Considering the craziness of everyday life, it’s often a challenge to get any alone time with my two boys. I work part-time out of the home and part-time from home, so it feels like I have something work-related on my mind all of the time. If I’m not actually at work, I’m on the computer working on something else. When all four of us are home, we’re often trying to cook dinner, clean up from the day, and prepare for the next day.
For these reasons, putting the boys to bed is a very special part of my daily routine. Granted, it takes effort to stick with a routine night after night, but Brooks and Case have always had a consistent bedtime and fall asleep well on their own. Sometimes my husband and I take turns reading stories to the boys, but often, I selfishly do it because I love the individual time with them. Todd helps with bath, teeth brushing, pjs, finding lovies, etc. but I’m often the one who actually reads their stories. I cherish this time and also know they’re benefiting from it as well.
Top Three Reasons to Read Bedtime Stories
1). Relaxation: Often times, if we don’t have a reason to slow down and kick up our feet, we won’t. I love sitting in the rocker with my toddler or snuggling in the bed with my five-year old at night. I can finally chill out for at least twenty minutes, relax, and allow my brain to slow down. The day feels like it moves on high-speed, so it’s nice to take some time just to sit, read, and relax. I know it’s good for my mood and the boys’.
2). Literacy Skills: I enjoy story time for many reasons other than the fact that it’s truly helping my kids develop early literacy skills, but in regard to their future academic success, we can’t forget how important this is. Because their brains develop most rapidly before the age of five, it’s vital that we expose our children to as much literature and vocabulary as possible when they’re very young. Nursery rhymes, songs, letter/number/color books, touch-and-feel books, pop-up books, and repetitive language books are all wonderful for children two and under, while picture books and sight-word books are excellent for preschool-aged children. As the kiddos get older and begin to read on their own, you and your child can read aloud to one another, or you can continue reading to them. Model reading is always a great way to enhance your child’s reading skills as it helps them learn correct tone and intonation.
3). Bonding: Young children are by nature very egocentric and if they could have it their way, Mommy or Daddy would play with them the entire day and give them all of the attention they could possibly want. Realistically, however, this can’t happen due to the chaotic nature of life, nor would it be good for our kids. It’s important that they bond with other adults, socialize with their peers, and learn how to play alone, but we are the most important people in their lives, so being with us one-on-one is vital to their development and well-being. Though occasionally we can fit a parent-child date into our day, bedtime is often the only chance I get to really talk and bond with my boys. This is often the only time when Case will sit still and when Brooks tells me about something exciting that happened at preschool that day.
Do you all love this time of day as much as me? If you have gotten out of the routine of reading bedtime stories or if you have never established a bedtime story routine, it’s never too late. Reading as opposed to watching TV or playing on a tablet, is proven to more effectively shut off the mind and allow the body to relax. Remember, story time is not only good for the little ones, it’s beneficial for Mom and Dad too.
There have been SO many nights that I have been exhausted and the last thing I’ve felt like doing is reading my kids bedtime stories, but I do it for all of the great reasons you have listed 🙂
My husband usually reads the girls a bed tine story, it is his way of bonding and connecting with them after a long day of work.
I so agree Suzanne. I was great about reading with my first and got progressively worse with my younger two. I have guilt about this now. I feel like I missed a great opportunity for them and myself. Keep reading girl. 🙂
Great advice from wise lady!
you can really instill a love of learning and reading if you start reading to a child early on. In the womb is a good place to start!
We do bedtime stories every night. My husband usually does it since it’s the only time they really get to spend together on weekdays, and they all love it.
Love reading to my girls and agree with you on the benefits. Our favorite books are Bible based and Mo Willems.
I will have to check out Mo Willems. I’m always looking for new books to read to my little guys. Thank you!
My kids are older now, but reading bedtime stories was such a fun time for me. I can still recall ever word to some of their favorite books. That I’ll Teach My Dog A Lot Of Words is seared into my brain after reading it a billion times lol.
This is actually one of the things I look most forward to when I pop out my own little ones!
You will love it!
I love story time with Kate and those few occasions I get to do it with Brooks when he gets to have a sleep over. It is very relaxing I agree and great for the kiddos! Great post!
Awww! He always wants you to read to him over me. Love you, Aunt Savannah.
We have been reading to our oldest since he was about 4 months old. In our house, Daddy takes care of the bedtime stories because it’s a great time for them to bond and I can get a little “me” time after being home with the boys all day. Our 7 week old lays in the bed with Daddy and the 3 year old too – it’s so precious to witness!
I agree that if you are able to be home with the little ones all day, bedtime is great bonding time for Daddy and the kiddos!
We always said we wanted to read a book before our child’s bedtime. We’ve been fighting Red to sit down for over a year, but in the last month, Red has started to BRING books to us! Victory!
Reading to your kids at night really is important! My daughter never did learn to love reading but at least she got that bonding time every night!
Bedtime reading is so important. More parents need to make the time to do it (me included). My son loves reading together before bedtime, but right now he is asking for the book as a stalling tactic. Hmmm…I think we need to go up earlier, so he gets the book AND gets to bed on time.
I read to my kids for so long! I think we all enjoyed the time together every night because they were pretty darn old and we still continued to do it.
Awww…I hope that’s me!
I think reading to your kids is one of the best ways to spend time with them. Kids love stories and they can learn a lot from them too.
One night my boy insisted I read 21 books. He wanted more, but I had to stop at some point. He’s the best when it comes to delaying bed time – and the easiest way is “one more book, mommy!” Who are we to say “no” to reading??
i’m actually very selfish. i love doing the reading with my kids thing. i know all of the benefits, but for me, it’s the quiet, snuggle time with my babies. that time is limited and i treasure it
Yes, great reasons!! I love reading to my little ones.
Yes, yes, yes!! I love reading to the boys all the time. As a result, I have created a monster of a reader in Graham. It is so important.
Yep, this is true! Reading should be done daily and sometimes, I forget that. : (
My sister-in-law always tries to read a story to my niece before bed, and has started with my nephew now that he’s one. It’s one of the things that you have to promise her before you take my niece for a stay over at your house lol.
We read several books throughout the day, but always read 1 before bed- sometimes 2. I think it’s super important!
My boys LOVE bedtime stories. We just started The Hobbit!
maybe because I’m tired and been parenting already for 18 years but we don’t read enoug with our daughter. I’m going to make it a mission to do this more. All she ever wants to do is spend time with everyone.
I like the routine it provides. The kids know read their story and then it’s lights out!
Your three top reasons work for me too. We spent many hours bonding and enjoying books. My daughters still read a lot today.
Eliz
We love both the bedtime stories with my son. He’s already nine but I think it’s such an important bonding moment that I will be doing it until he doesn’t want to read him anymore.
I try to read to my kids every night. Or I have Serenity read to me.
My favorite time of day 🙂 Reading to my babies is our way to relax and get ready for bed. 🙂
We love bedtime stories. I like that the school requires a little reading each night for their homework.
You are right. There are so many good reasons to read to our children each day. It is worth the effort even when we are tired.
I couldn’t agree more with all of the above. The single best thing you can do to prepare your children to do well in school is read to them from an early age.