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.

Yes, I read to my dc every night, and I'm not middle class like the rest of mn.

It's one of the highlights of my day and definitely not because it's five minutes until DD is asleep. Oh nooooo

It's nice wind down time for us both and I love to see how interested she is in the stories. I'm late 20's and so is my DP and he enjoys it too.

Now, off to look at the book recommendations

We have read bedtime books since 6 months old and read in the day. I read when dd is hyperactive to calm her down. Recently we were given several boxes of hand me down books. She is in her element. Has been taking them off to read quietly by herself. She is 2.7years old.

We are 33 and 37 and always read bedtime stories.

Dd1 is 6yo and reads a chapter of her current book (Oliver Moon atm) and then I read a chapter to her. She's then allowed to read one more chapter by herself before she switches the light out.

Dd1 is 3yo and chooses a different picture every night for us to read and do the voices for! Sometimes we sing a nursery rhyme book, sometimes we can read the same book for a week or more if the fancy takes her (paper dolls is her favourite at the moment).

It is an essential part of bedtime. I am avid reader and want my dc to be (although I fear technology may stop this).

I did a straw poll of this in my Y2 class a few weeks ago. Only 6 children out of 29 had a bedtime story - others played on ipads, watched TV/DVDs, etc.

In the last parent interviews, I suggested that one set of parents actually read to their child before going to sleep. Their response? 'Ooh, that's a good idea. We hadn't thought of that.'

And they wonder why children have poor vocabularies, are tired and unable to concentrate in school.

Sad, sad, sad.

DS (2.5) always has a bedtime story and has done since he was about 4 months old. We always read the same story (started as part of bed routine but now he's a bit older he sometimes has two - a chosen one and then his bedtime book. We have tried not reading his bedtime one and just doing one other but he always asks for it! It's a lovely book - The little white owl

We have always read to our son, nearly 10. He loves reading and being read to. He still has a bedtime story- chapters of bigger books.

I've always made up adventure stories for my ds & wrote a couple of Xmas stories. I put a paragraph of the story in each pocket of his advent calendar. Even though he can remember most of the story he loves getting up each morning to a chocolate coin and the next instalment!

And yes, we're 43 & 45 years young!!

We're ancient 40s parents to 3.5 yo DS. If we try missing bedtime stories it's Armageddon. (Only ever suggested when ill/late/some other exceptional reason). The norm is 2 story books but sometimes he wheedles more. At one point I lost all control and was mugged for 2 book stories and 3 made up stories nightly, until I got a grip.

Anticipating a future thread on where all the musicians of tomorrow will come from, I also sing him 5 songs after lights out.

This whole sequence takes about 20 minutes and is really precious time, since I usually only get in after 6. So I make the most of bedtimes. DS has loads of energy and needs time to wind down, plus can't cope with going off to bed without a good solid mummy session if we haven't seen each other all day, so it works for everyone.

have a one and three year old both love stories and especially before naps/bedtime. helps calm them down. my youngest picks up books and brings them to you.

I read to my Ds, I am in my in late thirties when he was born. He loves it. He now reads to himself mostly in bed but sometimes I do read to him..

It was lovely when he started reading the stories I read him when he was small.

Had my 2 1/2 year old when I was 27 so older than surveyed but I love reading to her...basically because of how much she enjoys it, she's a real book worm (and it's definitely the nicest part of my day snuggling up with her when I barely get a cuddle in the day now!)

I'm finding the bedtime routine a challenge now I have a 2 month old and I haven't got a special bedtime book for him as part of our routine and that makes me feel bad... At the moment I'm just relieved if he goes to sleep! But I'll get there.

I strongly believe reading with my daughter so often is what has made her such a good little talker and has helped her learn her alphabet. It's such a nice thing to do! I love rediscovering all the classic books I enjoyed.

Yes we do read bedtime stories every night! I find it so sad that this is becoming less popular. DS loves his bedtime story.

We read every night to our DS until he was about 8 - sadly it doesn't seem to have had any impression on him as he really doesn't enjoy reading at all - he's now 13. We were in our 40s when he was born .

