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Original poster

How old is too old for a bedtime story?

171 replies

Yabbers · 15/02/2019 21:05

We had a discussion at work about bedtime stories. My colleagues who have children the same age as mine say they stopped bedtime stories a few years ago. DD is 9 and loves me reading to her before bed (and I love it too) Occasionally if bedtime is late we don’t do one, but she really hates not getting one.

My colleagues say she is too old, but in my view if it’s something we both enjoy I’ll do it as long as she asks.

How old were yours when you stopped, is anyone still reading to older children at bedtime?

OP posts:
quornmummy · 16/02/2019 22:06

Why oh why do some people want to rush children through their childhood? My dd 10 loves a bedtime story and I love to read to her or her to me. Never too old.

SoSaidTheHorse · 16/02/2019 22:11

I don't think that you're ever too old. That said I really hate reading to kids/peopls and I hate being read to so if I have children I'm hoping that they'll be like me and prefer to read alone from a relatively early age.

SoSaidTheHorse · 16/02/2019 22:12

I also hate audiobooks.

PlasticPatty · 16/02/2019 22:24

Definitely read with her for as long as suits you both.

DontCallMeBaby · 16/02/2019 22:28

DD was half a term or so into secondary when she decided she didn’t want to be read to any more. Sigh. Before that we’d had an evolving routine that started with no reading as a baby (she would eat books), four picture books as night as a toddler (Hairy McLairy every night for AGES, she doesn’t remember it now!), through to her reading to me and me reading to her. Like others, the latter usually involved books beyond her own reading ability but within her comprehension.

She’s not a massive independent reader so I think years of being read to has been the key thing to improve her vocabulary - and unlike me at a similar age she can actually pronounce her fancy words!

PetuniaPetunia · 16/02/2019 22:29

Never too old. Before radios/TV etc it wasn't uncommon for adults to spend their evenings reading to eachother.

torthecatlady · 16/02/2019 22:30

I always had a bedtime story, until I started reading by myself at around 11

Sistersofmercy101 · 16/02/2019 22:31

My dd's still have bedtime story at 10 and 12 and 4. The girls request a series as their bedtime story and we read a chapter an evening, til it's concluded and then they find the next one. I'll keep reading them for as long as they want me to.

ByStarlight · 16/02/2019 22:39

I’m in my 40s and my dad still reads to me when I visit! Never too old for a bedtime story!!!

BertrandRussell · 16/02/2019 22:43

In the older days (aka when I was a child and earlier) reading aloud was a perfectly normal thing to do. It’s how writers like Dickens reached a mass market. When families all had things to do in the evenings - making and mending - somebody was always the delegated reader aloud.

GoFiguire · 16/02/2019 22:47

87

Sgtmajormummy · 16/02/2019 23:04

Nearly 13yo DD is taking a long time to finish The Dark is Rising with me. We started it in November because I like to have a Christmas themed book for the school break.
I have a feeling it will be the last. Sad, but if she’s not interested I’ll graciously retire from a long and glorious career. 20 years or thereabouts!
DS finished at about the same age with The Amber Spyglass but used to keep his bedroom door open to listen in to his sister’s stories.

Fetching · 16/02/2019 23:06

I still like being read to, assuming the person doing the reading has the right voice for it. It can be very romantic.

haverhill · 16/02/2019 23:08

DS is nearly 12 and would be really sad if we stopped. My mind is boggled at the idea that a child is ‘too old’ to have some relaxed and educational time with a parent at the end of the day.

Moominfan · 16/02/2019 23:10

I hope mine still wants me to read to them at that age. I love reading to my toddler and dread the day he doesn't want me around

Blinkingblimey · 16/02/2019 23:12

My soon to be 10 year old HATED bedtime stories /reading until about 2 years ago....NO WAY am I giving up now she’s invested and enjoying it!! It’s a great end of day moment where real life & issues can be left behind and we can share a cracking fantasy/experience together. Read until they ask to stop!!

woollyheart · 16/02/2019 23:32

DH likes it when dgc stay because he gets to hear the stories.

gokartdillydilly · 17/02/2019 11:56

@thegreendot oh I don't remember that! I think I would have explained it was a party!! There were often events in kids' stories where something dubious was going on. Or a Father Christmas spoiler alert (can't remember which book) so I got quite good at changing the wording. But that only worked when they weren't reading along... Mummy! You read that bit wrong!

Mishappening · 17/02/2019 12:03

My SIL reads bedtime stories to my DD. Good for him. She is 43.

Pinnacular · 17/02/2019 12:28

I'll continue reading to mine as long as they want me to. We all enjoy it. Our walls are pretty thin, and one night as I was reading to mine I heard the neighbours 10 year old ask her mum if she could read her a story. Her mum scoffed, "No! You can read yourself!" It made me feel sad for her, and I've often heard her in her room whilst I'm reading. I think she likes listening in.

AloneLonelyLoner · 17/02/2019 12:44

I love love love to be read to. I'm 45. You're never too old for bedtime stories. Some of my fondest memories as a child are of being read to. Do it for as long as you can!

AloneLonelyLoner · 17/02/2019 12:45

@Pinnacular that breaks my heart.

yikesanotherbooboo · 17/02/2019 13:57

There is no age that is too old. The main reasons one stops are either to do with time or because the young person wants you to, but if you have plenty of time and you are both/ all enjoying it there is no reason at all to stop. In particular I cannot see why a primary school age child would be too old.
My older DC were 8&9 when we stopped and the reason was baby DC3 who was in and out of hospital and disrupted our routine.
We all missed it.
DC1 was a fluent reader from a young age and DC2 less so. They alternated choosing the book and there was no cheating or skipping ahead if we were not all there to partake in the experience.
Oddly I never got into the habit in the same way with DC3 . Obvs he had a story at bedtime when he was little but once he was reading fluently he would read to himself ( often with me lying next to him reading my book) .

greenpop21 · 17/02/2019 14:24

9 is NOT too old! Your child wi;; reach an age when they don't want it anymore and they will tell you so. Ignore the foolish colleagues, they're just jealous or guilty that they don't read to their chn. Your son is a lucky boy.

BeautyQueenFromMars · 17/02/2019 14:34

My 12.5yr old still loves being read to, whether it's at bedtime or a random time in the day.
I love listening to audiobooks myself; I guess that is a form if being read to!