Do you still read a bed time story to your older child?

[noonar]

We do. My dds are 7.5 and almost 10. We always have a chapter book on the go, but don't read every single night.

What is the average age for stopping reading at bed time, I wonder...

I've got three boys and still read to them all at bedtime, even the oldest who is nine. He's a competent reader but rarely chooses to read himself for pleasure (especially not fiction) so I hope this will encourage him to continue to enjoy books as he gets older.

The only problem I have is that some of the books he likes reading now are really dull for me to read! I've just finished The Kick Off which he loved but I found incredibly tedious as it was all about football. I am struggling to find decent books out there for boys of his age.

So glad to find I am not unusual - I still read to DS (9) as well as to DD (5). The most dire punishment for evening misbehaviour is "no story" and if I am out at bedtime (DH doesn't "do" stories) then I get "we missed you - we didn't get stories" (nice to know that is the only reason they miss me ).

As others have said, reading to DS is our private time for just us and he tells me worries, etc more than he would at any other time. He tries not to read ahead and we choose books together - currently "airman" but more usually dragon-related.

Usually try something they won't choose themelves from the school library. I read to my 10 year old DD, but not every night as she's deep into Muchamore, and sometimes 13 year old DD joins us. Recent successes include When Marnie was There (Joan G Robinson) and Alan Garner's Elidor.

mum2jakie, you could always go off at a tangent & try adult books about football What about How Steeple Sinderby Wanderers won the FA Cup? Or Fever Pitch??

DD is 7 and i read to her every night after she has read a bit to me. We have read the Little House on the prairie books and loved them, must get Farmer boy from my mums too. I seem to be the only year 3 mum who still reads to their DC as have asked the other mums. I love it, it's our 'me time' which is precious imho.

I read to my children 10, 8 & 3, generally weekdays bar Friday..Guides & BB but the weekends they don't want this but to stay up late! I tend to find a couple of books I've read either myself when young (loved Swallows & Amazons, dustwhatdust) or in school with my class, often children's classics that link to the terms themes. I'm currently reading Alan Garner's, The Weirdstone of Brisingamen at home & school. I usually read & share a picture book with youngest.....not sure who enjoys these most, me or her! What should happen is she goes sleep & I settle the others and read but she sneaks in and listens and I haven't the heart to send her to bed...though this will need to change by full time education. It will be a holiday treat then. I intend to read to them for as long as they want me to. However, already my eldest tells me never let others know I read bedtime stories to her. I fear peer negative pressure sneaking in. Stories lead to conversations and imaginative discussions linked to such and long may it continue.

stealthsquiggle we call our reading time DMC, for deep and meaningful conversations. I tend to find I am more chilled out and its darkish and we are relaxed, makes it very easy to say whats on his mind. Then when i leave I can panic, stress, flap ponder thoughtfully on what he has told me.

I read to ds2 (12) and dd (9) most nights - we often read classics or things which might need a bit more explaining like Sherlock Holmes - but we've been reading Muddle Earth and its sequel Muddle Earth Too by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell which are rollicking good fun - and great to read out loud too - thoroughly recommended

ds1 stopped wanting a bedtime story years ago, but he's determined to be much more independent ...

Idon't know - you fill me with relief as we still read from time to time to DS, also pretty dyslexic and a teen. tends to be biography but fiction from time to time. Includes the hilarious The Bromley Boys and Jack Dee's autobiography (lol at the rake story); gripping - eg the London Eye Mystery, Gladiator, or sporting - Monty Panesar's autobiography. Sometimes DS will read by himself, sometimes he wants one of us to do so.

yup still read to ds 9 ,we share the reading, am making the most of it before he refuses to let me snuggle

We do on and off, to 11 and 10 yos. We didn't ever read to them every night, it varied depending on energy levels and other things, and I always rather encouraged them to read to themselves instead, but we still do read books all together sometimes. Especially on holiday when we've got a bit more time, it's good in a tent.

I tend to choose books a bit above their normal level or a bit different from their normal taste, or new books I don't know myself. DP also reads to them and he chooses classics he hasn't read, things like Sherlock Holmes.

We stopped when they were twelve/ twelve and a half. It was all good up till then though.

Maybe when my children are that age i will get them to read one night and i'll read the next. Gets them ready for when they haveto read out loud in class at secondary school