How to Read MedTime Bedtime Stories

Reading a guided meditation to your child before bed is a beautiful way to help them unwind, spark their imagination, and prepare for restful sleep. Here’s how to make it a calm and comforting experience:

1. Set the scene

  • Create a Calm Space: Before you even begin reading, make sure the room is dim and quiet. Turn off any bright lights or screens. Your child should be comfortable, snuggled in bed.
  • Get Comfy Yourself: Sit or lie down in a way that feels relaxed for you too. Your calm energy will be contagious.

2. Embrace a soothing tone of voice

  • Soft and Gentle: Use a soft, gentle, and warm tone of voice. Think of it like a comforting lullaby, not a lively story. Avoid anything too energetic or exciting.
  • Consistent Pitch: Try to keep your voice at a relatively even, low pitch. A fluctuating or high-pitched voice can be stimulating.
  • Whisper When Appropriate: For certain parts, like describing soft sounds or secret discoveries, a gentle whisper can draw your child in and enhance the feeling of quiet intimacy.

3. Master the pace (this is key!)

  • Read Slowly — Very Slowly: This is the most crucial tip. Read at a much slower pace than you would a normal story. The meditation is designed for imagination to unfold, not for plot points to rush by, so you need to allow time for this.
  • Allow for Pauses: Don't be afraid to pause often and for a few seconds. Give your child's mind time to visualize what you've described. Pause after describing a smell, a feeling, or a sound. Let them really feel it.
  • Match the Story's Rhythm: When the story describes something slow (like a snail or a gentle wave), slow your reading pace down even more. When it describes stillness, pause and be still with your voice.

4. Demonstrate the breathing and somatic exercises

  • Breathe Along: When the meditation instructs your child to "take a big, soft breath in" or "breathe out slowly," do the breaths along with them. Exaggerate your own breathing slightly so they can hear and feel your breath, guiding theirs.
  • Model the Somatic Exercises: For the gentle somatic exercises at the beginning (like squeezing knees or shrugging shoulders), do them yourself as you describe them. If your child is unsure about what to do, seeing you helps them understand, and also makes it feel like a shared activity. Your quiet movements will reinforce the instruction.

5. Encourage imagination. not effort

  • "Imagine" vs. "See": These stories use words like "imagine," "picture in your mind," or "feel." The goal isn't for children to force a clear picture, but to gently let their mind create whatever comes naturally. Remind them there's no right or wrong way to imagine.
  • No Questions During: Before you start reading the meditation, explain to children that they should hold all questions until the end. The same goes for you: resist the urge to ask questions like "What do you see?" during the meditation. This pulls children out of their relaxed state. If they ask a question, answer very softly and gently, then guide them back into the story.

6. The wind down and transition to sleep

  • Soften Towards the End: As the story approaches its end and the focus shifts more explicitly to sleep, make your voice even softer and slower.
  • Quiet After the Story: Once the meditation is finished, don't immediately jump up or start talking. Stay quiet for a minute or two. Let the peaceful feeling linger. Hopefully your child is already be drifting off.

By following these tips, you'll create a truly calming and magical end to your child's day, helping them drift off to sleep feeling relaxed, safe, and happy.