To read five books to ds every night?

[Howdoyoushop]

This started when they were That’s Not My books and the like but now he’s into Julia Donaldson and so on.

So it is a lot.

OTOH we both enjoy it. So should I try to cut back or keep going?

As long as you both enjoy it then it's fine!

Not at all! Used to love reading to our two, they used to choose 2 each and then one they both wanted. Then we moved onto chapter books…can’t really recall how old they were when we stopped, but now as young adults one reads all the time, the other hardly at all. Enjoy it while you can!

If it's not a problem, it's not a problem

Nope, keep it up. I used to read to my DS loads, and he's now 12 and a huge reader. Enjoy the time together while it lasts.

If you want to and you have the time then do it. Has anyone said you shouldn’t?

Some of my happiest childhood memories are of my mum reading us bedtime stories. If you both enjoy it, go for it.

Why would it be an issue? If it works for your family it’s all that matters. I can’t see anyone protesting.

Definitely no harm. 5 picture books will take far less time than a feature film etc. Some people do Lego, others jigsaws, board games etc and some children just love books. Spend your time however you both want to.

If you enjoy it then go for it. The best way of improving educational outcomes (outside of parental income) is through reading and fostering a love of reading. We read to DD every night from being 2 months old through to 8 and then she started reading to herself. At 12 she will sit and devour books and has a floor to ceiling bookshelf.

We read 3 'see books' at bedtime (Dr Seuss, fairytales, Julia D, random library books etx.) and a couple of chapters from a more grown up book (like Roald Dahl) that is read in the dark. Our DS is now 3. I can't see a downside, am I missing something?

What a weird thread. Why on earth would it matter how many books you read at night if you both enjoy reading them?! I can't think of a single reason unless you're saying you're sat there until midnight reading books.

Wouldn’t be for me. If you always do 5 then there’s an expectation of 5, but then what about nights when you want to run bedtime a bit quicker like if you’re home late, want him asleep for the babysitter, it’s just been a day…? Happy to read lots at other times of the day but bedtime is 2 stories max.

You are setting foundations so that reading will be considered a pleasurable activity in future years. I used to read to all my three children - they are now adults but from their early teens were all regular readers. As a family we often discuss books.

Keep it up if it works. This was my pattern with DS8 and he reads everything fluently now, way way above his age. He's missed a ridiculous amount of school due to a neurological issue and the first year of school due to covid but nothing has stopped him and I honestly believe its due to all the books we have devoured.

I agree with @InTheRainOnATrain - we had this with my eldest. Always 3 stories, which is fine when you're in Foxes socks territory but can take forever when the books get longer. If you've always done a set number they will always expect it and it becomes a battle. By all means read as much as you want to but you need to be able to flex as well I think.

Not nearly enough imo. When my DS was 1 we were reading 10 a night before he could sleep. By the time he was 3 we were discussing Tolstoy over his warm milk. Step it up.

Not in RL but I was reading an old thread on here where posters were laying into the OP for reading a lot of books. Will try to find it. Bedtime seemed to take forever tonight so that’s why it was in my mind!

Thanks all. Tonight we had Superworm, Charlie Cook, two boring ones about pirates (but beautifully illustrated) and Highway Rat.

Haha I took you seriously for a split second!

100% keep doing this. Too many children have poor vocabulary because they don't read enough at home.

so long as you don’t feel like you HAVE to
do 5 every single night that’s fine

you might wanna do a gym class or whatever one night

The only time it’s ever a problem is when I’m doing bedtime alone and the baby gets fussy and cries. He does accept this and listens to the Tonie box instead. It isn’t often but has been known.

Ill have to try Roald Dahl, what are others reading with their three year olds?

You may need to cut back when he gets on to Harry Potter !

lol I’d definitely take reading stories over this! In all seriousness I am going to join a gym when I go back to work (I am currently on maternity leave so skint!) but I’ll go in the day, we live quite far from civilisation.

If you can be bothered then that's lovely.

Yeah I don’t think I’ll be reading all five! Maybe five chapters although that’ll still take forever! Still I like them too. I do genuinely find it enjoyable and it’s one of the few bits of parenting very small children I LOVE (hate jigsaws and painting and mess but I could read all day I love it.)