Sleep Tips Web Site Expands The Bedtime Stories Project

June 16, 2010 - PRLog -- (Richmond, VA) – SleepBetter.org, the web's premier source for news, tips, and information on how to sleep better, announced today that it is expanding its program to teach parents how to help their children settle down for a good night's sleep.  The Bedtime Stories Project (http://sleepbetter.org/bedtimestories) launched in May and includes a partnership with movie and TV star Betty White.  It's an effort to revive the practice of incorporating bedtime stories into a healthy sleep routine.

The Bedtime Stories Project is designed to show the value of using a bedtime tale to help children calm down before “lights out.”  A survey conducted by SleepBetter found that families overwhelmingly prefer stories they create for their own enjoyment.  The Bedtime Stories Project is collecting original bedtime tales by its site visitors as a way to showcase their creativity and encourage families to continue creating them.

“We're concerned that bedtime stories are being replaced by television and video games,” said Dan Schecter, vice president of consumer products at Carpenter Co., and creator of SleepBetter.org.  “A well-rested child is healthier, happier, and performs better in school, and bedtime stories have an almost magical power to help them end their day and drift off to sleep.”

SleepBetter.org visitors have submitted 100 stories to the project, and that number is still growing.  Because of this outstanding response, SleepBetter is adding more rewards for the authors.  One reward already included in the project is an illustration by internationally-known artist Bill Nelson.  Nelson has illustrated covers for Time, Newsweek, Atlantic Monthly, and TV Guide.  He also created the beautiful illustrations for the Sleepy Tales Book found on SleepBetter.org.  The author of a story submission chosen by SleepBetter will receive a hand-drawn and colored illustration of his or her story by Nelson.

In addition to these two rewards, SleepBetter has decided to award prizes to four runners-up. The authors of each of these stories will receive a SleepBetter pillow by Carpenter Co., the world's largest producer of comfort cushioning products.  Carpenter Co. bedding products can be found at a variety of retailers, including JCPenney and Bed Bath & Beyond.  For more information, please visit http://carpenter.com.  

The deadline for submissions to The Bedtime Stories Project is June 30.  The five finalists will be announced in early July.

One author who submitted her story to The Bedtime Stories Project has already been rewarded.  The story Cotton Candy and the Big Mouth Frog, written by Bonnie Cox Harrison of Virginia, was chosen to be read at an event in late May by Betty White.  Video and images from the event can be found at The Bedtime Stories Project web site.

For more information on The Bedtime Stories Project, and to submit a story, please visit http://sleepbetter.org/bedtimestories  

About Carpenter Co. / SleepBetter.org
SleepBetter.org is dedicated to helping people sleep better. Designed as an online resource, the web site creates a forum for visitors to define, discuss, and discover solutions to their particular sleep needs. SleepBetter.org’s quest is to continually gather pertinent sleep information, then share this knowledge with the general public. The site also shares tips on the best sleep related products, both in stores and online. SleepBetter.org has created the Sleep Better seal as a way to easily identify products recommended for their superior quality or scientifically based design. Created by Carpenter Co., the world’s largest producer of comfort cushioning products, SleepBetter.org provides information and advice that visitors can use to sleep better. For more information, please visit http://SleepBetter.org .