Stories for Night Time: Benefits of Reading to Children in Bed
For parents, trying to get the kids to bed can be a difficult task. This is where bedtime stories come in. They’re the perfect medicine to get hyper children ready for bed!
From the imagination of Roald Dahl to the magical world of Alice in Wonderland, there’s an abundance of children’s books out there.
But, what are the benefits of reading to children in bed? We thought we’d take a closer look.
There’s no better time to explore the world of children’s stories than before bed!
Why is Reading Important for Children?
Escaping to the imaginary world of literature has numerous benefits for little ones. The importance of reading for kids is clear, with benefits that include helping them to learn and encouraging their imagination.
But, if you’re still in the dark about why reading is good for children, here’s a bit more about the topic.
It Improves Concentration
Why read to your child?
Sitting still and listening to a good bedtime story can help improve their concentration!
Watching TV is an easy task for the brain, whereas reading is a lot more complex, allowing the brain to strengthen and build new connections.
If reading is done often, paying attention to the story will help a child retain information.
It Helps Them Sleep
For some children, getting to sleep at night can be difficult!
A story at night can help them associate reading with bedtime, and get them into a routine.
There are many ways to help you get to sleep. Reading at night is one of them!
It Helps Their Own Skills
When you read to children, they’re encouraged them to read themselves. The more you do it, the better!
Also, reading to children will help them learn and improve their vocabulary and language skills. Encourage them to re-read their favourite books over and over again. This will help them become confident in reading.
Reading helps them pick up new words, and absorb sentences that they can later incorporate into their speech. So, when it comes to their own skills, the importance of reading to young children is clear!
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It Encourages Their Imagination
It’s not just TV that can inspire a child’s creativity!
By reading and listening to the description of the characters, places, and things, children can recreate these images in their head to bring the story to life.
Help them escape to a new, fantasy world!
It Teaches Them Morals
Another reason why reading is important for children?
Books often teach young children morals through the characters and situations in the story. The heroes found within children’s’ books can have an impact even when you’ve finished reading!
Each night you’re reading together, your child is learning the meaning of right and wrong and getting inspired by the actions of those in the story.
Digesting and learning these morals is much more fun this way than being taught by an adult!
It Strengthens Your Relationship
You’re never too old for a good book!
Reading is a fun activity for both child and parent. As a parent, mundane day-to-day life can get tiring. It’s a welcome relief to be able to go an adventure with your child every night through the pages of a book. It’s also a chance to take a trip down memory lane!
Reading to your child also builds a strong relationship. If you don’t get to see your child much during the day, reading a book before bed is a great way of spending quality time together.
So, the importance of reading to children is clear!
Tips for Reading to Your Child
Difficulty in getting your child to read? Some kids just won’t sit still!
Now that you’re clear on the benefits of books for children, how can you make you turn your kid into a bookworm?
Here’s some useful tips:
Let Them Pick the Book
Allowing them some control will spark their passion for reading.
Take them to a library or bookstore and allow them to browse the selection there.
This will get them excited for bedtime!
If you’re planning a lazy duvet day with your kids, have plenty of books on standby. The trick is to get them to love getting stuck into a good book.
Make It Entertaining
Where appropriate, use humour.
Funny voices, giving each character a distinct accent or sound effects are all ways to keep your child entertained.
After you’ve finished reading, talk about the story, flick through the pages and pictures again and talk about what happened. Try to make it enjoyable for both of you!
Ask Them Questions
Ask them plenty of questions to keep them engaged.
‘What do you think will happen next?’ ‘What should the lion do now?’
Questions will help them stay interested!
Get Comfortable
Get comfortable and enjoy the stories!
Always find a comfortable place to read with your little one such as a warm cosy bed, bean bag or sofa.
Use Reading Apps
Reading apps are a great way to encourage your children to read.
They make things interesting, help them to learn and get them excited by the thought of a good book. The benefits are endless!
Best Children’s Books
So, which books should you get stuck into?
There are plenty of children’s books out there, with new ones being released every day. But, never forget about the old classics!
Here are just a few of our top picks:
• Harry Potter
• The Tiger Who Came to Tea
• The BFG
• The Cat in the Hat
• Charlotte’s Web
• The Gruffalo
• We’re Going on a Bear Hunt
• Goodnight Mister Tom
Enjoy getting lost in the magical world of literature!
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