To think 11 years old is too old for a bedtime story?

[Faerie87]

I have a feeling that DC is trying to stay up late and wants a story read to them in bed!

OH thinks there should be no age limit, I believe it’s too old and should stop at around 7yo?

I just want to know what other people think.

I do believe that kids need a bedtime routine

I agree but this is your issue, not the reading.

Speak to DH and get him onside re an agreed bedtime. Do consider though whether you're expecting her to go up too early or if you're being a bit strict about "lights out". If you and DH can agree X time then be clear with her about that. At 11 she's old enough to have a conversation about the house rules.

I was an avid reader and was definitely reading quite adult books by myself by then, but I remember asking my mum to read to me when I was ill. It's lovely to be read to at any age.

I remember asking my mum to read to me when I was about that age. I had thought I was doing her a favour as she worked a lot and seemed to like it when I wanted her to do mum-things, but she told me to bugger off and read by myself

It’s between 8.30pm and 9pm for 11 years old?

YABU. Read the story! You'll miss it when it goes.

Mine are 10 nearly 11 and 8. I'll read them anything they want at bedtime. Branched out into my choices not theirs. It's a nice healthy comforting thing to do.

Keep reading with your child! This is a brilliant way to spend time together and to teach. You're so lucky they still want to do this - think of the educational benefit!

No age limit. Keep going as long as DC are happy.

You child want books and to have special time with you? You've done a good job as a parent.

Still read to my 13 year old. It's a lovely snuggly time and brilliant at introducing them to new worlds and new words, Although he has a reading age of 17 I still read books he probably wouldn't attmpt on his own.

I wish DS1 would let me but he assures me that 11 is far too grown up for a bedtime story

I would have thought that they would have been reading to themselves by then.

It's nearly 2ndry school age isn't it?

No age limit.i can remember having stories read to us , admittedly just before bedtime, not as actuall bedtime stories when my sister was at least 12 or 13.

And have you never heard of book at bedtime on radio 4? It's not aimed at pre schoolers!!!

My 11 yr old DS knows 8pm with a story or 8.30 pm without. He did try the 'forgeting' and would have obviously gone to bed at 8 if he'd remembered and pleeeeese. I basically set my watch to chime at 8 for a few nights so I could remind him. Soon gave up the tricks.

I still read to my 9 yr old and 12 yr old (separately), but I'm quite firm about them not using it as an excuse to fanny about at bedtime. I am generally available for stories until about 8pm.

(and yes DS can of course read to himself but he loves to snuggle under the cover and listen so when I've read a chapter and turn the light off he's already half asleep)

2 issues.

1. being read to is LOVELY at all ages. You're never to old.

2. Bedtime isn't negotiable. Wanting a story means heading to bed 20 minutes earlier.

We stopped at around 9. It came to a natural end and they started reading books themselves then, I think it was some of the Enid Blyton ones and they then went on to the Alex RIder books.

Dd1 didn't want to be read to by 8yo because she wanted to read by herself and enjoyed it.

Dd2 is now 8 and loves a bedtime story. I can't imagine her ever wanting to stop. She reads a chapter then I read a chapter. It's nice. I think she may well still want to be read to at secondary school, and why not, I still enjoy listening to a story.

Never too old to be read to. It does tail off but I occasionally read to my 13 and 16 years olds. I like to be read to as well - it's relaxing!

OP, YABU, and tbh I'm a bit

I read to my 13 and nearly 11yos most evenings (it has only recently declined from every evening). We read a chapter a night of the book we're on. It exposes them to books they wouldn't otherwise read, as they tend to prefer comic books for their own reading, and I choose our bedtime books. Over the years we've got through all sorts of wonderful books.

Aw. Stick with it. Try to find books you both enjoy.

I actually still remember my DS1 saying he didn't need a story anymore, he would have been 12. It was such a bitter sweet moment as I knew it was the end of an era. I'd read all sorts with him and have fond memories even though some nights my heart would sink a little bit as I really wanted to go and chill out on my own.

I carried on reading to the younger ones but weirdly can't remember when they stopped wanting them.

My Dad used to read to me and I probably did carry on asking for them as it was a chance for some undivided attention from him. Fair enough I say!

If you think your child is using it as an excuse to delay bedtime, you could always suggest starting the story a little earlier and give them the choice of a story or an extra 20 minutes of being up.

Factor in story time into the bedtime routine.

Once it’s bedtime, it’s bedtime and that’s the end of story time, tv time and anything else time. Until tomorrow evening.

Never too old for bedtime stories.

No age limit and I think it’s great the eleven year old wants a bedtime story.

My DM never read to me as a child, I had to read by myself which I did do every single night. I found a passion in reading and escapism through that so much so I did my degree in English Literature .

Reading to your children is very special and should be cherished for as long as possible.

You are never too old for a bedtime story.