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AIBU?

To have stopped reading to DCs years ago?

98 replies

ThereWasAnOldLadyWhoLived · 09/09/2016 13:38

www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2016/sep/09/how-old-is-too-old-for-a-bedtime-story
DCs (7 and 9) can read. Do read. Which means I now have more time to watch boxsets read myself. AIBU to think it's too much to read older DCs a bedtime story? Or is everyone at it (and eating kale Confused)

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RiverTam · 09/09/2016 13:40

DD is 6 and a half, I can't see me stopping any time soon. Our headteacher said that reading with your kids is still really beneficial all through primary and beyond.

So I think I would at that age. Hate kale, though Grin.

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DonkeyOaty · 09/09/2016 13:40

Each to their own

Not sure what the eating kale link is

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shaggedthruahedgebackwards · 09/09/2016 13:45

I'm sure I had stopped reading to mine when they were 7 & 9 and both have an advanced reading age so it doesn't appear to have done them any harm

No harm in continuing if they enjoy it but if they are both competent readers then YANBU

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SaucyJack · 09/09/2016 13:46

I don't read to my older 2 (9&11), and haven't for some time now.

They're both excellent and enthusiastic readers- although I have no idea if this is because of or in spite of my approach.

I think encouraging a love of reading is plenty once they can do it themselves.

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Spingroll16 · 09/09/2016 13:46

I'll probably get flamed here, but I don't read to mine.

He doesn't enjoy it, and would rather destroy the books

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liz70 · 09/09/2016 13:47

DD3 (7) reads to me now. Currently making her way through the MillyMollyMandy omnibus and the Badger the Mystical Mutt series. I do online grocery shopping I mean noodle on MN or FB while she reads.

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dudleymcdudley · 09/09/2016 13:49

I still read to my 10yo ds. I think it's really important to read to your DC for as long as they will let you.

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wigglesrock · 09/09/2016 13:50

I don't read to my almost 9 year old, haven't done for 2 years maybe?. She reads all the time, always been happy enough to do it herself. I still read a story to my 5 year old every night or her dad does - whoever puts her to bed.

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KatharinaRosalie · 09/09/2016 13:52

I could read when I was 3 years old and was a total bookworm ever since. I absolutely hated when people tried to read to me, as they always made the characters sound 'wrong'. Hasn't done me much harm. SO if your DC read and don't ask you to read, why do it?

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Afreshstartplease · 09/09/2016 13:55

I read to my three year old, but not my 7&8 year olds. They are both good readers and read to me daily.

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ReallyTired · 09/09/2016 13:55

I stopped reading to Ds every night when he was about thirteen. He still listens in in his little sister's bedtime stories. The type of books he was wanting me to read were really gory and not my taste.

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Purplebluebird · 09/09/2016 13:58

My 2,5 year old absolutely refuses to let me read to him in the evenings. He gets really cross! Haha. I'd love to read for him. My parents stopped when I learnt to read (around 4), because I kept correcting them if they misread anything, and they found it very annoying.

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Ilovewillow · 09/09/2016 13:58

My daughter is 8 but is an advanced reader so has been reading novels to herself at bedtimes for a couple of years. I do occasionally read to her at bedtime is she asks and I do offer but she only really asks because she is sometimes jealous of her brother who we read to every night, he is only 3. Each to their own I think depends on the parents and the child but I wouldn't say you are wrong not to.

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ThereWasAnOldLadyWhoLived · 09/09/2016 14:06

Liz70 like idea of DCs reading to ME for a change. Really Tired yes exactly. TBH I read thousands of picture books, a few chapter ones and am not convinced could sustain enthusiasm for pony/dragon books...

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Jenny70 · 09/09/2016 14:07

My children are all very good readers, but none have requested we stop reading bedtime stories. For the eldest, it is a nice wind-down time, and the younger two gives them the opportunity to read books they wouldn't normally tackle because they are too long/too small print/too old looking.... they are 13, 11 and 9.

But if your children don't want to be read to, enjoy reading themselves, then fine - that works for you. Just like many parenting things, do what works for you and your children, and have the confidence to not question/compare to what others think...

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MrsMook · 09/09/2016 14:10

I don't remember being read to much. I was an early reader and advanced quickly reading things like the BFG when I was in y2 and The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe before I was 8. Being a keen bookworm there wouldn't have been a great benefit to it.

DS is 5 and hasn't taken after me in finding reading easy so he gets more out of me reading more advanced books to him than he is ready to read himself. That's where the benefit will be greater.

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allthecarbs · 09/09/2016 14:12

Ds is 6 and still loves a story. I prefer him reading to me though so I can have a sneaky nap Grin

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Discobabe · 09/09/2016 14:49

We still read to our 7 and 10 yo but not our 12 yo.

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babybythesea · 09/09/2016 14:53

I read to my 7 yo every night.

She can read perfectly well but I can read her things that are above either her ability or her understanding. I love sharing books from my childhood with her. And I love sharing the time with her in what can otherwise be a busy day with little time to just sit together.

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hidingwithwine · 09/09/2016 14:55

I still read to my 8 year old. He can read, but that's not really the point. I used to read to my elder children until late primary age even though they could read perfectly well too. As a teacher I also know how important reading to/with your dcs can be.

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babybythesea · 09/09/2016 14:55

MrsMook - I was also a keen reader, read the Hobbit to myself aged 7. But I still got read to by my dad and I loved it. He talked to me about the stories in a way I didn't get if I read it to myself, and challenged me to think in a new way about them, as well as being a brilliant reader with different voices! I loved the sharing of stories with him.

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Bimblepops · 09/09/2016 14:56

Being read bedtime stories by my parents remains one of my fondest memories of childhood.

My DH and I read to our kids (7 & 5) every night and will continue to do so until they tell us to stop! I think I'll be a little bit heartbroken when that happens.

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SuckingEggs · 09/09/2016 15:02

What Jenny said ^^

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AnnaMarlowe · 09/09/2016 15:07

My 8 yos can read but I still read to them every night. We choose a book that's a bit out of their reading range and I read a chapter a night. I do voices and act it out such a ham.

My DD whispered to me the other night that it's the favourite part of her day.

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Woodacorn · 09/09/2016 15:19

I read to my 10 year olds. They love it and we snuggle in bed and chat too.
What has eating Kale got to do with it OP? Was it a veiled insult?

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