The Dragon Who Was Afraid of the Dark
Afraid of the dark at bedtime?
In this story your child and a tiny dragon who is also scared of the dark learn dragon breaths and switch on a small brave light. It's still a little scary, and they're brave anyway.
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Helps with
Bedtime fears
Fear of the dark: feeling calm and safe at bedtime, even while still a little scared.
The tool your child practises in the story
Dragon breaths and a brave light
Practise in the daytime first, when everyone is calm: breathe in slowly through the nose like smelling a flower, then breathe out a long, warm dragon breath, three times, saying "Smell the flower, blow the fire, slow and warm." At bedtime, give your child a small, soft night-light they can switch on and hold. Do the breaths together until your child can do them alone.
For grown-ups
What this story is about
Many children feel scared of the dark at bedtime. In this story your child meets a little dragon who feels the same, and together they learn dragon breaths and switch on a brave light. The fear does not vanish by magic: your child learns to feel it and still settle down calmly.
Three ways to talk about it
- Name and accept the feeling: "The dark can feel scary. Lots of people feel that way, and it's okay."
- Instead of "There's nothing to be scared of", look around the room together with a soft light and name what the shapes really are.
- Keep bedtime calm and predictable, and say where you will be: "I'm right next door."
Three questions to ask
- How did Sparky feel in the dark? Have you ever felt like that?
- What helped Sparky and the child in the story feel calmer?
- What would your own brave light look like?
Practise the tool together: Dragon breaths and a brave light
Practise in the daytime first, when everyone is calm: breathe in slowly through the nose like smelling a flower, then breathe out a long, warm dragon breath, three times, saying "Smell the flower, blow the fire, slow and warm." At bedtime, give your child a small, soft night-light they can switch on and hold. Do the breaths together until your child can do them alone.
If fears of the dark are very strong, last for weeks, or keep your child from sleeping, it is worth talking to your paediatrician or a child psychologist.
Made with care
Every book is checked page by page before it's printed.
- Every book is checked page by page before it's printed.
- Printed in Europe on thick silk paper.
- A hardcover built to last, for years of bedtime stories.
Look inside
Twelve illustrated spreads: the picture on the left, the story on the right. These sample pages show an invented child called Ella.
"Who are you?" came a whisper from under the quilt. "I'm Sparky," sniffed the little dragon. "Dragons are supposed to be brave. But I'm scared of the dark." "Me too. Just a little. Mostly the tall thing by the door." Sparky's eyes went wide. "Really?" Ella patted the quilt. Pat, pat. "There's room right here." Sparky fluttered over and snuggled in.
"Grandma Dragon taught me a trick," said Sparky. "Watch." Sparky sniffed in, slow and long, like smelling a flower. Then out came a long, warm dragon breath. Hhhaaaa. "Smell the flower. Blow the fire. Slow and warm. Now you!" The first try came out as a snort. Snrrk! Sparky giggled. Second try: sniff... hhhaaaa. The thump-thump slowed, just a little. But the room was still very, very dark.
Together they followed the glow. The tall thing by the door had two empty sleeves and a belt. "It's my dressing gown!" The lumpy thing in the corner had ears. Lots of ears. "And that's the toy box, full of teddies." Sparky let out a little puff of smoke. "Oh. Things look much bigger in the dark." Then, by the window, the curtain began to move.
The door opened a crack. "Still awake, sweetheart?" Quick as a wink, Sparky dived behind the curtain. "A little scared," whispered Ella. "Could you leave the door open? Just a little?" "Of course. I'm right next door." And the door stayed open, just a crack. A thin line of warm hallway light lay across the floor, like a golden ribbon.
Now there was only the quiet room, the brave light, and one small someone in the bed. The dark was still there. A tiny bit of scared was still there too. Creak, went the house, very softly. Thump-thump. Smell the flower. Blow the fire. Slow and warm. One... two... three. Thump... thump... thump. The fingers holding the quilt let go, one by one.
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