Ways to use this list
- Make one up together: draw a hero, then a place from the buttons above, and take turns adding a sentence until the story reaches a cosy end.
- Tired-parent nights: draw an idea and tell it in five minutes, using the same three steps each time: a wish, a small problem, a sleepy ending.
- Toddlers love repetition, so press Toddlers and let them ask for the same idea again; change one tiny detail each night.
- Grown-ups who like a story at bedtime: press For grown-ups for slow, peaceful scenes to read aloud, record or imagine with the lights off.
- Writing class: pupils draw an idea and write a bedtime story for a younger class, then read it aloud to them.
Press Draw a card, tap the game or press the Space bar. Change the list in the box as you
like: add your own, delete what doesn't suit you, or write *2 after an entry to give it double the
chance. The game buttons switch the same list to a wheel, duck race, hat and more.
The full list (54 entries)
- A little dragon who is afraid of the dark
- A teddy bear who goes exploring while everyone sleeps
- The moon loses its glow and the stars help it shine
- A snail who wants to win a race
- A cloud that can't stop raining until it makes a friend
- A lighthouse keeper and a lost little boat
- A mouse who builds a house inside a boot
- A tiny robot who learns to whistle
- A bear who can't fall asleep for the winter
- An owl who is scared of heights
- The night the toys had a picnic
- A girl who can talk to the wind
- A seed that grows a staircase to the clouds
- A penguin who wants to see the desert
- A star that falls into a garden
- A sleepy train that visits every town at night
- A fox who keeps the forest's secrets
- A whale who sings everyone to sleep
- A grandparent's magic button tin
- A kitten who follows a trail of moonlight
- A pillow fort that becomes a real castle
- A dragon who bakes bread for the village
- A tortoise who carries a tiny garden on its back
- A balloon that floats around the world
- A bunny who is too excited to sleep
- A friendly giant who tiptoes so no one wakes
- A firefly who lights the way home
- A hedgehog looking for the perfect bed of leaves
- An astronaut cat on the way to the moon
- A snowflake that wants to see summer
- A little boat crossing a calm, starry sea
- A library where the books read stories to each other
- A rainbow that loses one of its colours
- A bee who wants to learn to dance
- A grumpy cloud who learns to smile
- A sock who is looking for its other half
- A wise old tree that remembers everything
- A child who collects dreams in a jar
- A badger who sweeps the stars each night
- Saying goodnight to every toy in the room
- A duck who loves bath time
- A sleepy puppy looking for its bed
- A bunny who counts the stars
- A train that toots goodnight to every animal
- A teddy who needs a cuddle
- A cat who yawns and yawns
- A lighthouse keeper's last quiet night
- A train journey through snowy mountains
- A bakery that opens only at midnight
- A long walk along a sleeping beach
- A cabin in the woods during the first snow
- A gardener who grows flowers that glow
- A night ferry between two islands
- Two old friends meeting on a bench by the sea
Questions people ask
How long should a bedtime story be?
For toddlers, three to five minutes is plenty; for older children, ten to fifteen minutes usually works. A shorter story told calmly is better than a long one that keeps them awake wanting to know what happens.
How do I make up a bedtime story on the spot?
Use a simple shape: a character who wants something, a small problem, three tries to solve it, then a calm, happy ending at home or in bed. Draw an idea from the deck and the first part is done for you.
What makes a story calming before sleep?
Gentle stakes, a slow pace and a soft voice. Repetition helps, as does an ending where everyone is safe and tucked up. Save chases, scary villains and cliffhangers for daytime stories.
Can my child help tell the story?
Yes, and it often works better. Take turns adding one sentence each, or let your child pick the hero and place and decide what goes wrong. Older kids enjoy telling the story back to you the next night.