Bedtime stories

[frecklemum]

I was talking to a friend this morning who was shocked that my nearly 8 year old still has a bed time story and isn't reading to herself before bed. Is this too old for a bedtime story? What age did your children stop being read to and started reading for themselves?

She isn't a very confident reader and also shares a bedroom with her younger sister and they both have the same story. Should we encourage her more to read to herself instead? Would this improve her reading? Thanks

Nothing at all wrong with a bed time story, it's a lovely way for kids to wind down and enjoy some one on one time with their parents. Encourage her to read alone during the day definitely, but I'd do the story at night for as long as she's happy to have it. I wish someone would read me a story some nights

Thank you Username - DP and I both like to read, so hopefully she will too.

It has become quite a favourite part of bedtime for them both and they really don't like it if we miss the story because we have been out late or something.

Being read to improves their verbal communication and understanding because they comprehend far more of what you read to them than they could read to themselves (it takes a long time for reading skills to catch up to comprehension). It doesn't matter that she's not a strong reader at the moment - it's probably doing great things for her vocabulary and understanding instead and she'll catch up, especially if she sees you reading.

OMG! One of the pantest things about learning to read so young (by comparison to how old most children are ready to learn I mean) is that we stop having books read to us...if we have parents like your friend!

Being read to is a joy and a delight - what a beautiful way to share a story. I've read to adult patients, to my husband, and to all my children, regardless of age or reading ability. Why deny them that just because they're a certain age?

She'll be a confident reader when she's old enough to, but pushing her beyond what she's ready for will only make it harder for her, not easier.

You could always say 'I want to share a book with you - will you read every other paragraph?' if you're worried, but don't take sharing stories away from her.

Thanks ZuleikaD & FlamingoBingo.
I do think she is being exposed to words she hasn't heard before aswell so agree with you about improving her vocabulary.
We like the nice wind down time at the end of the day I am keeping all the books so she might re-read the stories to herself when she is older aswell.
Her younger sister is 6, so if anyone has any suggestions for books to read to both of them please let me know :)

I'm a high school teacher and you'd be amazed by how many 17 year olds love being read to. Of course you should encourage independent reading - but I'd keep reading bed time stories for as long as she's willing to listen. The complex vocabulary she understands when being read to will undoubtedly exceed what she would be able to read herself anyway, so surely it would be more benefitial, not less. Enjoy it while I lasts!

www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/sep/10/alice-ozma-dad-read-every-night
Please carry on reading to your DC at night.