Kitten Kuzia was walking around the room. He jumped — and suddenly froze. “Meow!.. Who is that?!” — the kitten pressed fearfully to the floor. Behind him, a long black figure stretched across the floor. When Kuzia walked — it walked, when he jumped — it jumped.
A fairy tale about the kitten Kuzia and his shadow
Kitten Kuzia was walking around the room. He jumped — and suddenly froze.
“Meow!.. Who is that?!” — he pressed fearfully to the floor.
Behind him, a long black figure stretched across the floor. When Kuzia walked — it walked, when he jumped — it jumped.
“Why is it copying everything I do?” — the kitten hissed and jumped back. But the strange trace didn’t go anywhere.
A girl named Natasha entered the room.
“Hi, Kuzia. Why do you look so scruffy?”
“Someone is crawling behind me! I saw it!..” — and pointed with his paw at the floor.
Natasha laughed:
“It’s not someone. That’s your shadow!”
“Shadow? Why do I need it? And why only when there’s light?”
Natasha walked to the window:
“Look: when light from a lamp or the sun shines on you, it can’t go through you — and a shadow appears. It’s like a print of your shape, only dark.”
“But why does it disappear? Sometimes I’m here, and the shadow is gone!”
“Because a shadow only appears when there is light. In the dark there’s no light — and no shadow.”
Kuzia thought for a moment, twitching his ear.
“So it’s not a ghost or an enemy?..”
“No, it’s your dark twin! It copies everything you do. But you are the main one.”
Kuzia stood in front of the lamp with an important look. His shadow stretched across the floor.
“Hi, Shadow!” — he said.
“Give me your paw!” — and reached out his paw. The shadow did the same.
“Listen, Natasha… Can it say hi with its tail?”
Natasha smiled:
“Check it out! Shadows are very playful.”
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Task from Kuzia:
Can you play with your shadow? Go to the wall, turn on a lamp and try: how does your shadow say hi, wave, dance, jump?
Ask someone nearby to show their shadow too — and have a shadow dance!
Questions and tasks after the story
After reading the story, ask your child some simple questions. You can discuss them aloud or do a mini-drawing task:
- Why was Kuzia scared? What did he see?
- What is a shadow? Why does it appear?
- What did Natasha say about the shadow? Why does it disappear?
- When does a shadow appear? When is it not there?
- Is a shadow a kind “friend” or someone scary?
- Who else do you think has a shadow? Toys? Trees?
- Can you play with your shadow? What can it do?
Task:
Draw your shadow! Place a toy or your hand under a lamp, trace the shadow on a sheet of paper.
You can make a whole shadow drawing exhibit!
Video: what a shadow looks like
In this short video, it shows how sunlight can’t shine through trees, so they cast a shadow. Also, a shadow appears from a person, changing shape and length depending on how the light source is positioned.
- Where did he see the shadow? Outside? At home?
- How does the shadow behave in bright sun? And with a lamp?
- What did he notice in the video — what does the size of the shadow depend on?
- Want to play a shadow game? Shall we make a shadow theater?
Tip: You’ll need a flashlight, a white wall, and some toys — your child will gladly conduct their own “shadow experiment.” This develops observation skills, logical thinking, and imagination. It also nurtures curiosity and interest in learning.
If a child is afraid of shadows: how to turn fear into interest
Dear parents and educators!
With the help of this short and kind fairy tale about the kitten Kuzia, you can:
- Explain to the child what a shadow is and why it appears
- Gently dispel the fear of shadows — a common childhood fear at age 4–6
- Encourage the child to be observant: where does the shadow come from, where does it go
- Play “the double” — this exercise develops coordination, imagination, and body awareness
- Ask simple but important questions after the story to reinforce knowledge
- Watch a video about shadows and play with a flashlight at home
- Download the story in PDF format and use it during lessons or family evenings
At ages 3–6, children begin to become aware of their bodies and the space around them. A shadow may seem like something scary, living its own life. The story helps the child shift from fear to play and curiosity, and therefore — to understanding.
On the Baby-bear Club website, you will find not just fairy tales, but thoughtfully designed educational stories created by an experienced educator. Each one helps the child not only cope with fears but also discover something new about the world — through play, observation, and warm family interaction.
Let observing shadows become your joyful family science!
Warm regards — your Natalka Ukraina and the Baby-bear Club website
