Barnaby Bear was a busy little cub! All day long he would bounce and tumble and splash in the stream. He chased butterflies (gently, of course!) and climbed small trees and loved to play tag with his sisters.
But as the sun began to paint the sky in sleepy orange and purple colors, Barnaby started to feel a different kind of feeling. Not the bouncy kind, but a soft, warm, slow kind of feeling. His mother bear called, "Barnaby, time for our cozy den!"
Inside their den, it was warm and smelled like soft earth and sleepy leaves. It was just the right place for getting ready for sleep. Barnaby wriggled around until he found his favorite spot, right in the snuggliest moss.
He snuggled his nose deep into the moss. It felt soft and cool against his fur. He tucked his paws under his chin and sighed a happy, sleepy sigh. No more bouncing now, just quiet stillness.
Barnaby closed his eyes, but not all the way, just a little bit. He started to listen very carefully to the quiet sounds around him. He could hear the softest whisper of the wind outside, like a gentle lullaby through the leaves.
He listened some more and heard his own breathing. It went in... and out... very slow and steady. He decided to breathe just like that, slow in, slow out. With each slow breath, he felt his little bear body start to feel heavier and softer.
Barnaby thought about cozy things. He imagined floating on a big, fluffy white cloud in the blue sky. He imagined snuggling up next to a warm, smooth stone. He imagined his soft blanket made of spiderwebs and moonbeams.
The quiet den, the soft sounds, the slow breathing, and the cozy thoughts made Barnaby feel so very relaxed. It felt like he was melting just a little bit into the soft moss. He felt safe and warm and peaceful.
This was the perfect feeling for sleep. Barnaby snuggled deeper into the moss, feeling the peaceful quiet all around him, and with a happy little sigh, he closed his eyes all the way and drifted off into the sweetest, most relaxed dreams.