By Betony Coons

In this article, author and illustrator Betony Coons explores how her children's book, The Unwinding Path, draws on the ancient practice of the labyrinth to help children move from the energy of the day into a peaceful awareness of God's presence, especially at bedtime. Keep reading for a reflection on the gift of helping little ones unwind into rest knowing they are deeply loved and held.

Helping Children Unwind into Rest and the Awareness of God

In the front entryway of our church, there is a hand-inlaid wooden labyrinth built by an Azerbaijani artisan more than forty years ago. Thin strips of oak, maple, and walnut wind slowly inward toward a dove at the center. It is beautiful and intricate, a quiet invitation to prayer before you even step into the sanctuary.

A labyrinth is traditionally walked in three movements: releasing as you wind your way inward, receiving at the center, and returning as you make your way back out. It is a body-centric prayer, a slow pilgrimage meant to help us let go of burdens and move closer to God.

But the children at our church do not walk the labyrinth slowly.

They run it.

They barrel around the curves shrieking with laughter, hair flying, feet pounding against the wood. Racing toward the dove at the center as if joy itself is waiting there. Occasionally someone grumbles about the volume, but most of us smile. Their delight feels like worship of its own kind.

I grew up with parents who believed strongly that play is the serious business of childhood. Children learn through movement, imagination, and joy. And yet, as adults, we often forget that play belongs in our spiritual lives too. We assume that connection with God must be quiet and solemn. But children show us another way. Sometimes the holiest thing we can do is run the path with joy.

That insight shaped The Unwinding Path.

This book invites children to move. As parents and caregivers read, children trace the winding path with their fingers, sometimes slowly, sometimes racing. The physical act of tracing helps busy bodies settle. It gives restless hands something purposeful to do. Instead of fighting wiggles at bedtime, the book welcomes them. As the path leads toward the center, the pace naturally slows. When children arrive at the middle of the labyrinth in the story, they are invited to sit beneath a tree. To breathe. To notice. To be. Parents can gently guide this moment by asking simple sensory questions:

• What do you see?
• What do you hear?
• What do you feel?

French philosopher Simone Weil wrote, “Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.” When we help children pay attention to their breath, to the quiet, to God’s nearness, we are giving them a profound gift. We are teaching them that they do not have to strive to reach God. They can simply sit in God’s presence.

For bedtime, this rhythm matters.

The unwinding path helps release the day - the worries, the sibling squabbles, the unfinished projects. The center offers receiving: rest, love, belonging. The return outward mirrors sleep itself, a gentle letting go into trust.

Over time, children begin to associate bedtime not just with sleep, but with peace. Not just with quiet, but with connection.

I sometimes feel that our children do not need more information before bed. They need presence. They need to feel that they are held by us and by the One who holds creation. As my dance teacher used to say, “Presence is the present.”

My hope for The Unwinding Path is simple: that it becomes a small nightly pilgrimage for families. A way to move from play into peace. From energy into rest. From the noise of the day into the quiet awareness that God is already near.

May it help your children joyfully unwind and fall asleep knowing they are deeply loved and held.

About the Author

Betony Coons

Betony Coons

Betony Coons is an artist, storyteller, and mom of four fierce and wonderful kids. She grew up on an apple orchard in Kansas, where she spent her days climbing trees, chasing fireflies, and letting her imagination run wild. Now she lives in colorful Colorado with her family of six, where life is full of art, adventure, and a little bit of chaos (the good kind). Betony loves to make things—whether it's giant interactive art for kids, whimsical picture books, or an epic mess in the kitchen. Shebelieves art is all about play and curiosity, and she's always looking for new ways to turn everyday moments into something magical. Her art is filled with wonder, joy, and heart, inviting kids (and grownups!) to slow down and explore the beauty around them. To see what Betony's up to, follow her on Instagram (@betonycoonsart) or check out her website at www.betonycoons.com for her latest creative adventures!

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