Do bedtime stories still work?

I read to mine every night as part of their bedtime routine

Our 8 year old DD loves bed time stories. We’ve had the same evening routine for years. Obviously the books have changed to chapter vs. picture books. If kids can’t read, they can’t learn. Favourite books we’ve recently read: The Witches, The Demon Dentist, Gangsta Granny, George’s Marvellous Medicine, those awful fucking fairy books.

The OP is asking for help with establishing reading with his DC.

What's better - to recognise this is a good thing and support him (and others reading the thread) to do this?

Or to castigate him for not doing it in the past, make him feel bad, potentially drive him off the thread and prevent him getting the support he's asked for?

If you think reading is so important, I suggest the first is the wise option. Else, you're just here to enjoy having a go, which isn't the moral high ground you seem to think you occupy.

I always loved reading to mine and now I read the same books to my grandchildren. I can’t imagine not reading to them.

@JayGardener do they like reading?

Just seen your DC are 8 and 12.

We were still reading to our DC at these ages, although sometimes the DC read to us!

At 12, your eldest may not want this if they're not used to it, but definitely worth giving it a try if they're amenable.

What are your DC's interests? If we can get an idea, posters may be able to suggest books they will like.

Here are some brilliant books my DC - one girl and one boy - have both enjoyed from age 8+.

• the Tom Gates series
• the Scribble Witch series
• Harry Potter series (good for all ages!)
• The Accidental Pirates: Voyage to Accidental North (first in a series. Beautifully written)
• How to Train your Dragon series

For slightly older kids, maybe 9 - 12

• Warrior Cats
• My life as a cat - I really enjoyed reading this one
• the Murder Most Unladylike series - my daughter especially loved these!
• His Dark Materials series by Phillip Pullman

At 12 they're getting more into young adult fiction. Some of which I wouldn't want to read with my DC as we'd find any romance aspect cringy to read together!

But His Dark Materials, Harry Potter and Murder Most Unladylike are still very enjoyable at this age, and your older DC may well enjoy listening in to stories for their sibling too.

My 12.5 yo DD is really into the Hunger Games at the moment, she reads it herself though so I'm not sure about the cringy romance aspect!

12 is also a great age to get into sci fi.

My DS really enjoyed The Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy at this age (as did I, many years ago).

Have fun discovering new worlds together!

Generally, children enjoy bedtime stories not just for the story, but because it allows them to be close to their parent and spend time just being together without any pressure to 'do' anything. It's never too late to start something new.

Don't feel beholden to what the school or others tell you are the books you 'should' be reading for your kids' ages. Whatever you and they like is fine. Picture books are still a good read in year 5, as well as more indepth stories.

Take a look at 'Drbillen_thereadingprofessor' on instagram. I can't say I personally agree with her choice of book titles, but she is very encouraging and gives the sort of tips you seem to be after - why it's important for parents to read with their children, the impact it has etc.

My son insists on a story every night. Some nights it's a book but mostly he's asking for a one I make up. We have a character called Bob who owns a football team and a restaurant chain and I make up different stories about him which my son loves. It's nothing special, I'm certainly no story teller but my son is happy with whatever I come up with.

Only 1 in 5 children are read to daily by a parent.

This is really sad. However, OP has apparently never read to his kids at all. And one of them is 12. That’s next level.

Goodness I can’t imagine even asking this question.
I’ve read to my toddler since he was born - those black and white books and ones with mirrors, now we’ve progressed to lots more variety. Books are out all day and we nearly always have books before bed and naps- I like to think it helps them predict it’s sleep time next and therefore will sleep better 🫠
(I don’t want to derail but if anyone has any suggestions for books for a 20 month old…)

Is this a windup thread? You’ve been a parent for over a decade and are only now realising that you ought to read to your kids? Have you existed in a bubble for all of that time?

Definitely this. And read in an engaging manner too.

My twins are almost 8, I’ve been reading to them at bedtime every night since they were 6 months old.

I do hope they become avid readers and obviously do always want them to go to bed well, but I haven’t read to them primarily for these reasons. Reading daily to children has been shown to expand vocabulary and improve general outcomes.

Only 1 in 5 children are read to daily by a parent.

Agreed, I'm incredulous! As parents we are constantly bombarded with literature about how important it is to read to our children regularly. OP keeps posting "😅" emojis like it's amusing they've missed such an important part of parenting.

You've never read to your children in 12 years???

Why did you think this was OK?

Yes! read them the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books at bed time, they’ll appeal to both ages xxx

If you want to read to both the 8 and 12 year old together, something like Harry Potter or the Hobbit would probably work well. Bonus points if you can put on some different voices for the characters!

Trying not to be judgy but I guess I'm a bit incredulous. I genuinely can't imagine not reading to my kids at bedtime. Sometimes we skip it with my 1.5 year old as he gets too overstimulated but he loves looking at books during the day. It's how he's learned the majority of his vocab tbh! Pointing at cows, sheep, learning colours etc.

My 4 year olds fave bit of the day is bedtime stories, we had to get a bit strict and limit it to 1-2 a night otherwise bedtimes were taking forever. But this is a really important part of the day where we read, snuggle, she tells me things she didn't tell me during the day or asks questions etc. Her comprehension skills are so good and I doubt that would have happened without stories.

Did you never read with your kids, like even their school phonics books etc? Do they read by themselves currently?

Our children are early 20s and they often talk fondly about books they read with us or that were read to them, at bedtime. They remember favourites in minute detail.

I know when they have their own, they’ll repeat this special and valuable thing. It’s one of the best things you can do for children, and so rewarding on both sides.

Yes, they are a great way to bond and also encourage curiosity and reading in your children.

Booktrust has a Book Finder which is helpful if you don't know where to start, you can filter by age group etc

Bookfinder | BookTrust https://share.google/cp7aPGSQ4UFwDnI8q

if you like the Wizard of Oz and Alice try them. Alternatively Harry Potter, How to Train your Dragon, Percy Jackson and if they like History, Adventures in Time by Dominic Sandbrook are great.

The Julia Donaldson ones above are too young.

I think I read to both of mine every night til they were about 11- possibly older, novels after a while, rather than picture books. Its like a comforting, grown up, huggy, version of audible

Ps we do give her tv time as well, its not a purist household!

My 3 year old daughter loves bedtime stories - she sits and "reads" books to put her dollies to bed. We are a big book family so the house is filled.

Her current faves;
Cinderella
The Beginners Bible (for toddlers)
Anything by Julia Donaldson

It's not too late to start!

The key is to just make it part of a routine. Get a selection of books, let them keep them in their room and read to them every night. Remember the most important thing is to encourage love of books and for it to be a positive experience.

Once reading us established, maybe join a library and get into the habit of letti g them chose new books to read, or visit a local bookshop with them for a treat, if you have one. The Waterstones near us had a lovely children's section and the DC loved choosing new books.

My partner and I took turns to read to our DC every night until they were plenty old enough to read themselves. But we all enjoyed it so did it for years. It was a lovely thing to do.

Both DC are avid readers now.

Its never too late. I would add that reading yourself may help. I was the only member of my family to read growing up, we didnt really have books in the house and I always felt the odd one out.