The Little Mermaid Story for Kids

Once upon a time, there lived a beautiful little mermaid named Ariel. She was the youngest daughter of the Sea King Triton and resided in an ocean kingdom lush with beautiful corals, sparkling seashells, and cheerful sea animals. Ariel was kind and curious and loved to hunt for the treasures on the land above the waves. 

Ariel more than anything, hoped to be with people, for it was the greatest dream of the little mermaid. Many times, she would swim up and see the vessels moving in the sea, wondering how it would be to be on land. Though her father had already warned her that humans were not to be approached, Ariel’s obsession with seeing them escalated with each passing moment. “The world above is dangerous,” he would say, but it was like pouring water on a blaze.

One day while the princess was still awake, she saw a majestic spray moving across the ocean surface. Peeking over the waves, where a handsome prince stood on the deck of the valuable ship, he got Ariel’s attention. Eric was his name. While Ariel stared at the prince wishing to be with him, a tornado out of nowhere swept in, causing panic on the ship. The prince fell off the ship into water, and Ariel, being the kind self, stood up at the moment as she went to save him.

Ariel’s, in her melodious voice, was singing softly as she waited for help to come after carrying the unconscious King up the shore. Upon surfacing, the prince noticed Ariel for a slight glance, but she disappeared in the ocean in a split second after that. Although he had no idea about her identity, one thing remained in his mind, her heavenly voice.

A Deal with the Sea Witch

Ariel couldn’t stop thinking about Prince Eric. Her love for him and her dream of living on land grew stronger every day. Desperate to become human, Ariel decided to visit Ursula, the cunning Sea Witch. Ursula promised to make Ariel human in exchange for her beautiful voice. “But remember,” Ursula warned, “if the prince doesn’t fall in love with you and kiss you within three days, you will return to the sea as my prisoner.”

Though frightened, Ariel agreed. Ursula cast a spell, turning Ariel’s tail into legs. However, Ariel could no longer speak—her lovely voice now belonged to Ursula.

Eric was in all Ariel’s thoughts. Day by day, Ariel’s wish to go live with Eric cast upon her love for the prince, making her resilient. She thought to see the Sea Witch, Ursula and asked for help. In return for Ariel’s beauty, the sea witch would make Ariel’s wish of becoming a human true as Ariel would lose her voice as well. “However, you must know,” Ursula cautioned, “if the prince doesn’t fall in love with you and kiss you within three days, you will return to the sea as my prisoner.”

Instinctively frightened, Ariel, however, nodded in agreement. “Close your eyes,” said Ursula. Although Ariel got her much desired ‘legs’, she felt incomplete without her beautiful voice.

Ariel was ecstatic to experience having legs and quickly dashed off to search for Prince Eric. Despite not knowing Ariel was the woman who rescued him since she couldn't speak, the prince was captivated by her beauty and kindness. They walked around the country together, giggling and developing their relationship. Ariel wished with all her heart that Eric would fall deeply in love with her.

However, Ursula, who was observing from her lair, would not let Ariel’s plan work. It was always Ursula’s evil plan to make Ariel fail anyhow, and in order to do that, she transformed into a beautiful woman named Vanessa. Ursula used Ariel’s heavenly voice to lure Eric, who believed that it was Vanessa who saved him from drowning and fell in love with her immediately. 

Ariel’s Courage and Triumph

Ariel felt humiliated but chose not to surrender. On the day of the marriage, her companions, Flounder the fish, Sebastian the crab and Scuttle the seagull, managed to learn about the foul play of Ursula. They combined their forces and dispelled the curse. As Ariel awaited the sunset, she cried out as the illusion was revealing that Vanessa was truly Ursula.

After Ariel was freed and the enchantment lifted, Eric realised in astonishment that it was Ariel who had saved him. He rushed to her, only to be disappointed because it was a little too late– the sun had set and Ariel had gone back to her mermaid form. She was seized by Ursula and pulled down into the deep sea.
King Triton, upon seeing his daughter in danger, marched towards Ursula. He traded his own strength to save Ariel and took her place as a prisoner of Ursula's. After claiming Triton's magical trident, the furious Ursula created a storm relentlessly targeting everyone.

Brave Prince Eric entered the fray and rammed his ship into Ursula. With the sea witch defeated, Triton’s power returned and so did Ariel’s freedom.

Happily Ever After
King Triton had witnessed how deep Ariel's love for Eric was and agreed to transform her into a human. With his power, he restored her legs once more. Ariel and Eric could not be happier. 

Soon after came their beautiful wedding, on the beach surrounded by their friends from land and sea. It was the day Ariel had always dreamed of – living on land and being together with Eric.

The Moral of the Story

The story of The Little Mermaid gives important messages about the meaning of courage, self sacrifice and integrity. We learn from Ariel’s dream, pursued to bring it to life, loyalty of her friends, and King Triton’s love for his girl, that goodness and love can cope with the strongest obstacles.