Owen isn’t sleepy, until he yawns. Eco shows him why sleep matters, and together they walk through a calm bedtime routine: quiet play, a warm bath, pajamas, brushing, a story, lights down low, and three sleepy breaths. In the morning, Owen wakes up rested and ready.
The lesson: a calm routine every night helps your body grow, rest and remember.
What your child practices
A bedtime routineBath, pajamas, brushing, a story and lights down low, in the same order each night.
Calm or busyChoosing quiet activities at night, and saving screens, drums and ball games for the daytime.
Brushing wellA pea-sized dab of toothpaste, put on by a grown-up, and two minutes of brushing.
Calming the bodySlow belly breaths with Eco: in… and out.
Why sleep mattersSleep helps us grow, gives us energy, and helps our brains remember.
Rhyme and print awarenessAround / down and tight / light, with every word lit up as it’s read.
How much sleep?
The American Academy of Pediatrics endorses these amounts of sleep in each 24 hours, naps included: 10 to 13 hours for ages 3 to 5, and 9 to 12 hours for ages 6 to 12. In the story, Owen sleeps from 7:30 at night until 6:30 in the morning, which is 11 hours.
Bedtime tips
Keep bedtime and wake-up time about the same every day, weekends too.
Turn off screens at least an hour before bed, and keep TVs, tablets and phones out of the bedroom.
Keep the bedroom quiet, dark and comfortable. A nightlight is fine if your child is afraid of the dark.
A favorite cuddly toy or blanket, like Owen’s owl, can help a child feel safe.
For ages 3 to 6, use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste and brush for two minutes, twice a day. Most children need a grown-up’s help brushing until about age 8.
Daily active play helps children sleep better at night.
Cleaning safety
Cleaning products are for grown-ups. Keep them out of reach of children and pets. Avoid eyes. If swallowed or in eyes, call Poison Control 1-800-222-1222.
Made for calm play
No ads, no purchases, and nothing your child types leaves this device.
No timers and no losing. A wrong answer gets a gentle hint and another try.
About ten minutes from cover to promise, and the book remembers where you stopped.
Talk about it afterwards
What does your body do when it’s getting sleepy?
What are three calm things we can do before bed?
Who is your cuddle buddy at night?
Can you show me Eco’s sleepy breathing?
How do you feel in the morning after a good night’s sleep?
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From Ecolosophy
These stories are free for everyone. Eco is the leaf-heart at the center of everything we make. Look for Eco’s other stories at ecolosophy.com.