Bedtime story-reading on the decline - do you read to your DC at night?

[KateMumsnet]

A new poll for the reading charity Booktrust has found that younger parents (aged 16-24) enjoy reading to their children at bedtime far less than previous generations did. Only 28% of younger parents say it's their favourite part of the day, compared to 42% of older parents (aged 55+) - and younger dads in particular lacked confidence in reading aloud to their children.

What do you think - is the bedtime story a vital element of your bedtime routine - the best bit of the day? Or a nice extra, but not an essential part of parenting?

We'd love to hear what you think - and if you're looking for a bit of inspiration, find out which bedtime books are most beloved by Mumsnetters, over here.

I'd say vital. My children (7 and 4) love to be read to. DS1 now reads a story to DS2 at bedtime, and they both get read to. DS2 chooses 3 books and adores his reading time. He often asks to be read to during the day too. DS1 gets one chapter at bedtime after he has read to himself. We have always done this and will carry on until we are not allowed in at bedtime!

Bedtime story is sacrosanct in our house. I have three children and often that few minutes is the only individual cuddly attention they get.

The 10 year old now reads for about an hour before she sleeps. It's a really good habit and has helped so much with her literacy.

It's vital - and a lovely part of the day. DD is 10 now and prefers to read to herself - and she reads for 1-2 hours a day. She's always loved books and reads a wide variety of authors. She's great at literacy too, and I;m sure her early love of books has helped this.

We still read to ds (age 7) every night - and sometimes he reads to us! I will be really, really sad when we don't have to do bedtime reading any more...

We have read to our 2 children (11 & 8) since they were tiny. Both can read independently but still love the snugly story session. We read things they perhaps wouldn't choose themselves or would find tricky. Currently the Hobbit. DS always says its his favourite part of the day. I think it definitely helps with reading, if not the actual reading certainly the love of books and also extends their vocabulary. Plus I get a cuddle with them both simultaneously. Whats not to like?!

My two are 12 and 10, we have a bedtime story most nights for a good hour at a stretch!
We all pile into the big bed and I read while they brush my hair. Best time of the day by far!

Yes, every night since they were 6 weeks old. (I realise this is a little bonkers). They're 7 and 5 now, and despite being one of those reckless single parents they are doing well at school so they must of benefitted from it a bit.

I probably spend too much on books TBH, I love a browse in waterstones and choosing books that are as much fun for me to read as for they are to listen to.

We've recently moved onto chapter and non-fiction books which provoke more discussion.

yes I read to mine - always have.

Now I read a couple of picture books to DD2 (age 3 - though DD1 age6 still enjoyes them) and then a chapter book to them both. Then DD1 has some reading time to herself.

I was stupidly thrilled when DD1 started taking a light to bed to do her own reading.

i read to my 5 every night.SOmetimes i dont read and i tell them a story instead.im 28,had my first at 23.

I wouldnt say its my favourite part of the day though.I read to them a lot,they are home educated so its not just a bedtime thing for us,we have lots of time in general to read together.My favourite part of the day changes all the time depending on what we are doing.

DS loves his bedtime story and won't allow us to miss it ever! It's great if I've had a busy day as it is 1-2-1 time. We've read books of poetry together which I enjoyed as a child so it's lovely.

My DS is 8 weeks old and DH and I have been reading to him since he was born, during the day and at bed time. I buy books from the local Oxfam and we have specific books we've kept from when we were children. DS seems to like things that rhyme so we read poems to him as well. We are both 26, I have been an avid reader ever since I could, DH couldn't read properly until he was 7 but then went on to do his degree at Oxford.

This sounds awful but I don't read to DS 3 at night at all. We both love books (LP) but if I read to him before bed, he gets all excited and it doesn't have the intended soporific effect! We do read together every day, we even write stories, just not before bed.

We've read to ours since they were 6 months old, most nights (except Mondays which are late nights due to Brownie's and rainbows), we are currently on harry potter and the chamber of secrets, admittedly we have temporarily handed the reins to Stephen fry (the audio books are fantastic) but we always smuggle with them while they are listening. We've got loads of books to get through as a family, waaaaaay to many to list :-) and I'm not an older parent, 37, we started reading to them when I was 30

Still read to mine and they're 13 and 11. Currently reading treasure island. They are both good readers but get very upset if I suggest we stop. I'm old though (45)

We'll often go into the girls bedroom in the morning and the eldest will be reading the youngest a book, while snuggled up in bed together :-)

I would question the findings. I'm sure less people do read (which is a shame) but bear in mind that consumer polls tend to be skewed towards certain demographics - without proper weighting or controls, you're likely to have a sample of c/d 3s.

no bedtime stories here as I need to juggle 3dc at a time and often we are all too tired.

They read plenty of books and stories through the day though. Oldest now reads by herself before sleeping.

I don't understand why it must be at bedtime, surely books can be enjoyed at any time of the day?

I'm 34, DH 38. We do 10-15 minutes a night just before bathtime to wind things down a bit and then one book after milk but before teeth cleaning. DD is 15 months and adores books - though she's quite particular about which ones she wants to read and will firmly push away any she's not interested in that night!

Both DC have bedtime stories with us, mostly DH as he's the best apparently

DS started having a bedtime story at about 2 (we tried before but he couldn't grasp the concept of 1 story at night so had to stop until he was a bit older!), DD is 23 months and has been having a bedtime story for about 3 months while she finishes her bedtime milk. We read stories during the day too, both DC love books - DD especially always has a book in her hand since she was 18 months old!

Love going to the library too! We change DD's books (unless she has a particular favourite) every few weeks for my sanity so she gets a variety. Charity shops are always worth a look as well.

I'm 34 & DP is 30. We read to Dd(13mo), every night and during the day. She toddles over with book after book, if she's in the mood. We started reading to her before bed, at about 11mo, properly. DP joins in and loves it. As she still bf to sleep, it's the part of bedtime he can do.

I find the books I know off by heart, very useful when dd's struggling to nod off when she's out in the pushchair. Reciting them works pretty well to send her off to sleep.

I was a fluent reader by 5 and it looks like dd has the same interest in books, that I did. I hope it continues!

I still read to mine occasionally and they are 13 and 10. It was every night until about 3 years ago when DH got bored and reclaimed his evenings so now I alternate between them. In fact it is petering out now but it is DS2 who is 10 who has lost interest, hopefully temporarily. DS1 still gets a bit of his book a couple of times a week. He used to love reading books when younger but now prefers magazines. However he is happy for me to read to him so I hope he gets something out of it. He is in Yr 9 and they have a reading session every Friday in school so it isn't just me that is reading the book now!

I read about one of the children's laureates saying we should read to older children and teenagers as well as younger children. They still get something out of it although it isn't the same as when they are younger obviously. I find it sad when parents stop reading to children just because they can read for themselves. There is so much more to it than learning the mechanics of reading.

Just for the record, I thought I was an older parent but I am not over 55 yet so maybe I am still young. in my dreams I am 47.

Forgot to add our age - I'm 29 and DH is 40. We both love to read too and always have, I was reading fluently by age 3, so I think that goes a long way to help. I don't recall having bedtime stories as a child but my mum read to me a lot during the day, and I always loved looking through books. My grandad always read me a bedtime story when I stayed though

Glad to see I am not the only one reading to older children btw. I have seen threads before now where reading to older children is seen as a bit odd.

I'm fairly youngish - was 25 when I had DC1, we both read to both DC (now aged 5&2) every night before bed and often during the day too

I love it - except when they choose the same sodding book for weeks in a row. Then it is boring.