Sherlock’s Bedtime Clues

3 hours ago

3 min read

A little rhyme for winding down together.

For evenings when there are still wiggles to spare, join Watson and Sherlock for gentle movement, a little squeeze and release, and time to rest. Read the rhyme together and let your child choose how to take part.

Listen together

Press play for Brooke’s read-aloud, about a minute and a half. Your child can join in, imagine the movements, or simply listen. There’s nothing they need to watch; you can set the screen aside.

Open the recording and transcript in a new tab

Download the rhyme and grown-up note (PDF)

Free, two-page printable. No purchase or email address needed. Print page 1 for your bedside copy, or both pages for the companion guidance.

Read together

Find a comfortable resting place. Read slowly and leave little pauses between actions. Keep squeezing gentle and breathing easy. Your child can move, imagine the movements, or just listen. Skip anything uncomfortable; eyes can stay open. The flower and soup are pretend, and there’s no need for a big breath.

Wiggly, jiggly, squiggly toes,

Here’s a clue that Sherlock knows:

“When your body’s full of zoom,

Give those wiggles just some room.”

Wiggle fingers, wiggle toes,

Wiggle shoulders, wiggle nose.

Now those wiggles get to rest.

Find the spot that feels the best.

Give your hands a gentle squeeze.

Let them soften, let them ease.

Let your shoulders settle low.

Feel your fingers letting go.

Smell a flower, nice and slow.

Cool your soup - a gentle blow.

Let your breathing come and go.

Nothing to hurry. Take it slow.

Feel your pillow, feel your bed.

Find a place to rest your head.

Hands can soften, shoulders too.

Let the bed help carry you.

No need to make

Sleep appear.

Your only job

Is resting here.

A note for grown-ups

Let your voice become quieter as you move toward the ending. There is no need to repeat the active opening once your child is settling.

Use a light squeeze, not maximum effort; skip squeezing if it hurts or feels unpleasant. Keep breathing comfortable, with no breath-holding, forced nasal breathing, or big repeated breaths. Return to ordinary breathing if the cue feels uncomfortable.

A child does not have to become still, feel sleepy, or finish the rhyme. If the wiggles make things livelier, start with “Give your hands a gentle squeeze,” or go straight to the resting lines. If a worry needs attention, pause and listen. “Your only job” means permission to rest, not a rule to get right.

The idea behind the rhyme

The squeeze-and-release verse borrows from progressive muscle relaxation: noticing muscle tension and then releasing it. Pediatric guidance includes this technique among relaxation tools. This short hand exercise is an introduction, not a full muscle-relaxation program. The rhyme and flower-and-soup imagery are creative adaptations; this particular resource has not been clinically tested.

This is family education, not individualized treatment. If sleep difficulties persist or affect daytime life, discuss them with your child’s healthcare professional.