A bedtime rescue pack
Stories for the Night After a Bad Dream
Low-intensity stories for checking shadows, calming the body and making the room feel familiar again.
Printable planBegin with The Friendly Shadows if the child wants to talk about the dream. If they do not, skip straight to a familiar rhyme or a patient, moonlit story that asks nothing of them.
Read them in this order
- 1
The Friendly Shadows
A bad dream leaves Owen frightened of familiar shadows. A parent validates the feeling, checks the room and helps Owen give the dream a safer ending.
2 min · Ages 3–8 · Low intensity - 2
The Sleepover Lantern
When a first sleepover stops being funny and starts feeling far from home, Hana asks for help and learns that staying or going home can both be good choices.
2 min · Ages 4–8 · Low intensity - 3
The Anxious Leaf
Luna, a beautiful red leaf, is always anxious and fearful, longing to dance in the wind but held back by her worries. A gentle breeze encourages her to trust and let go of her fears. As Luna discovers the world's beauty and her own strength, she learns to embrace life with newfound confidence and joy.
5 min · Ages 3–7 · Low intensity - 4
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
A little star shines above the sleeping world, guiding travellers with its tiny light. This familiar, slow rhyme is made for a quiet voice at the very end of bedtime.
1 min · Ages 1–3 · Low intensity - 5
Rock-a-bye Baby
A cradle rocks softly beneath a moonlit tree while a parent keeps watch nearby. This gentle bedtime version keeps the familiar opening and gives the baby a safe, sleepy landing.
1 min · Ages 1–3 · Low intensity - 6
The Unicorn Who Waited
Orla has no quick unicorn magic. By waiting beside a pond, she notices the frogs and fireflies that later guide everyone safely through the fog.
2 min · Ages 3–8 · Low intensity
This is a reading list, not medical or therapeutic advice. Skip any story that does not feel right tonight.