Be Calm on Ahway Island | Bedtime Stories & Meditations for Kids
Be Calm on Ahway Island | Bedtime Stories & Meditations for Kids

Sardine Surprise: a soothing story and meditation 😊

July 31, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Sardine Surprise: A Soothing Story and Meditation

On Ahway Island, a simple misunderstanding at the park leads to a new game and new friendships. In this episode, listeners follow Owen and his friend Andy as they navigate a mix-up between hide-and-seek and a game called sardines, learning along the way that different people can have different ideas about how to play—and that both ways can be fun.

A Calming Start

The episode begins with a gentle relaxation exercise. Listeners are guided to imagine themselves on a sunny beach, feeling warm sand between their toes and fingers. The narrator leads a "dragon breath"—a deep inhale through the nose, filling the lungs, followed by a slow exhale through the mouth, as if breathing fire. This breathing practice is repeated several times, each time paired with a sensory image: sand hugging the body, grains sliding between toes, the beach supporting the back. The purpose is to settle the body and mind before the story begins, creating a state of calm readiness.

The Hide-and-Seek Mix-Up

Continue reading the full summary in the app — free to try.

Read Full Summary →

Free • No credit card required

Listen to Audio Summary Open in App

What you'll learn

  • 1 (00:35) **Guided Relaxation & Breathing Exercise** - The narrator leads listeners through a dragon breathing exercise and a visualization of relaxing on a sunny beach.
  • 2 (03:47) **Story Begins: Owen and Andy at the Park** - The story introduces Owen and Andy playing at a local park on a warm afternoon.
  • 3 (05:04) **Asking to Join the Game** - Andy politely asks a kid named Luis if they can play hide and seek, and they are welcomed into the group.
  • 4 (06:04) **Owen's Strategy and Andy's Confusion** - Owen hides inside a large evergreen bush, but Andy follows him, misunderstanding the rules of hide and seek.
  • 5 (07:32) **Explaining Hide and Seek vs. Sardines** - Owen clarifies the rules of hide and seek, leading Andy to realize he was thinking of a different game called "sardines."
  • 6 (08:41) **Staying Quiet to Avoid Discovery** - The two boys remain hidden together, trying to be quiet while Owen is curious about Andy's version of the game.
  • 7 (09:22) **The First Game Ends** - Luis finds Owen and Andy together, and the other kids are puzzled by their shared hiding spot.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

Andy and Owen make some new friends at the park when Andy teaches them all a new game.

---

Hello everyone! We hope you enjoyed our new stories this week. Now, welcome to Favorite Friday! Sometimes we like to listen to our favorites again. Please enjoy “Sardine Surprise,” and we’ll be back with a new story on Monday!

Narrator: Male

Today’s Meditation: Enjoy the feeling of your body relaxing into the warm sand on a sunny beach.

Themes: Trying New Things, friends, problem solving, working together, healthy minds

---

Thank you for listening to Be Calm on Ahway Island!


Are you and your children enjoying our stories and self-soothing meditations? Please leave us a rating and review to help us grow!


To hear more soothing stories and support our hand-crafted, human-made work, join us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for ad-free episodes, bonus content, and more!


Looking for a more exciting story for active listening? Check out our companion podcast, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Adventures on Ahway Island⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, wherever you get your podcasts.


To learn more about our mission at Ahway Island and our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠team⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, please visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.


In the Press:


Stay connected with us on social media:


We’re glad you took a break with us today!



Suppo
Be Calm on Ahway Island | Bedtime Stories & Meditations for Kids

More from this podcast

Be Calm on Ahway Island | Bedtime Stories & Meditations for Kids →