The thing at the centre of it
the Settling Globe
It is a snow globe on the windowsill, round as an orange, with a tiny house inside that has one lit window and a red front door.
The snow inside swirls whenever a feeling in the room gets big and fizzy, and it settles, slowly, whenever someone nearby breathes slow and long. Swirling is never wrong and never a problem - it is just what snow does - and the globe always settles again in the end.
“Swirl and whirl, and slowly settle.”
The same line in every story of the programme. A child who can say the next line is a child who asks for the book again.
The 7 nights
One small step a night. The whole routine is only assembled on the last one. A child handed all of it at once has been given a chore list.
- 1
Says the name of a feeling out loud, such as cross, sad or worried.
They want to see the tiny house inside the globe, with its one lit window, but the snow is whirling so thickly after a bouncy game shook the windowsill that the house has disappeared behind it.
- 2
Takes one slow breath in and out when a feeling gets big.
They want to see who lives behind the red front door, but the snow only settles for a breath that is slow, and quick breaths just stir it up again.
- 3
Breathes out slowly and for a long time, like blowing on hot soup.
They want to watch the very last snowflake land on the roof, but the last flake keeps floating, because it needs a breath out as long and gentle as cooling a spoonful of soup.
- 4
Goes to a calm-down spot of their choosing when a feeling is big.
They want to find the quiet corner of the garden inside the globe, but the garden only shows itself to someone sitting still somewhere soft, and the window seat is across the room.
- 5
Counts slowly to five while breathing.
They want to count the five little stars painted on the globe's glass, but the stars only shine one at a time, one for each slow breath, and they will not be hurried.
- 6
Uses the slow breath on their own, without being reminded.
They want to settle the snow before the lamp is switched off, but a big fizzy feeling arrives all at once tonight, and nobody else has noticed the globe at all.
- 7
Leads the whole calm-down on their own: names it, breathes, and settles.
They want to settle the whole globe, from the first swirl to the last flake, but nothing is in the way tonight - the naming, the breath, the soft corner and the counting are all already known.
What this programme will never do
Written down for this habit specifically, and checked in code on every story before it reaches a child.
- Never call a feeling bad, wrong, naughty, silly or something to get rid of. Every feeling is allowed; the story is about what to do while it is big.
- Do not have anyone say calm down, stop crying, settle down, or that's enough.
- Do not describe the child as naughty, difficult, dramatic, a crybaby, or having a tantrum or a meltdown.
- Do not describe the child hitting, throwing, breaking or hurting anyone or anything.
- The globe never cracks, breaks, is taken away, or refuses to settle as a punishment. It is never disappointed and never scolds.
Other programmes
The Bedtime Routine
Seven nights that turn the bedtime fight into a routine your child leads themselves.
Ages 3–8 · 7 nights
Brushing Teeth
Seven nights that turn the toothbrush argument into something your child starts on their own.
Ages 3–8 · 7 nights
Using the Potty
Seven gentle nights about noticing the feeling and getting there in time, with nothing in them about getting it wrong.
Ages 3–5 · 7 nights
Sharing and Taking Turns
Seven nights about turns that come back, so sharing becomes your child's idea, not a rule they are made to follow.
Ages 3–7 · 7 nights
Getting Ready in the Morning
Seven nights that turn the morning rush into steps your child takes on their own, in their own time.
Ages 3–8 · 7 nights