Barnaby Bear was a very fluffy, very friendly bear cub. When it was time for bed, he would snuggle under his warm blankets, but his body just didn’t want to be still! His toes wiggled, his fingers tapped, and sometimes his whole bottom seemed to bounce a little. He wanted to sleep, but the wiggles just wouldn't stop.
He tried counting sheep, but his mind wandered to bouncy clouds. He tried closing his eyes very tightly, but that just made him feel more awake. He sighed a big, wobbly sigh. How could he get his body to understand it was sleepy time?
Quietly, he peeked out of his bedroom window. The moon was a silver smile in the sky. Perched on a branch of the big oak tree was Ollie Owl, looking wise and peaceful. Barnaby whispered, "Ollie? I can't sleep. My body has too many wiggles!"
Ollie Owl blinked his big, golden eyes. "Ah, little Barnaby," he hooted softly. "Sometimes our bodies need a little help remembering how to be quiet for sleep. Have you tried 'sleepy breathing'?"
Barnaby shook his head. "What's that?"
"It's like giving your body a gentle hug from the inside," explained Ollie. "You breathe in slowly, like you're smelling a flower, and then breathe out slowly, like you're blowing a feather away. Let's try it together. Breathe in... and breathe out..." Barnaby tried it. Breathing in felt quiet, and breathing out felt like a soft sigh. His wiggles didn't vanish right away, but they felt a little bit quieter.
"Good!" said Ollie. "Now, let's try 'quiet body time'. Starting with your toes, notice how they feel. Are they wiggling? Tell them quietly in your mind, 'Time to rest, little toes.' Then notice your legs. Feel them heavy and warm under the blanket. Tell them, 'Rest now, legs.' Move up to your tummy, your arms, your shoulders, your neck, and finally your head. Gently tell each part of your body, 'Quiet now, time to rest.'"
Barnaby went back to his bed and snuggled down again. He closed his eyes gently and started his sleepy breathing, smelling the imaginary flower and blowing away the imaginary feather. Then he began 'quiet body time'. He felt his toes, telling them to be still. He felt his legs, heavy and warm. He felt his tummy, soft and quiet. He felt his arms and paws relax beside him.
With each quiet breath and each relaxed body part, Barnaby felt his wiggles getting smaller and smaller. They were like fireflies flickering away into the night. A peaceful feeling spread through him, like warm honey.
He did a few more sleepy breaths, feeling the calm air fill him up and the sleepy air leave him. His whole body felt soft and still. The moon peeked in his window, a gentle smile watching him. Barnaby Bear felt wonderfully quiet and ready for dreams. He drifted off to sleep, feeling peaceful and calm from his sleepy breathing and quiet body time.