Leo the lion cub was FULL of energy! It was almost bedtime, but Leo wanted to ROAR and play. He bounced on his bed, zoomed his toy cars, and even tried to build a tower of pillows that reached the ceiling. "Leo, sweetie," said Mama Lion, gently. "It's time to start winding down. Too much bouncing makes it hard to sleep."
Leo’s ears drooped. He *loved* bouncing. “But I’m not tired!” he protested. Mama Lion smiled. “I know, but we can do some quiet bedtime activities to help your body get ready for sleep. How about we start with a warm bath?”
Leo loved warm baths! He splashed a little (just a little!), and Mama Lion washed his mane with lavender-smelling soap. The lavender smelled so peaceful. After his bath, Mama Lion helped Leo put on his cozy pajamas. They were covered in little stars.
Next, Mama Lion read Leo a story about a sleepy snail. Leo snuggled close, listening to the gentle rhythm of her voice. He pointed at the pictures and whispered the snail’s name, “Shelly!” Reading always made him feel calm.
Then, Mama Lion and Leo did some quiet coloring. Leo chose blue and purple crayons and drew a picture of his favorite toy car, but he colored it very slowly and carefully. He wasn’t zooming the car, just… coloring it.
Finally, Mama Lion and Leo sat together and did some deep breaths. “Let’s pretend we’re smelling a flower,” Mama Lion said. “Breathe in… and breathe out…” Leo giggled and puffed out his cheeks. He breathed in the imaginary flower smell and breathed out all his wiggles.
Leo felt his eyelids getting heavy. The warm bath, the story, the coloring, and the deep breaths had worked! He snuggled into his bed, feeling cozy and calm. “Thank you, Mama,” he whispered. “Those bedtime activities were fun… and sleepy!”
Mama Lion kissed Leo’s forehead. “Sweet dreams, my little lion. Remember, even when you feel full of energy, quiet activities can help you relax and have a peaceful sleep.” Leo closed his eyes and drifted off to dreamland, dreaming of sleepy snails and slowly colored cars.