We're late 40s parents of 8 and 10 year olds, We don't read together every night now the DCs are older they are often out till close to bedtime at Cubs etc, probably read 4 nights a week now. I read to both together in my bed, each DC reads a page then I finish the chapter. We often play short games like Top Trumps, Brainbox before bed too.

I love reading to my 1 year old and I'll continue reading to him till he doesn't want me to anymore. I have really fond memories of my Dad reading to me, and he loved doing silly voices or changing the words to my well-loved stories to make me laugh. I think its proper quality time, away from all the rushing around we've gotten used to.

My Dd ages 10 still loves listening to a chapter each evening. She is an avid reader herself but I like the relaxation she gets from listening. My ds(7) isn't so keen. So sometimes he has a story, sometimes we draw sometimes we play darts. I will be v upset when they don't want a story

Forgot to add we are 42 & 38

Are you sure that the stats don't just mean that the older parents are particularly looking forward to bedtime ?

I had DS1 at 19 and I read to him every night until he was about 7 (after which he wanted to listen to an audiobook and then he started reading to himself once his reading skills matched the kinds of books he actually wanted to read). He'd look at me like I was mad if I offered to read to him now (he's nearly 14).

One of us reads to DS2 (4) every night (after we've listened to him reading to us). Usually I listen to his reading and then DH gets to read yet another bloody beast quest book. DS2 is the only one who looks forward to beast quest!

We always read to our 2 DDs. We alternate, so one night DH reads to DD1 while I read to DD2, the next we swap over.

Both girls love bedtime stories and enjoy books in general.

DH and I are in the 35-40 age bracket!

Hmmm

No

DD1 got a story every night for a few years
DD2 did probably until age about 2, when DD1 was 4

Nowadays it's all a bit hit and miss

DD1 is 6 now can read and so does, sometimes reads to DD2.
We both do reading to children and doing schoolbooks and stuff when teh mood hits / when they ask.
GPs have them quite a lot (after school etc) and they do lots of reading to them.

I suspect this thread will have a self selecting bunch of responses - so far it seems that a MN sample gives more or less 100% of people reading every night!

When I do read to them is it my favourite part of the day? No. To do with the kids, DH would probably say his favourite things was baking and I would probably say my favourite thing was maths / science related things.

The highlight of my day is probably my lunch break at work

I love the time Spent during bed time story, recently bedtime has been getting later and later, and occasionally we have missed a bedtime story.

I read to mine every night until they could read for themselves, then it became less often.

I continued to read to ds until he was 9 or 10 because he liked it and it was a nice one on one moment with him. He now reads to himself before bed and we have to drag the book away and turn off the light. (he's 11)

dd1 is 9 and a good reader, but she still insists I read to her every night. I am trying to get her to read to herself instead, but she is very reluctant to drop it as she likes the me time.

dd2 is 6 and we are still totally in the bedtime story stage.

The ultimate worst punishment is to loose your bedtime story.

BUT, I find it a real bind/drag/least favourite time of day. I am tired, and I would love to stick them in bed, kiss them and leave, but the whole process of 3 kids and stories takes ages.

I love reading and my daughter loves listening. It's an important but enjoyable part of our bedtime routine but great wind down time and a chance to spend some quality time too, especially now I'm back at work after number 2. I definitely think reading has helped my eldest (now 3) to develop a good vocabulary, enjoy role-play, and has prepared her for reading. She likes to point at the words now rather than just focussing on the pictures and likes to read the short words she recognises like 'to', 'of' or 'big'. Or to recite parts or finish sentences of books we know well. She knew the whole of what the hungry caterpillar ate on Saturday when she was probably just 2, and I found it so very cute. Haven't started a consistent storytime for the younger one yet (11 months) but need to!!

Ps I'm not up to scratch on all these abbreviations, dh, dd etc etc!!

Have rad to the girls at bedtime since day1. I read to both Dds when breastfeeding them and now they are 4 and 5 we read a chapter of a longer book and then a picture book each. DD1 will read herself in the evenings before bed but 'can't' sleep without a story read to her. DH often reads one story and then make up another about characters he invented for them when they were tiny.