Nina’s New Bench: A Children’s Story About Loneliness and Finding Connection
Read a touching children’s story that helps kids understand and cope with loneliness. Learn how small acts of kindness can build big friendships.
Loneliness can feel like a heavy backpack—especially for children. This gentle story about Nina helps kids see that even when we feel invisible, connection is possible—and sometimes, we just need one brave moment.
Topic:
Loneliness, Friendship, Empathy
Category:
Emotional Intelligence, Storytime, Kids’ Life Lessons
It was Nina’s third week at her new school, and the hardest part wasn’t the homework or finding the canteen. It was lunchtime.
Every day, she walked to the playground with her tray, looked around, and… found no one waiting.
The other kids already had their groups. They giggled in circles, shared snacks, or kicked around a football.
Nina sat on a bench near the big banyan tree, her sandwich untouched. She watched the leaves rustle and tried to look busy, hoping someone might come say hi.
But no one did.
Pause & Reflect:
- What do you think Nina is feeling right now?
- Have you ever felt left out, even when others were around?
That night at home, Nina told her grandpa,
“Maybe something’s wrong with me.”
He smiled gently.
“Or maybe you’re just the first one who sees a lonely bench and thinks it could use a friend.”
The next day, Nina had an idea. She painted a little wooden sign that read:
“If you’re feeling lonely, sit with me.”
She taped it to the bench and waited.
At first, nothing.
But then a boy named Aarush wandered over.
“Can I sit?”
“Sure,” Nina smiled.
They sat in silence at first. Then Nina offered him a bite of her chocolate bar.
By the end of the week, three kids were sitting at her bench. One drew cartoons. One talked about video games. One just liked the shade of the tree.
Nina still felt nervous sometimes. But she didn’t feel alone anymore.
Moral of the Story: How to Cope with Loneliness
Even when we feel invisible, we’re not alone. Like Nina, kids can learn that a small, kind action can open the door to connection. Sometimes the first step to ending loneliness is being the person who reaches out.
Key Takeaways for Parents & Educators:
- Encourage kids to talk about when they’ve felt alone, even in a crowd.
- Discuss real ways to make others feel welcome—like Nina’s bench.
- Reinforce empathy: ask your child “Who might need a friend today?”
children and loneliness, emotional learning for kids, SEL stories, loneliness in childhood, making friends, inclusive stories, emotional literacy, kids mental health