bedtime story
Nighttime reading ritual
A bedtime story is a tale read or told to a child at night to help them fall asleep.
The stories are typically gentle, imaginative, and comforting: She read her daughter a bedtime story about a rabbit.
Figuratively, a bedtime story is any soothing narrative, or dismissively, an implausible tale: His alibi sounded like a bedtime story.
Spoken or written narrative
- fableMoral tale with animals
- fairy taleMagical children's narrative
- folktaleTraditional narrative passed down
- mythTraditional explanatory tale
legend · parable · adventure · happily ever after · picture book · chapter · protagonist · hero
Natural planetary satellite
- starsLuminous celestial bodies
- darknessTotal absence of light
- night skyDarkness above after sunset
- moonlightReflected solar radiance, nocturnal
midnight · nocturnal · pajamas · nightgown · covers · comforter · lamplight · shadows
Regular sequence of actions
- traditionCustom passed through generations
- tuck-inReady someone for sleep
- reading aloudSpeaking text for listeners
- bondingForming close connections
parenting · cuddle · snuggle · pillow · teddy bear · stuffed animal · blanket · nightlight
Free from agitation
peaceful · drowsy · sleepy · hush · murmur · lull · relaxing · comforting
tale
Spoken or written narrative
- fableMoral tale with animals
- fairy taleMagical children's narrative
- folktaleTraditional narrative passed down
myth · legend · parable · adventure · happily ever after · picture book · chapter · protagonist · hero · heroine
moon
Natural planetary satellite
moonlight · midnight · nocturnal · pajamas · nightgown · covers · comforter · lamplight · shadows · crickets
routine
Regular sequence of actions
- traditionCustom passed through generations
- tuck-inReady someone for sleep
- reading aloudSpeaking text for listeners
bonding · parenting · cuddle · snuggle · pillow · teddy bear · stuffed animal · blanket · nightlight · goodnight
calm
Free from agitation
tender · peaceful · drowsy · sleepy · hush · murmur · lull · relaxing · comforting · warm
sing
Vocalize melodically
- melodyPleasing sequence of notes
- rhymeMatching terminal sounds
- nursery rhymeTraditional poem for young children
song · hum · croon · verse · rhythm · chant · singsong · Mother Goose · refrain
magic
Supernatural or illusory power
- enchantmentMagical influence over someone
- dragonLegendary fire-breathing reptile
- unicornMythical one-horned horse
fairy · wizard · witch · princess · prince · castle · kingdom · quest · talking animals · giant
- childhoodchildhood, baby, child, kid, toys
- storiestale, tales, myth, legend, fable
- childhood motifsteddy bear, balloon, lollipop, rocking horse, crayon
- childhood themeschildhood trauma, nostalgia, innocence, imagination, play
- childhood traditionsbirthday parties, birthday party, birthdays, tooth fairy, Santa Claus
- family traditionsfamily traditions, holiday dinner, family dinner, family reunions, family reunion
bedtime storymorning reading
Consuming words at daybreak
wake-up call · morning routine · morning news · dawn chorus · reveille
bedtime storyhorror story
Narrative intended to terrify
nightmare fuel · wake-up call · thriller · scary story · ghost story
bedtime storyhard truth
Unpleasant accurate statement
harsh reality · brutal honesty · wake-up call · reality check · unvarnished truth
time, story, history, stories, bedroom, bedtime, historical, storied, storybook