A Different Kind of Animal Tale
In many stories, snakes are the villains. But in our 2026 collection, we believe every animal can teach us something special. This unique snake story for kids uses the slow, smooth movements of a snake to help children transition from a high-energy day to a calm, restful night.
If your child is feeling bouncy like a rabbit at bedtime, press play and let Silas the Sleepy Snake guide them to sleep.
How the Rabbit Learned to Rest
Deep in the green forest, the sun was hiding behind the tall mountains. The sky was turning a soft, quiet shade of dark blue.
Almost all the animals were getting ready for bed. The owls were fluffing their feathers. The bears were snuggling in their caves.
But Barnaby the Rabbit was not sleeping.
Barnaby was running. Thump, thump, thump. He hopped over logs. He dashed under bushes. His mind was moving too fast. His little legs were moving too fast.
“I cannot sleep!” Barnaby said to the wind. “I have too much running left to do!”
Suddenly, Barnaby heard a very soft, very slow sound from the warm rocks nearby.
Ssssshhh. Ssssshhh.
Barnaby stopped hopping. He twitched his nose. He looked at the rocks. There, curled up in a perfect, smooth circle, was Silas.
Silas was a beautiful, green snake. But he was not a scary snake. He was a very sleepy, very relaxed snake.
“Hello, Barnaby,” Silas whispered. His voice was smooth, like water flowing over pebbles. “Why are you jumping… when the forest is resting?”
“I am too awake!” Barnaby said, bouncing on his back paws. “My heart is going thump-thump-thump, and I do not know how to stop!”
Silas smiled slowly. He uncurled his long, green body. He moved without any rushing. No thumping. No jumping. Just a smooth, slow glide.
“You are trying to sleep like a rabbit,” Silas whispered softly. “Tonight, let me teach you… how to sleep like a snake.”
Barnaby sat down on the soft moss. He was curious.
“First,” Silas said, “you must stretch. A snake stretches all the way from its head… down to the tip of its tail.”
Silas stretched his long body on the warm rock. Barnaby tried it. He stretched his long ears up to the sky. He stretched his little toes down into the moss. He felt his muscles let go of their tightness.
“Good,” Silas whispered gently. “Now… we do the snake breath. It is the slowest breath in the forest.”
Silas took a deep, slow breath in. His green tummy got bigger. Then, he let it out with a soft, long sound. Ssssshhh…
“You try,” said Silas.
Barnaby closed his eyes. He took a deep breath of the cool, night air. One… two… three. Then, he let it out slowly. Ssssshhh…
“Again,” Silas whispered.
Barnaby breathed in… and breathed out. Ssssshhh… As he breathed, his fast heart started to slow down. The thump-thump-thump became a slow, quiet rhythm.
His ears felt heavy. His paws felt warm and relaxed.
“You see?” Silas murmured, curling back into his perfect, cozy circle. “There is no rush. The forest is holding you safe.”
Barnaby lay down on the soft moss next to the warm rock. He did not want to hop anymore. He just wanted to rest.
He took one last, slow snake breath. Ssssshhh…
The forest was silent. The rabbit was still. And the sleepy snake drifted into a peaceful dream.
Goodnight, Silas. Goodnight, Barnaby. Goodnight to you.
Parent’s Guide: The “Snake Breath” Technique
Why is this story effective for energetic children? It incorporates a real-world mindfulness exercise:
- Controlled Exhalation: The “Sssshhh” sound forces the child to extend their exhale. In pediatric sleep psychology, a longer exhale triggers the parasympathetic nervous system, naturally lowering the heart rate.
- Muscle Relaxation: Asking the child to “stretch like a snake” is a form of progressive muscle relaxation, releasing physical tension built up during the day.
- Pacing: The story starts with fast, staccato words (Thump, dash, hop) and transitions into elongated, soothing sounds, subconsciously guiding the child’s brainwaves to slow down.
Nighttime routines should be a moment of peace, not a race. If your little one found comfort in this gentle forest, you can discover many more bedtime stories for kids in our free audio library, carefully crafted to guide them into sweet dreams.
