How often (and for how long) do you read to your children?

[Pawslikepaddington]

I've just been reading a thread saying the best start you can give your child is reading to them. I love reading to dd (4), but the amount of time spent reading to her waxes and wanes.

Recently it's been a chapter of Paddington or the Bear Nobody Wanted every night, or three smaller (Charlie and Lola sized) books before bed. We have quite a weird home life, so sometimes we will go weeks where she will fall asleep before she's in bed, or things will happen and she won't be put to bed, she will fall asleep in the car or on the bike and be carried to bed, and so she won't get read to, or I'll read to her while she is in the bath. Is this bad for her? What is "normal" reading?

[choosyfloosy]

used to readto ds quite a lot. These days, bedtimes only, 3 short stories or one longer one. I wouldn't sweat it.

[Lemontart]

Nightly as part of the bedtime routine. It is about the only part of the routine that is never skipped regardless of what time of night it is or where we are. How much we read depends on how tired they are - anything from only a page or two to several chapters for half an hour.

[Lemontart]

life isn?t normal so why should there be something called "normal reading" - I wouldn?t worry either Paws. Sounds fine to me

[nobodysfool]

Not sure if thsi is 'normal' but ds (just turned 3) has around 100 books and we read them when he needs a rest and quiet time (3-4 times a day) then he always has three books before bedtime.
I would rather buy him books than toys,though he has a mountain of them as well!
We have read to him from day one really so it just seems normal to us to read together lots.
It must be paying off as he can read any of the books we have out loud by himself and can read most new books we buy straight away.He knows his alphabet and phonics and just loves reading.
Sorry if that sounds like i'm boasting but i'm just so proud of his reading.

[posieflump]

I have a 4 year old and a 2 year old
Atm they get 3 books a night - one Mr Men book (gah!), Fix it Duck (the 2 year old is obsessed with it atm) and a library picture book

In the day they are read to often but sometimes I have to gently persuade them to look at a book on the floor as they always bring books over to me to read and it drives me a bit batty tbh!

[Pawslikepaddington]

Thank you you lovelies!! Have been v bad since we got the car and bought story cd's, as we used to go everywhere by train and read on those (much to the annoyance of the laptop users-ha ha!!) so thought they were a good cop out replacement! And jolly good fun for the driver too!

[pluto]

It's great to read to your children and I find it easiest when it's part of a routine like bedtime, but I don't think it really matters where or when and the bath is just is just a good a place as any. Little and often is easier too IMO. Sounds to me that you understand it is a good idea. When your DD starts school it might be helpful to already have a 10 minute slot already in place when you can read together.

[Pawslikepaddington]

We've got thousands of books too nobodysfool so it's fairly normal I think-dd reads them to her bears when I'm plodding around the house if I'm not available for reading-they are always much more exciting with her interpretations too!

[Pawslikepaddington]

But saying that dd can't read yet so well done!

[mrsgboring]

I read to DS every night - three or four books, including one longer, fairy tale type one (DS is 2.10)

We also read lots and lots throughout the day, but our best time for reading is early mornings. DS is an early riser and very receptive then, so I use that time to try out new, longer books.

I'm really keen for DS to read and read well (I was an early reader), but also don't want to rush it - would far rather extend his range of stories to listen to than rush into reading too early. He had a brief bout of enthusiasm for phonics and letter sounds at about 22 months and learnt them all, but has since then lost interest rather.

I also take DS to a regular, weekly story time at a local bookshop, which I hope will prepare him for preschool story times (as I tolerate quite a lot of wriggling and inane questions as part of story reading)

To the OP, it sounds like your DD gets lots of reading time, but can definitely recommend morning time as a regular reading slot if it would suit you better than evenings.

[NintyZelda]

My DS is 2.10 and also has loads od books, we read him one or two books at bedtime (ddepending how long they are!)
I read to him lots in the day. When his little sis is asleep (DD 7months) we turn off the tv or radio and read, on a normal day we read between 5 and 15 books!!!! (Thats through thr day not in 1 go) He is obsessed at the moment! It comes in fits and starts though and I'm sure in a few months he won't want that many books reading to him and we are trying to encourage him to read alone as well, he was slow to speak and I like to read to him as it helps him talk more.

[ReallyTired]

My son at the age of 6 has three chapters of whatever book he is reading. If he wants an extra chapter he has to help me read it. (ie. he reads one page and I read an another).

NintyZelda, I think you are being unrealistic expecting a two year old to read alone.

My son is six years old and he doesn't like reading alone even though his reading is fluent. He likes having an adult to explain what new words mean.

[slayerette]

Ds (5) has just discovered the Famous Five and now we have to have anywhere between one and three chapters of that a day Actually quite enjoying revisiting them (although I did skip the line today where Julian praises Anne for being a good little housewife ) Bedtime story is never skipped but we have a really regular bedtime routine in place so that's not a problem. Me and dh read to him at bedtime and I have been reading extra during the day over the holidays. He loves his stories and it has really encouraged him with his own reading too - sometimes when he can't wait to find out what happens next, I hear him trying to read on in the Famous Five!

[2point4kids]

My DS is nearly 3. He's got loads of books but we mostly read them at bed time. He chooses 3 books each night and we read those in bed.
We occasionally read during the day too but we are mostly out and about so dont get much chance!!

[littlestrawberry]

DS is nearly 6 and has just got to the stage where he doesn't want us to read to him anymore, he reads to himself He's a prolific reader though and reads for about 1 hour in bed each night.

Youngest boy who's 4 we average 2-3 books a day I guess with 1 at bedtime every night. Its quite nice in the daytime when my 2 are getting a bit out of control to sit down with a book or 2. Definitely a calming influence.

[angelstar]

mrsgboring, I'm amazed your ds could do letter and phoincs at 22 months. I have no idea what I'm doing wrong as my dd is 22 months and won't even talk.

Does anyone else find that when they are reading to there children that they keep trying to turn the pages before you've finished reading it?

[MarmadukeScarlet]

Snap LittleStrawberry, my DD doesn't want to be read to anymore - she is a complete bookworm and often combines reading with other tasks, brushing teeth, getting dressed, walking...

I miss it tbh. I got some more advanced books so I could read them to her, got H.Potter first and she just finished it herslf. So then I got more difficult ones (His Dark Materials) and ditto.

[Litchick]

I would still read to them even when they can read independently and still do to mine at 9 - you can discuss things in the text that a child will never pick up alone.
Read them the classics...Tom Sawyer, Ballet Shoes, The Jungle Book etc.

[Bewilderbeast]

DP and I read ds at least one story a day usually more, Grandma and Grandad also read several books a day to him too. He usually picks his own book and comes and bashes the nearest adult with it until he gets read to. We have read to him every day (pretty much) since he was born