave a comment and tell us:
What helped your child become kinder?
Or what challenges are you facing right now?
Your words may help another parent.
And together, we raise kinder children.