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Christmas bedtime story: goodnight, reindeer
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The sky over the North Pole was dark blue. The stars were twinkling. The moon was round and silver.
It was bedtime.
Santa put on his warm boots. He lit his little lantern. And he walked through the snow to the reindeer stable.
Crunch, crunch, crunch, went his boots.
He opened the stable door. Inside, it was warm and quiet and smelled of hay.
"Time to sleep, my dear reindeer," said Santa softly.
The first reindeer
In the first stall stood the biggest reindeer of all, with antlers like the branches of a tree.
Santa stroked his soft nose.
"Goodnight, big reindeer," he whispered.
Hay to eat and stars above, sleep tight, my reindeer, with all my love.
The big reindeer folded his legs and lay down in the straw.
The second reindeer
In the second stall stood a reindeer with a white star on her forehead.
Santa scratched her behind the ears, just where she liked it.
"Goodnight, starry reindeer," he whispered.
Hay to eat and stars above, sleep tight, my reindeer, with all my love.
The starry reindeer closed her eyes.
The third reindeer
In the third stall stood a reindeer who was still munching. Munch, munch, munch.
"Still hungry?" smiled Santa. He gave him one last handful of moss.
"Goodnight, hungry reindeer," he whispered.
Hay to eat and stars above, sleep tight, my reindeer, with all my love.
The hungry reindeer gave a big yawn. Yaaawn. And lay down.
The smallest reindeer
In the last stall, there was the smallest reindeer. She was not sleepy at all. She was hopping about in the straw.
"One more game?" she asked.
Santa sat down next to her. He hummed a soft song. Hmm, hmm, hmmm.
The little reindeer stopped hopping. She leaned against Santa's warm red coat.
Her eyes went heavy. Her ears drooped down.
"Goodnight, little reindeer," he whispered.
Hay to eat and stars above, sleep tight, my reindeer, with all my love.
And the little reindeer was asleep.
Goodnight, stable
Santa stood up very quietly. He looked at all his reindeer, sleeping in the straw. Their breathing went in and out, in and out, slow and soft.
He tiptoed to the door.
"Goodnight, stable," he whispered.
He closed the door. Crunch, crunch, crunch, went his boots through the snow, back to his warm little house.
He blew out his lantern. Phhh.
"Goodnight, stars," said Santa.
And now it's time for you to sleep too.
Hay to eat and stars above, sleep tight, little one, with all my love.
Goodnight.
For grown-ups
Say the refrain together with your child each time it comes back. Toddlers love joining in, and the repetition helps them wind down. You can also count the reindeer on your fingers, or add a goodnight for your child's own cuddly toys at the end.
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