Your next adventure could be a moment together.
Now that you have met Pigúiça here, discover the story behind her world. See the illustrations, read the beginning and choose a book to share with your child, one page at a time.
Looking for goodnight messages for kids? Here are 20 short, loving lines you can use tonight: read them aloud, write them on a note or whisper them close to your child's ear before the light goes off.
20 goodnight messages for kids
We grouped them by type of moment. Pick the one that fits your night and swap in your child's name if you like.
To whisper when you turn off the light
- Goodnight, my love. The day is over, and I'm right here beside you.
- You did your best today, and that is plenty. Now it's time to rest.
- The moon has switched on her little light just to watch over your sleep.
- Close your eyes nice and slow. I'll stay with you a little longer.
- You are loved exactly as you are. Goodnight.
To read aloud, with Pigúiça and Fofuxo
- Pigúiça has curled up in her little bed and sent word that she hopes you dream sweetly.
- Fofuxo put all the toys away and wishes you a nice, cozy night.
- In the Magic Garden, the flowers are folding their petals slowly. Shall we close our eyes just like them?
- The fireflies lit their lanterns to light the way to your dreams.
- Tomorrow brings more adventure, but tonight is only for lovely sleepy time.
To write on a note and leave on the pillow
- I stopped by to give you a goodnight kiss. Sleep tight, my treasure.
- Dream about something that makes you giggle when you wake up.
- I'm so proud of you. See you in the morning!
- This note is holding a great big hug. Just hold on to it and sleep.
- When you wake up, I'll be right here. For now, it's time to dream.
For the hard days
- Today was a tricky one, but tomorrow starts fresh and brand new.
- If a worry shows up, call me. I will always come.
- It's okay to feel what you felt today. I understand, and I'm with you.
- Worries stay outside the bedroom door. In here, there is only love.
- You don't have to fix anything right now. Just take a deep breath and rest.
Speak slowly, in a low voice, and leave a little silence after each line. Children feel the tone before they understand the words, and a calm tone is what invites the body to slow down.
A short 3-step routine
For the message to work better, keep the same order every night. First, turn off the bright light and switch on a soft little lamp. Second, sit on the edge of the bed and read or say the message you picked. Third, give a hug, say your family's goodbye phrase (it can be the same one every time) and leave without rushing. The repetition teaches your child that after those words, sleep comes.
How to pick the right message
There is no perfect line, only the line that fits that day. If your child came home wound up, go for the slower, shorter ones. If something upsetting happened at school, the hard-day messages show that you are on their side.
With ages 3 to 4, use very small sentences and repeat their name. From 5 to 6, you can mention characters and imagine what they are doing at night. Around 7 to 8, many kids love reading the note on their own, so it's worth leaving a new one every day, sometimes with a little drawing.
Let your child join in
Ask them to choose tonight's message from two options, or make one up together. When children take part, the ritual becomes theirs, and it is much easier to keep going every night, even the busy ones.
After the message: a story, a song and a drawing
If there is still a little energy left, a short story closes the moment nicely. On our bedtime stories page you will find free tales, in many languages, that take just a few minutes to read.
A soft song with the lights low fits too: have a look at the children's songs. And during the day, drawing and coloring calm the mind: our coloring pages offer free sheets to print. If you'd like an illustrated story to read together, the Dogavios book tells the adventures of Pigúiça and Fofuxo in the Magic Garden.
Quick tips for bedtime
Keep the room dim, quiet and free of screens. Avoid exciting topics like a party or tomorrow's outing, and save scolding and to-do reminders for another time. At night, only what soothes. If your child's sleep is a problem that doesn't get better, talk to your pediatrician: here we only talk about warmth and routine.
Frequently asked questions
What age are these messages for?
From babyhood, because a calm voice already soothes. The simplest lines work well from about 2 or 3 years old, and the longer ones from around 5.
Do I need a different message every night?
No. Some families love repeating the same line every night, like a secret password of love. Others rotate. What matters is the calm tone and the moment that belongs to the two of you.
What if my child asks for one more message?
Agree on it beforehand: one message and one hug, and that's it. If they ask for more, say gently that the next one is for tomorrow. Soft limits are part of caring, too.
Your next adventure could be a moment together.
Now that you have met Pigúiça here, discover the story behind her world. See the illustrations, read the beginning and choose a book to share with your child, one page at a time.
