Do bedtime stories still work?

[JayGardener]

is it just in movies or do kids actually love bedtime stories? If yes, what kind?

That's okay. We don't know other people's parenting journeys. They could be adopted. Mum might have been very young, or unwell, or otherwise unable to focus on things like bedtime stories. It's great that she is thinking of this now.

To paraphrase Maya Angelou - we do the best we can with the knowledge and ability we have at the time.

It's great you want to read to them. TV and screens before bed is not good for the brain.

I would read chapters of something they're likely to enjoy for their age, harry potter maybe?

You can also read together and pick one character to voice each.

Both. Does it make them love books and become curious, and also does it put them to sleep and.. give the dreams if you know what I mean😅

I still read with my 13yo some nights, at her request! We take it in turns to read sections of whatever book she is reading, or she'll read out loud to me while I braid her hair.

I love it because it gives me an insight into her world and interests. We talk about - what do you think the author meant, what does this phrase imply, how do you think that character feels about' etc

I also read with my 11yo but tend to do that before tea as he likes to wind down for sleep on his own.

We also have an audible subscription so they can listen to audiobooks on their Alexas when they are tired. We listen to books together in the car (do a lot of long road trips) and quite often I'll lay down in their room and listen to 20 mins of a story together at night.

It is a really nice part of the day that we all still really value.

Sorry I'm a He😅. And it's not something I grew up with. I just had thoughts about it recently

It is never, never too late to start reading to and with your children. I'm pretty sure I had bedtime stories/shared reading into secondary school (had a younger sibling).

As much as the stories itself, children love that your whole attention is on them and the book: when you're really, you can't be also making a shopping list, or putting laundry on, or answering a quick email. Just read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with DS5 and loved how much he loved it.

Depends on the children but yes, lots of kids love them. Mine are 15 and 12 and still want to be read to in the evening - we’re reading His Dark Materials at the moment. They’re almost certainly both ND and home/family are very important to them, though, so I think it’s a source of comfort when most kids of their age would’ve grown out of it. I say go for it!

Apologies. You're doing a great thing. I really hope you all love discovering new books together.

Does your partner read to them/their mum if no longer together

I used to joke that the only way to get my daughter to sleep would be to read the most boring book in the world in a monotone dreary voice - because otherwise she would get too into the story and just want more.
I think if you are wanting to get them to love books more then at their age bedtime might not be best as they will be more interested in just wanting to sleep.
Reading to them is a great idea but personally at their ages I would do it as a daytime thing sat on the sofa.

I would definitely try some Roald Dahl by the way!

Thank you so much 😁
But it's good they are showing me the gravity of it.

Children will always love bedtime reading. Quite often my 6 year old reads her encyclopaedia as she is obsessed with facts, rather than wanting a story, but we read something every evening. It’s a great part of bedtime, any age.

What about work. And they go to school so??

some if my fondest memories are of reading to my kids. They still talk about some of the stories - and the voices and additions I added - now and they Are both in their 20s.

Honestly op it’s not too late to start and I promise it’ll be a gift to you as well as them.

Good luck

We’ve always read to ours (nearly 10 and 13 and still going!) and they aren’t a magic wand, but I think reading to children helps develop listening and oracy skills and is such a good opportunity to explore life concepts both real and imaginary. Neither of my boys particularly love reading themselves though (although both are good at it), so I don’t think it necessarily fosters a love of reading, but they both like being read to before bed. There are tons of benefits though if you google. Just make sure you find a book suitable for both ages as some of the ones recommended previously are for toddlers!

Since both of mine started reading it's a nightmare as they want to take over and end up squabbling. We read in the day time together but I don't read at night. I just let them read themselves until they're ready to sleep

After school? Weekends?

I was going to say YABU, but see you're a late starter.Well, nothing beats a trial but a failure, so go for it.

It doesn't need to be just at bedtime either. My daughter's school encouraged DEAR (drop everything and read) time, where parents read to children for an hour, or you all sit and read individual books.

Find out what types of books/stories they enjoy reading/listening to at school for guidance.

More evidence that mumsnet exists in a whole other galaxy!

Surely there's a little time between work and bedtime? Like homework time? After or before dinner? It's not a long task

Absolutely. Mine can both read books themselves now but still ask for a bedtime story.
Anything really.

I remember when DD1 was “too old” for bedtime stories but I was still reading to her little sister. Dd1 would sort of loiter by the door of my bedroom where we were reading. Then slowly edge towards the bed, then end up cuddled up with us, just enjoying the whole experience. Ahhh I miss those days.

It's okay.
I hope so too

Mine has no patience for being read to.
She’s six.
I loved reading as a kid and would have loved to be read to. I used to get books on tape out of the library.
My dd will only listen for a couple of minutes then asks me to stop.
She likes you to make up stories instead then she keeps changing the details til she’s basically telling the stories.
She can read but says she hates it.
I had picture books and started reading them to her when she was a baby.
It’s another thing about parenting that just hasn’t happened for us, along with nice, peaceful bath times.