Lily loved bedtime stories, but sometimes, getting ready for sleep felt like a long, winding road. She'd bounce on the bed, race her toys across the floor, and even try to coax her stuffed animals into a game of hide-and-seek.
One night, feeling especially restless, Lily's mommy suggested a different kind of bedtime activity. 'Let's try a calming corner,' she said, smiling.
Lily's mommy led her to a cozy corner of the room. A soft blanket was laid on the floor, and a basket filled with colorful play-doh sat beside it.
Lily gently placed her favorite teddy bear, Barnaby, onto the blanket. 'Let's make Barnaby a special cozy cave,' her mommy suggested, taking out small blocks of colorful play-doh.
Lily giggled. She carefully rolled out soft, purple play-doh, shaping it into a cave-like structure. Her mommy helped her add tiny, sparkly, yellow play-doh pebbles to decorate the entrance.
Next, Lily squeezed the play-doh into a fluffy cloud shape, placing it over the cave for soft lighting. She made a tiny, happy face with the play-doh, imagining Barnaby looking out of the cave at the moon.
After a few more minutes of quiet play-doh creations, Lily felt her eyes getting sleepy. 'This is a magical cave,' she whispered, smiling. 'Barnaby is snuggly in his cozy cave and ready for sleep.'
Mommy smiled, 'This activity, creating a special place for Barnaby, helps you calm down. It's a great way to prepare for bedtime.'
From that night on, Lily looked forward to her 'calming corner' time. She discovered that creating something special, like a cozy cave for Barnaby, helped her mind slow down, and she found it easier to drift off to sleep.
Lily learned that preparing for bedtime doesn't have to be a race. It can be a time to relax, to use her imagination, and to make magical memories. Finding fun and calming activities helps prepare your mind for a peaceful night's sleep.