Ollie the Otter and the First-Day Jitters: A Sleep Story about Anxiety, Friendship and Confidence

Does your child get anxious about school? Worried about making new friends, starting a new class, or walking into a new environment? You’re not alone. In this Steph and the Storytime Crew bedtime story, we meet Ollie the Otter, who is starting at a brand-new school and feeling all the first-day jitters.

This calming sleep story for kids is designed to help with anxiety about school, separation worries, and those butterflies in the tummy that show up when children face change. Through Ollie’s gentle adventure, little listeners learn:

• how to handle school nerves and worries
• what it feels like to find a safe, calm and kind classroom
• the power of friendship, support and belonging
• how to let go of anxious thoughts at bedtime and drift into sleep

Packed with gentle humour, reassuring storytelling, and soothing narration, this story helps children release stress, build emotional resilience, and settle into a peaceful night’s rest.

If your child struggles with bedtime anxiety, school stress, or calming down after a big day, this episode will give them comfort, connection, and the reminder that they are safe, loved, and not alone.

Press play tonight and watch your child relax, smile, and gently fall asleep with Ollie and the Storytime Crew.

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Hi, I’m Steph — a mum to a sensitive little guy and an integrative therapist who works with kids to regulate their nervous systems (as well as adults!). I know how important it is that every child feels safe, seen, and loved just as they are. I created Steph and the Storytime Crew to help kids wind down with stories that spark giggles, build confidence, and support emotional and social wellbeing — one bedtime at a time. 

Thanks for listening and letting me and the Storytime Crew be part of your family’s social and emotional wellbeing.