Dilly Duckling Tries Again

Splash, the Little Pond

By the edge of a green field was a calm little pond called Splash. Lily pads floated on top. Dragonflies zipped above the water. And on the soft grassy bank lived a family of ducks.

The smallest duckling was named Dilly. She was fluffy and yellow, with tiny orange feet.

Today was a big day. Today, Dilly was going to learn how to swim.

"Come along, Dilly," called Mama Duck. "Into the water!"

The First Try

Dilly waddled to the edge of the pond. She looked at the water. It sparkled and rippled.

"Here I go!" she peeped.

She stepped in — splish! — and tried to paddle.

But her little legs went too fast. She tipped to the side. Wobble, wobble… SPLOSH! Dilly flipped right over and got water up her beak.

"Oh no," she sputtered, climbing back onto the grass. "Swimming is hard."

Try Again

Mama Duck gave her a soft nuzzle. "You did a great first try," she said. "Now, try again. Paddle slow and steady."

So Dilly stepped back in. Splish! She paddled slow. She paddled steady.

One… two… three little paddles!

But then a lily pad bumped her, and — wobble, wobble… SPLOSH! — over she went again.

Dilly's little wings drooped. "I keep falling over," she sighed.

"That's how we learn," said Mama Duck gently. "Every duckling wobbles at first. Even I did. Will you try once more?"

Dilly took a deep breath. "Okay. One more try."

Slow and Steady

Back into the pond went Dilly.

This time, she did not rush. She paddled slow. She paddled steady. She kept her little body straight.

One paddle. Two paddles. Three paddles. Four!

She did not tip. She did not flip. She was floating!

"I'm doing it!" Dilly peeped. "Look, Mama! I'm swimming!"

Round and Round

Dilly paddled in a little circle. Then a bigger circle. Then all the way around a lily pad!

The water did not feel scary anymore. It felt cool and lovely under her belly. Her tiny orange feet pushed her along — paddle, paddle, paddle.

"You did it!" cheered Mama Duck. Her brothers and sisters cheered too. "Hooray for Dilly!"

Dilly swam back to the bank, proud as could be. Her feathers were wet, but her heart was happy.

Never Give Up

"You fell over so many times," said her brother. "But you didn't give up."

Dilly smiled. "I just kept trying again," she said. "And now I can swim!"

That afternoon, the whole duck family swam together on the calm little pond. Dilly led the way, paddling slow and steady, with the dragonflies zipping above her head.

And whenever something new felt hard, Dilly remembered the day she learned to swim. Wobble and fall, then get back up. Just try again — that's how you learn.

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The gentle lesson: It is okay to wobble and make mistakes when you are learning. Trying again, slow and steady, is how we get better at new things.

More stories to read: be brave with The Brave Little Robot or make a friend in The Friendly Dragon.