For parents of 4 to 11-year-olds

Stories that end with a question, not a moral.

This week: The Monkey and the Jar. A little monkey reaches into a jar for a banana, and its fist won't come back out. 47 seconds, no words. Watch it with your child, then talk about it.

The monkey stares at its fist, stuck inside the glass jar around the banana
Would YOU
let go?
Watch on YouTube · 0:47
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The Monkey and the Jar

A 47-second story with no words

Nobody speaks in this film. Watch the faces and the hands: they tell the story.

The monkey reaches into a crate and takes a banana
0:06It takes a bananaWhile the seller is busy, the monkey helps itself.
The seller's net lands on empty stone by the fountain
0:17The net missesThe seller swoops, and the monkey gets away.
The monkey returns to find three glass jars, each with a banana inside
0:22Three jars appearThe seller has an idea. He watches, arms folded.
The monkey's hand is inside a jar, gripping the banana, while the seller watches
0:33Its fist won't come outIt could open its hand. Will it?

Tonight's question, by age

Pick the one that fits your child. There's no right answer. Ask "Why do you think so?" and listen.

Ages 3 to 5

How could the monkey get free?

Ages 5 to 7

Is it ever good to hold on tight?

Ages 7 to 11

Is letting go the same as giving up?

Ages 11 and up

Can you be trapped by something you want?

What's in a P4C debrief?

P4C (Philosophy for Children) is a way of talking where children ask the questions, give reasons and listen to each other. Each debrief turns one story into a 15-minute conversation at home.

  • Where to pause the film, and what to ask at each stop
  • Questions for each age, from little ones to pre-teens
  • What to say when your child asks "What's the right answer?"
  • One thing to try together, like the jar experiment
Get the debriefs free

Try it at home

The jar experiment

You need a clear plastic bottle with the top cut off, wide enough for your child's open hand, and a small soft toy.

  1. 1Drop the toy inside. Your child reaches in and grabs it tight.
  2. 2"Can you pull your hand out while you're holding it?"
  3. 3"What happens if you open your hand?"

"So what was keeping your hand stuck: the jar, or you?"

Safety: plastic only, never glass. Stay close, and never pull hard.

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