Milo the Monkey Learns About Inside and Outside Voices - A Children's Story

 

Milo the Monkey Learns About Inside and Outside Voices
By Bill Conley
America’s Favorite Children’s Storyteller

Moral to the Story:

Knowing when to use your inside voice and when to use your outside voice helps everyone feel comfortable. Inside voices are gentle and quiet, so we don’t disturb others.
Outside voices are loud and joyful for playtime in open spaces. Using the wrong voice in the wrong place can make others upset or uncomfortable. Your voice is a tool; you get to choose the right one for the right time. Inside voices show respect for people who are working, resting, or talking quietly. Outside voices let you express excitement when you’re in a space where loud is welcome. Good friends know how to use both voices at the right time.

Milo the Monkey was full of energy.

He loved swinging on vines, jumping over rocks, and telling the loudest jokes in the jungle. His laugh was big, his stories were big, and, most of all, his voice was big.

One morning, Milo was at the breakfast table with his family.

“MILO!” he shouted. “CAN I HAVE MORE BANANAS?”

Mama Monkey covered her ears. “Sweetheart, please use your inside voice.”

“My inside voice?” Milo tilted his head. “But we’re inside the treehouse, so I am inside!”

Mama smiled. “Inside voice doesn’t just mean being indoors. It means speaking softly so you don’t hurt anyone’s ears.”

Milo looked puzzled. “So when can I be loud?”

Papa Monkey chuckled. “We’ll teach you.”

That afternoon, Mama took Milo to the library.

The library was quiet—so quiet you could hear the pages turning. The other animals were reading, whispering, or studying.

“HI LEO!” Milo bellowed when he spotted his friend Leo the Lemur.

Everyone turned to look. The old parrot librarian gave a sharp “Shhh!”

Mama leaned down. “Milo, this is a place for inside voices. People are reading, and loud voices make it hard for them to think.”

Milo lowered his voice to a whisper. “Like this?”

“Exactly,” Mama nodded. “That’s your inside voice, soft, calm, and kind.”

Later, they went to the park. Birds chirped, kids laughed, and the air was full of joyful noise.

Leo was on the swings. “Milo! Race you to the slide!” he yelled.

Milo grinned. “OKAY!” he shouted back, and this time, Mama smiled.

“See, Milo? This is the right time for your outside voice. We’re outdoors, there’s lots of space, and no one’s trying to be quiet.”

Milo laughed and climbed to the top of the slide, shouting “WHEEEE!” all the way down.

The next day, Milo went with Papa to the grocery store.

He spotted a huge bunch of bananas. “PAPA! LOOK AT THOSE!” he yelled.

Papa put a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Inside voice, Milo. Even though this isn’t a library, it’s still a place where people shop and talk quietly.”

Milo took a deep breath and said, in his soft voice, “Papa, look at those bananas.”

“Perfect,” Papa said, smiling.

That night, Milo’s cousins came over for dinner. They played a board game in the living room.

“YOU CHEATED!” Milo yelled, giggling.

Mama popped her head in. “Inside voices, please. Remember, Grandma Monkey is resting in the next room.”

“Oh!” Milo lowered his voice. “Sorry, Grandma!”

By the end of the week, Milo was starting to get the hang of it.

He learned that inside voices were for:

• Libraries
• Stores
• Classrooms
• Restaurants
• Homes when someone is resting or reading

And outside voices were for:

• Parks
• Playgrounds
• The yard
• The beach
• Sporting events

On Saturday, Milo and Leo played soccer in the big jungle field.

“GOAL!!!” Milo roared.

“That’s the loudest I’ve ever heard you!” Leo laughed.

Milo grinned. “That’s because I saved my outside voice for the outside, and it feels great!”

When Mama called them in for lunch, Milo trotted inside, sat down at the table, and asked in his calmest voice, “Mama, may I have some water?”

Mama beamed. “Milo, you’ve learned when to use both voices. I’m proud of you.”

Milo sipped his water and thought about it.

Sometimes, being loud was fun. Sometimes, being quiet felt nice too.
The trick was knowing which one was right for the moment.

And Milo, the once-loud monkey, was now a master of both.

Moral Poem:

When you’re inside, keep voices low,
Speak softly and calmly, let kindness show.
When you’re outside, go laugh and cheer,
It’s fine for friends and all to hear.
Choose your voice, be smart, be kind,
Think of others, keep them in mind.
Inside or out, you’ll always know,
The perfect voice for where you go.

Three Thought-Provoking Questions:

1.     Why is it important to think about where you are before choosing your voice level?

2.     Can you name a place where you’d use your inside voice and a place where you’d use your outside voice?

     3.     How does using the right voice show respect for others?