A song written to support the transition to bedtime for families. Humour is included surrounding this time of night. Ideas are suggested for touch, movement and dance rhythms that can support self-regulation for children and the shift to rest and digest in the nervous system which helps before sleep.
lyrics
Bedtime
Copyright lyrics and music melody by Hana Kamea 2010
Musical arrangement by Roch Gallo 2011
Bedtime, Bedtime
Now’s the time to go,
Yes its time to go to bed.
Bedtime, bedtime
Yes now its time,
to take your sleepy head to bed!
What do you say if we end our day
After all of your wonderful play
I’ll hold your hand and we can dance all the way
To your bedroom where your animal friends await
Bedtime, Bedtime
Wait, You say you don’t want to go?
You don’t want to go to bed
Bedtime, Bedtime
You don’t want to go
You want to do something else instead! Hmm, great.
(speak this part partly)
Here’s what we can do,
Take our hands 1 and 2
And softly brush, brush down your back
Feel it on your skin
We take our hands both 1 and 2
And brush, brush, slowly down your back…..! (go slower)
(whispered: Doesn't that feel good?)
Oh it’s bedtime, bedtime
And you still don’t want to go
You want to stand on your head, head, head!
But its bedtime, bedtime, yes as you know
It’s really time to go to bed!
Looks like we need one more game to play
This time, we’ll slowly rock the night away,
Ya hold my hands, & let your body sway!
Let your body sideways sway…..
(slow it down into interlude, waltz at that point…)
Now breathe really deep (sound of an inbreath) and feel
whole body peace (pause)
and slowly all your breath starts to release, (ah…exhaling)
(very slow)
Bedtime, Bedtime, you didn’t want to go
But now that you are calm, your body can let go…
Follow your feet as they tuck under your sheets,
Sink your cheek into your pillow…
And fall asleep!
credits
from Be My Mirror,
track released April 1, 2017
Hana Kamea melody and lyrics and vocals, Roch Gallo arrangement and plays on all instruments. Quinn Norin on cello.
Hana Kamea is a singer-songwriter, Dance/Movement Therapist and Counsellor for kids, who also plays piano and guitar and has
been singing and dancing since she was a kid. She trained in classical voice in her teens, and has sung in choirs and acapella groups her whole life. Hana has performed in many musicals and community theatre, dance troupes, and enjoys making up songs for all ages!...more
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