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Reading to different ages

2 replies

minimuffin · 18/03/2011 19:57

Not sure if I'm posting in the right place but I would love some advice. DS1 is 5, just starting to read on his own and really into it. DS2 is 2yrs 8 months. I have been reading their bedtime story together for about the past 6 months - usual suspects, Julia Donaldson, fairy tales, Tiger Who Came to Tea, Night Pirates - that kind of thing. I am now thinking that DS1 may be ready to move onto chapter books - the Moomins, Roald Dahl etc - as he has been having these stories for the last 3 years really. I think DS2 is too young to follow chapter books though.

Obvious answer is to start reading separate bedtime stories again by putting them to bed separately BUT a) as of 4 weeks ago they now share a bedroom and have the same bedtime and b) I am expecting DS3 who is due early May, so will have another little person to factor into the whole bedtime equation.

Help!! Any ideas? Anyone had a similar situation? Don't want to hold DS1 back in terms of his progression through the lovely world of childrens books but likewise don't want DS2 to miss out on what DS1 had - which is a complete little story or two every night until he is 4 or 5. Any suggestions would be v welcome!!

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DandyDan · 18/03/2011 23:53

I would begin to stagger the bedtimes, even by fifteen-twenty minutes would be enough to demarcate them and help the older boy to feel he is a little older than his brother. I would read the younger one first (with the older one listening in) and then read the older boy's story somewhere else - downstairs on the sofa maybe or on your bed - before bringing him up to his bedroom. Once the new one is born, do exactly the same but have the little one with you or nearby while you read.

I pretty much did this with my kids, and had shared bedrooms, and several kids, so a long staggered bedtime and stories either in their bedrooms or on our bed, and then tucked into their own. Older ones could listen to the smaller ones' stories if they liked.

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minimuffin · 19/03/2011 21:05

Thank you for the advice. Yes much as I find bedtime a bit protracted and painful as it is, it's probably the way forward to split them up again. It's just really cute the way they sit in bed together and listen at the moment - it's always a shame to call time on these little rituals - but I am starting to think that DS1 is ready for something new. May try sitting on bottom bunk to read to DS2 with DS1 listening in if he wants, and up on DS1's bunk to read him his story... and just hope the baby co-operates by keeping quiet when he appears on the scene!

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