Deep in the lush green jungle, lived a crocodile named Carlos. Carlos wasn't like other crocodiles. While his siblings loved chasing butterflies and splashing in the murky water, Carlos was known for his silly antics.
Every evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, Carlos would begin his unique bedtime routine. But it wasn't a quiet, peaceful routine like the other creatures in the jungle.
First, he'd try to balance a stack of shiny, colorful pebbles on his nose, a task that always resulted in a comical tumble. Then, he'd attempt to sing a lullaby to a passing firefly, but his croaking was more like a series of confused honks.
Next, he'd play a game of peek-a-boo with the moon, popping his head out of the water to see if the silvery orb was still watching him. He'd often giggle at his own funny shadow, stretching and wiggling in the water as he did so.
His siblings, watching from the riverbank, would shake their heads, but they couldn't help but smile at Carlos's silliness. Even the wise old owl, perched high in the treetops, would chuckle softly, his wise eyes twinkling.
Carlos knew his silly antics wouldn't stop, but today, something was different. He noticed how tired he was becoming, his eyes starting to droop. He felt a little sleepy. The pebbles, the fireflies, the moon – it all felt a little less exciting.
As the moon climbed higher, casting a peaceful glow over the jungle, Carlos realized that, though silly, these silly actions were taking too long. They weren't helping him feel ready for bed. He needed to be calm and quiet to get a good night's rest.
Taking a deep breath, Carlos decided that tonight, he would try a different approach. He settled down, closed his eyes, and imagined drifting off to sleep amongst the stars. He slowly counted the fireflies, and then the leaves on the tall trees.
For the first time, his playful routines didn't seem to stretch the night on. Quietly, gently, he drifted off to sleep. And as he dreamt of tasty leaves and soothing waters, he knew that finding a calmer routine was a good thing, no matter how silly his antics had once seemed.
The next morning, feeling refreshed and happy, Carlos realized that his silly bedtime routine was still silly, but it was a good part of his life now. He simply needed a little less noise and more quiet for sleep. He realized that he needed to add a calmer phase to his bedtime routine. A calm routine that would help him get better sleep.