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Reading a kid a bedtime story is a great way of developing a bond and having time at the end of the day with them where the attention is solely focused on them.
Here we offer tips on how bedtime reading to kids should be done to benefit children but also to be a positive routine that helps them to get a good night’s sleep.
How To Do Bedtime Reading To Kids
By following these tips you will be able to do bedtime reading perfectly every time and also help a child to get a better night’s sleep.
1. Read In The Room The Kid Will Sleep In
The first thing to consider about bedtime stories is the environment. We recommend that you only ever do bedtime stories in the room the kid will be sleeping in or in their bed.
Bedtime stories should be part of a kid’s winddown routine so make sure they have gone to the bathroom, brushed their teeth, and maybe had a bath, before getting them into their sleepwear and popping them into bed.
Encourage them to get cozy and have them cuddle into you if they want to sit up to see the book or lie down with them and hold the book overhead.
2. Consider Tone Of Voice
When you are reading, consider your tone of voice.
While keeping the story interesting is fantastic you don’t want to make the kid hyper before they go to bed so it’s best to read stories that can be read in a soothing tone of voice that will send them off to sleep.
You can keep your funny voices and impressions for more exciting stories that can be read during the daytime.
3. Choose A Suitable Length Of Time
Bedtime stories don’t always have to mean reading an entire short story.
Try to find books that are an appropriate length so that you can read for a certain length of time suited to the kid’s age.
We recommend the below reading times:
- 5-10 minutes for kids less than 1 year old
- 5-15 minutes for kids between 1 to 2 years old
- 10-20 minutes for kids between 3 to 4 years old
For older kids you can start asking them to read with you and work on reading a certain number of pages or a chapter, they will be at the age where they will understand this.
4. Set Limits
Always communicate with the kid about what they can expect from bedtime reading so that they are not disappointed when this time comes to an end.
Tell them how many pages or books you will be reading so that they don’t get surprised.
Ask them to repeat back what you have said and you can even shake on it or make a pinky promise so that they know you won’t go back on your word and the hope is that they won’t go back on their word either.
5. Have A Small Selection
Having an extensive selection of books can make choosing a book a long process.
You can ask a kid to choose three possible books for bedtime stories earlier in the day and once bedtime stories time comes around ask them to choose one that you will read.
Alternatively, you can have a selection of books in a basket from which they can choose.
Choose a few books that are not overly exciting or long and change these books every two weeks.
If you don’t want to buy books you could borrow a small few from a local library or exchange books with other families in the area to get more value from your purchases.
6. Choose An Appropriate Book
The type of books you have should be suitable for the age of a kid. Picture books that also have nice tactile features are great for babies younger than 15 months.
At this age, repetition is welcomed and so you may find yourself reading the same book over and over again.
Older kids will prefer to choose their book from a small selection.
For kids aged between 15 months to three years old, you should exert their opinions and have them pick the story for bedtime stories.
Books with pictures and large text are great for kids this age.
Kids over the age of three might want to be involved in the reading of a story and talk about what they see in a book.
Engage with their questions and set a limit for how many pages will be read before beginning to read.
7. Keep Your Word
Bedtime stories are a great way of dealing with any parental guilt you may have.
If you don’t get to spend much time with a kid during the day at least you know you are guaranteed bedtime stories with them.
If you work nights you can change up your routine and have morning reading time and read then or if you won’t be available speak with your child and make a plan to go and get a book from the library at the weekend instead, or bring them to buy a new book.
Try to keep your word so that the routine becomes familiar with a kid, meaning bedtime will become easier as both you and your kid know what to expect.
Final Thoughts
We hope that this piece has offered you some useful advice that you can take on board and put into practice next time you are reading a bedtime story.
Bedtime stories should be treasured as you will only have a few years before a kid will be choosing to read their bedtime story by themselves.
Try to see this time as an opportunity where you get to take a break from life’s distractions and just be present and engaged.
Many people who are fortunate enough to have had a parent, guardian, or loved one who took the time to read them a bedtime story will remember that forever.
Many childhood memories will be based on this special routine.
I first had the idea for Seeking A Good Book when I was in college and everyone would come to me for book recommendations. More often than not, everyone I recommended a book to would always come back with a glowing review of it.
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