Bedtime Story - School Days Ahead

As a new school year approaches, young ones may feel a mix of anxiety and excitement about the days ahead. They are not alone! In this bedtime story, Sonali, Pariya and Deco share their concerns and hopes on the school year ahead.
Thumbnail image by Syeda Saira on Pixabay.
Music “Sleep Music Vol. 15 by Relaxing Time Piotr Witowski via Pixabay

Transcript

School Days Ahead Welcome to a bedtime story,

School Days Ahead.

We'll get to this story in a minute,

But first,

Let's get cozy.

As you lay down in your bed,

Begin to relax.

Imagine your whole body softening.

Letting your head sink nicely into the bed or pillow under you.

Feel your arms relaxing.

Your legs relaxing.

Even the muscles around your head and face softening and relaxing.

If you need to,

Wiggle around a little bit so you are comfortable.

Snuggle up in your soft blankets and hug your stuffed toy if you have one.

Gently close your eyes.

Nothing to do now except relax,

Listening to my voice.

As your body and mind get ready for a restful,

Soothing sleep,

Let's begin our story,

School Days Ahead.

It is only a few days before a new school year will begin,

And Sonali,

Deco,

And Paria have lots to say on their feelings about the coming days.

This is going to be Deco and Paria's first year of grade school,

And they are feeling a little anxious about what to expect in grade one.

They know it will be different from daycare,

And not at all like staying home all day.

Deco and Paria are talking to each other in the playground this late summer day,

Wondering what the first days of school will be like.

Sonali is really excited about going to school in grade three.

They could not understand why Sonali was so thrilled about school.

Deco told Paria he always had fun at daycare and liked his friends there.

And the summer camp days were also loaded with fun activities like crafts,

Bicycle rides,

And exploring walks to the nearby forest park.

Deco told Paria that grade one seemed to be more work than daycare play.

He remembers the homework that his sister Sonali brought home.

She always liked doing homework.

Yet Deco was worried he couldn't read as well as his older sister,

And he wondered,

Would there still be time to play after school days?

Paria told Deco she also feels troubled about starting grade one.

Like Deco,

She had fun friends at daycare,

And she was worried they may not go to the same grade one classroom as her.

Paria also felt she might miss her favorite friend in the whole world,

Her sister Elika.

Elika is still too young to go to school,

So she will be at home or daycare when Paria is in grade one.

Sonali was also at the playground,

And overheard some of what Paria and Deco were wondering about the beginning of a new school year.

Sonali has already completed grades one and two.

She really wants to get back together with old school friends and to meet new friends in grade three.

She told Deco and Paria that she was also anxious about going to school at first,

Before grade one,

But that she had talked about her feelings with her parents.

Talking to adults about your worries can be very helpful.

Sonali reassured Paria and Deco that there is a chance some of the daycare friends will also be at the same school in grade one.

There is an even stronger chance that they would make new friends in grade one.

And like the wise eight-year-old she is,

Sonali also suggested that there are a bunch of ways to have fun with new and old friends as they begin school.

She mentioned that the classroom is only one place to meet new friends.

There is also recess.

Recess is a break from classwork learning and is usually outside in a play area.

It is a good time to meet new friends and play games.

Deco thought about that and told Paria and Sonali he loves outside playtime and that he made friends in the playground at daycare.

He's liking recess already.

Then Sonali pointed out that the walk or school bus trip to school also offers a chance to meet new friends.

So does lunchtime.

And sometimes there are even after-school opportunities to play.

And speaking of plays,

Sonali told them how each class also plans one or two school plays or presentations each school year.

Everyone in the classroom works together as a team to put on a show for the parents,

Like Christmas plays in December.

It might be a play where some classmates speak,

Some sing,

Others dance.

And it is a lot of fun.

Deco smiled happily.

He remembered a play when Sonali sang in grade two.

He remembered the hand-drawn and collared decorations made by Sonali and her classmates.

He couldn't wait to put his drawing skills to work on his first play in grade one.

That's when Paria shouted out,

Yay!

She loves singing and dancing and knows some of her classmates will like it too.

And now she was looking forward to lunchtime too.

In daycare,

She had a lot of good lunchtime chats with others in her class and with her teachers too.

Deco also remembered that Sonali missed him when she was at school all day,

But that they would catch up and have lots of fun during the evenings and weekends.

That made Paria feel much better about Elika staying at home or daycare while she went to school.

She always liked the big,

Long hugs with her sister when they got together again.

As Deco and Paria thought about school now,

They liked thinking about the exciting days ahead.

New friends,

Lots of activities,

Playtime at recess,

And of course,

Learning in the classroom too.

Deco suddenly looked a little more concerned.

A slight frown appeared on his face for a moment.

Sonali noticed.

She asked,

What is wrong?

Deco told her he doesn't know how to read like her.

He knows a few words,

But not full storybooks like Sonali.

That's when Sonali reminded him that she also could not read full storybooks either when she began grade one.

She learned how to read more in school and by doing her homework.

She looked at Paria and Deco and promised them they will learn how to read,

To write,

Just like her in school.

Sonali told them she is looking forward to reading more books and learning to write even more stories,

Something she enjoys doing at home,

Even during the summer months off school.

She promised them that they too would learn everything they need in school,

But she also promised to help them if they need help at any time.

Then Paria also spoke up about helping others.

She says talking to her parents about anything that bothered her at daycare was always helpful to her.

Parents can provide understanding that young people may not have even thought about.

She remembered her parents asking what the best thing was about her day at daycare,

And they would ask if anything was wrong if she seemed sad that day.

Sonali agreed that talking to parents is a good idea.

She also told them that parents often get them prepared for school by starting bedtime routines a few days before school begins.

A routine might mean the same time waking up and going to bed each night,

And always getting clothes ready for the next day.

She said some parents,

Even before the first day of school,

Bring their kids to visit the new school,

And sometimes to meet their new teacher.

Now Deco and Paria are really feeling a lot of support from Sonali,

And they know they will have a lot of help from mom and dad.

They're feeling excited about beginning school in a few days,

Meeting new friends,

New teachers,

New experiences.

Leaving the playground for the short walk back home,

Sonali,

Deco and Paria are now feeling ready for school days ahead.

And all the fun it will bring to each of them,

And to their new friends.

At the end of this day,

They are now ready for a restful sleep.

You too can slip into sleep anytime.

Gently close your eyes.

You are safe here.

Let's take a big deep breath to help us relax into sleepy time.

Take a deep breath in,

Filling your whole body with all that good energy.

Then let out all that old air.

Long breath out.

Now let all thoughts of the day,

Or of school days,

Float far,

Far away.

If you wish,

Take those deep breaths in and out one or two more times.

And then just breathe naturally.

You may keep noticing your breath.

With every breath out,

You feel more and more relaxed.

More ready for a restful,

Deep sleep.

It is time now for pleasant and sweet dreams.

Sleep well,

My friend.