Once upon a time, deep in the sparkly blue ocean, lived a little starfish named Sunny. Sunny wasn't quite sleepy. He wiggled his arms and legs and watched the bubbles float by. 'I just can't seem to settle down,' he sighed to a wise old sea turtle.
The sea turtle smiled kindly. 'Sunny,' she said, 'sometimes our bodies and minds are full of wiggles! Let's try a little ocean breathing. It helps calm everything down.'
‘Ocean breathing?’ asked Sunny. ‘What’s that?’
‘It’s easy!’ said the turtle. ‘Imagine you are the ocean. Take a deep breath in, filling your tummy like the ocean filling with water. And then, slowly breathe out, letting the water flow back out. Like the waves going in and out.’
Sunny closed his eyes. He took a deep breath in… and his tummy puffed up like a little balloon! Then, he slowly breathed out, letting all the wiggles float away with the bubbles. He did it again. Deep breath in… and slow breath out.
With each breath, Sunny felt his arms and legs become a little heavier. He imagined the waves washing over him, gentle and soothing. He noticed the soft glow of the coral and the quiet hum of the ocean.
The sea turtle continued, ‘Now, think about something happy. Maybe a beautiful seashell you found, or a friendly fish you played with today.’
Sunny thought about playing hide-and-seek with his best friend, Finley the fish. A warm, happy feeling spread through him. He breathed in… and out… feeling calmer and calmer.
He noticed how his starfish points felt, resting on the sandy ocean floor. He wiggled them just a tiny bit, then let them be still. He breathed in… and out…
Soon, Sunny’s eyes felt very heavy. The ocean breathing was working its magic! He yawned a big, sleepy yawn. ‘I think… I think I’m ready to sleep now,’ he whispered.
The sea turtle smiled. ‘That’s wonderful, Sunny. Remember, you can always use ocean breathing whenever you feel wobbly or need to calm down. Sweet dreams, little starfish.’
Sunny snuggled into the sand, his five points relaxed and still. He breathed in… and out… and drifted off to sleep, dreaming of sparkly bubbles and friendly fish. And you, little one, can close your eyes now too, and breathe in… and out… just like Sunny the starfish. Sweet dreams.