What age did you stop bedtime stories?

[AmIreallyBeverly]

We've always read a bedtime story. My daughter will be 13 this year and I still read her a chapter or two of a book before bed. It's very much led by her and she's started occassionally saying she doesn't want me to read. That's fine but I'll miss it when she no longer wants it at all. I won't necessarily miss the books though - she likes some nonsense!

What age did you stop?

Still doing it here with 11yo. We've just picked up book 15 of a series we've been reading together for 3 years. 13yo prefers to read on their own.

Definitely petered out about 12/13 with DD1. However still going strong with DS2 at 13. He's a slow and slightly reluctant reader, so often he'll read a few pages to me then I'll read to him.

This is lovely, I’ll stop when they want me to. They’re 8 and 6 so I hope there are many years of reading together left.

I forgot to ask - any suggestions for books? She LOVED Mortal Engines and any math-y type stuff. She's reading a Darren Brown book at the moment (borrowed from her science teacher so it's presumably ok!).

Mine are 12 and 9. It slowly petered out as they realised that they could read to themselves faster (and so get more story) than if I read to them.

These days I usually lie in bed with Ds (9 year old) and we both read our kindles. (And then both get absorbed and I forget to turn his light out!) That has probably been the last couple of years. It was a slow move though with me sometimes reading to him for a long time.

With dd she is often out at sports training until just before bed but we try and encourage a little bit of reading before bed to try and help her relax.

They are both big readers though and didn’t want a bedtime book since really quite little (as once started wanted to finish it!)

I think around age 8 would have kept going but they wanted to read to themselves by then. Mainly Roald Dahl, worst witch type things.

I love that you are still reading to your almost 13 year old, what a lovely bond you must have! If you’re being led by her then keep doing it as long as you both want I say!

(Not that people who stop reading earlier don’t have close bonds too, just to clarify!)

Ds is 13 and it is still very much a part of his bedtime routine

My DS (14) loves reading at bedtime... me reading to him gradullay morphed into him reading to me while at primary school, and now we both read our own books but together, in his bed, before lights out. 15 mins or so every night. Very relaxing quality time together.

Very very surprised at the responses, not what I expected.

But great people are able to find that bonding time

I think it was around 12/13. Though by then we spent as much time snuggling in bed and talking about stuff than actually reading the book. It was useful as a regular quiet time once a day to catch up.

Whenever they want to stop. My 10 year old bookworm still likes me to read to him (we'll often read something a bit more grown up that he may want to discuss).

I can't remember my parents ever reading chapter books to me - I read them myself from maybe 7-8. So it's a bit of a strange thought to me. I'd be interested to know what kids that are still being read to at 12-13 are like at reading themselves.

I am still reading most nights to my DDs, age 14.5 and nearly 13. I know it wont go on forever, but am just enjoying it whilst it lasts. I keep thinking they'll want me to stop, but they ask for it if it looks like it might not happen (due to a busy evening/late clubs). It's one of my favourite times of day.

They are both prolific readers themselves, but I guess it's just a relaxing, comforting routine.

Wow I'm so surprised! My parents stopped reading to me about age 7/8 and the same with my two kids. They're both great readers and happy to sort themselves out. I can just imagine their looks if I said to them age 13, move over Mum wants to read to you!

hats off to you though!

I read to DD7 most nights, then I leave her with her book and she usually reads another chapter to herself before falling asleep.

Then I spend about 20 minutes lying on DS10's bed with him, sometimes I still read aloud but more often now we just lay together each reading our own books.

when they didn't enjoy it anymore. which was around 13 with each of mine.

until that happens - enjoy it!

Mine are 8 and 10 and we still read some nights. Others we might do another quiet activity together before bed like playing cards or working on a lego project. It depends what mood we are all in! Love the idea I might still be reading to them age 13 though, that's really lovely 😍

We switched from me reading to audio cds.

It was more the house move here - so DD2 was very young 6 and eldest was 10 - Y6 - but it had been difficult for a while to get them to settle and we were exhausted that time of day and increasingly busy - and it was too late for them to read to us which had to be much earlier or morning to work.

It worked well though for years and even now they often put something on to go to sleep to - though audio cd did start to get expensive.

She will tell you op.
Your fittings the age where hormones will take centre stage too so please dont be offended if they suddenly speak bluntly for her!
Or what cool and sooooo not😁.
Tbh I'd still have someone read to me! We went through a tricky time a little older and mum read to me all my childhood faves like narnia and stuff and it bought us both so much comfort.
I assume you've read Harry Potter.
Mum had to stop with me because we are well ahead readers.so already at a young age we were reading well above our age books.and mum did not like my psychological Karen slaughter thrillers! Shit I was too young to read them.

I'm feeling guilty now that we stopped around age 8, although the older two used to sneak in sometimes to hear their younger DSis being read too.

Has she read the Kiran Millwood Hargrave books.

My parents never read to me.

She has always been a voracious reader. We can't keep up with her book and audio book demands! 🤣 As for walking past a book shop without stopping... hahaha!

She's not really interested in Harry Potter but has read the script book. We've read all the Narnia books. I didn't realise how religious they were as a child.