Piper the Penguin Wants a Phone - A Children's Story

Piper the Penguin Wants a Phone

By Bill Conley – America’s Favorite Children’s Storyteller

Moral of the Story:
A cell phone is a big responsibility that must wait until you’re ready.
Phones are for safety, family, and learning—not for copying friends.
It’s wise to listen when parents say “not yet” with love and care.
You don’t need a phone to have fun, learn, and grow every day.
Being different from your friends is okay—being safe is better.
Too much screen time, too soon, can take away real adventures.
Trust your parents—they protect you, guide you, and know what’s best.
Enjoy childhood now; your time for big responsibilities will come later!

In the frosty seaside town of Waddle Bay, where icebergs floated lazily and snowflakes danced in the salty breeze, lived a bright and curious little penguin named Piper. Piper was seven years old and loved ice slides, snowball fights, and drawing pictures in the snow with her flippers.

But lately, Piper had one thing on her mind that she just couldn’t stop thinking about—a cell phone.

One snowy afternoon, Piper waddled home from Iceberg Elementary with her best friend, Tilly the Tern. Tilly’s feathers were fluffed against the cold, but her eyes sparkled with excitement.

“Guess what?” Tilly chirped. “My cousin gave me her old phone! Now I can text my mom when she’s at work and take pictures of my snow forts!”

Piper’s beak dropped open. “Wow, really? I want a phone too! I’d text Mama all the time. I’d play games and send pictures of my drawings!”

That night at dinner, Piper poked at her fish pie and stared at Mama and Papa Penguin with big, hopeful eyes. “Mama? Papa? Can I have a phone, please?”

Mama Penguin gently put down her fork. Papa raised an eyebrow. “Piper, you’re a little young for a phone, sweetheart,” Mama said softly.

“But Tilly has one!” Piper protested. “She can text her mom and take pictures. I want to be like her!”

Papa Penguin leaned closer. “Piper, we understand. Phones are useful when you’re older. But right now, you don’t really need one.”

Piper crossed her flippers and puffed out her feathers. “But I’ll take care of it! I promise!”

Mama Penguin smiled kindly. “A phone is not just a toy, Piper. It’s a big responsibility. Having a phone means you must be trusted to use it wisely, not lose it, and know how to stay safe. You’re still learning all that.”

Piper frowned. “But I just want to talk to you and Papa when I’m at school or playing with Tilly!”

Papa nodded. “We love that you want to talk to us. But you see us every morning, every evening, and anytime you really need us, your teachers and Tilly’s parents can help you call us. You’re never far away from our help.”

Piper slumped down in her chair. She didn’t understand. Everyone at school talked about phones—playing games, sending silly messages, and snapping photos of their funny faces.

The next day at recess, Piper watched Tilly tapping her flipper on the tiny glowing screen. Piper’s tummy turned with longing.

After school, Piper tried again. “Mama, what if I only use it for a little while each day? Just for games?”

Mama knelt and wrapped her wings around Piper. “Phones are not for games first, Piper. They’re for safety and learning, and talking to family. But too much phone time takes away from the fun you have building snow forts, drawing, or reading. Your brain needs real adventures, not just screen time.”

Papa added, “Do you remember last week when you and Tilly spent hours building that giant snow penguin? Would you rather have been inside staring at a phone?”

Piper giggled at the memory. She and Tilly had built the tallest, silliest snow penguin Waddle Bay had ever seen. Everyone came to see it. She’d felt so proud.

“No,” Piper admitted. “That was really fun.”

Papa squeezed her flipper. “See, kiddo? Phones can wait. Right now, your job is to play, learn, explore, and enjoy being seven. You’ll have a phone when you’re old enough to really need one—and ready to use it wisely.”

“But when will that be?” Piper asked.

Mama smiled. “When you’re older and more responsible and when we see that you understand how to balance phone time with real life. It’s not about copying friends—it’s about being safe and smart.”

Piper still felt a little disappointed. But that weekend, she and Tilly built another snow fort. They raced down icy slides and painted shapes in the snow with food coloring Mama gave them. Piper laughed so much her tummy hurt.

That night, Piper snuggled under her blanket and thought about her day. She hadn’t needed a phone to laugh with Tilly. She hadn’t needed a phone to talk to Mama or Papa. She realized that maybe they were right—she had so much to do and see without staring at a little screen.

When Papa peeked in to say goodnight, Piper whispered, “Papa? I think I understand. I don’t really need a phone yet, do I?”

Papa kissed her forehead. “No, sweetheart. One day you will. But for now, you just need your imagination, your friends, and your big, bright dreams.”

Piper drifted off to sleep dreaming of snowy mountains, secret tunnels, and her next big snow fort—no phone in sight, just her heart full of adventures waiting to happen.

And every time she saw Tilly tapping away on her phone at school, Piper smiled, because she knew she wasn’t missing out on anything at all. She was exactly where she was supposed to be—living her real, wonderful life.

Moral of the Story Poem:
A phone will come when you’re big and wise,
But now use your days to learn and rise.
You don’t need a screen to laugh and play,
Your dreams and games light up your day.
Trust your parents to know what’s best,
They guard your heart and guide each quest.
Phones can wait—real life’s the key,
Stay young, stay free, and just be Piper—be!