Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
News
MNHQ

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

217 replies

KateMumsnet · 13/05/2014 13:23

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.

OP posts:
RiverTam · 13/05/2014 21:43

we are older parents (both 42, DD is 4) and we both work in the book industry, so to use reading is the same as breathing the air - there's no concept that we wouldn't do it.

We read at bedtime and at meals mostly (in an effort to chivvy DD along!), we buy books all the time (don't see books as toys or a treat), I would say she gets a new book on average every fortnight - and we go to the library too. I actually think we should read with her more! Haven't done much with teaching her to read, happy to leave that to school.

Agree that 'no bedtime stories' is a major threat! And it's never just one, normally 3 longer picture books. I don't do voices (and DD tells me off if I try to!) but I do try to concentrate on the rhythm and flow of the words (so I can't bear badly written books, it's so obvious when you read aloud). DH isn't such a natural out-loud reader (he has a slight speech impediment) but they love reading together.

I was a voracious reader (well, still am given half a chance) as a child, DH less so, he got more into reading when he was older.

ihaveadirtydog · 13/05/2014 21:49

Dd (5) has at least 2 stories a night. She usually reads one of them herself.
Ds (2) doesn't really sit still long enough for a proper story but likes to look at 'that's not my...' type of books.
I'm 33

blueberryboybait · 13/05/2014 21:50

Forgot to say we are both in our mid/late 30's

LeBearPolar · 13/05/2014 21:52

I am 42 and still read to DS on a regular basis - he is 11. He is a very good reader himself and reads voraciously but enjoys the comforting routine of story time. DH and I read him books which we enjoyed but DS wouldn't necessarily read himself - so I am working through The Dark is Rising sequence at the moment, and have done lots of the Arthur Ransome stories. DH did The Lord of the Rings!

WeAllHaveWings · 13/05/2014 21:54

Read to ds(10) at bedtime until he was nearly 9, he's now working through the Harry Potter books by himself.

I think I deserve a parenting award for reading every other page of 40+ bloody Beast Quest books with him. I was very glad to say goodbye to Tom and Elenna, but did enjoy our nightly read and cuddle. It was always a good time for a little impromptu chat about either the book or school or whatever else.

mousmous · 13/05/2014 22:05

beast quest.
the next series (we are now ready 4) dc can read on heir own if there s still blood in my veins , they are great for vocab, though.

Jojay · 13/05/2014 22:13

Yes. Mine are 7, 5 and 2 yo twins. We read to them all every night, bar the odd very late night, and have done since they were about two.

I'm 37, DH is 43.

Jinsei · 13/05/2014 22:27

My dd is nearly 9 and so-called G&T in reading. She reads loads by herself but she still loves me to read to her at bedtime, and I really enjoy it too. It's a lovely way to round off the day.

clippityclop · 13/05/2014 22:29

Bedtime stories are vital, lovely to have a cuddle and a chat at the end of the day. Really helped when I was moving them from a night feed to having a cup at around 20 months too, they were engrossed in looking at pictures and made the transition very comfortably. Now we take turns to read to dd 9, Harry Potter and Dr Dolittle on the go at the moment. Dd 13 still likes a story every now and then, not so much since she started high school.

clippityclop · 13/05/2014 22:30

Sorry forgot to say I'm mid 40s, dh mid 50s.

scarletforya · 13/05/2014 22:30

I've never read to Dd at bedtime. I just can't. Weird, as I was a huge reader as a child myself.

cece · 13/05/2014 22:48

DD is 13 and I don't read to her anymore. I stopped when she ended Y6.

DS1 is 10 and has a chapter read to him every night.

DS2 is 4 and has 2 books every night. One he reads and one I read (or DH).

So yes every night, pretty much.

We are 45 plus in age though...

MrsCosmopilite · 13/05/2014 23:16

I'm not a young parent but I do read to my DD (aged 3) every night. It's part of the bedtime routine and can help to calm her down.
Sometimes we have stories during the daytime too, so it's not unusual to read 2 or 3 short books to her.
We are also asked to 'make up a story' once she's settled in bed too, which we do. I have very fond memories of both my parents (also not young parents) reading to me and making up stories.

ViviDeBeauvoir · 13/05/2014 23:24

My dad read to me every night l(things like The hobbit as I got older) and I loved it. My 3DC also love it and choosing a book to read is the only thing that gets them upstairs, ready for bed!
I let them choose a book each and we all snuggle together to listen. Tonight we had Maisy goes to the museum (DS2's choice - he's 16 months); The nutcracker (DD 5) and Mr Greedy (DS1 - 3)
I can't wait to share more of the books from my childhood. I read DD George's Marvellous Medicine and she thought it was brilliant.

ViviDeBeauvoir · 13/05/2014 23:26

Oops forgot to say I'm 35

DiscoDancer · 13/05/2014 23:27

Definitely part of our bedtime routine too. Now ds gets picture books from nursery to read, we read those too, and he gets to pick one of his own. He loves it, and ds2 aged 1 also manages to sit on the bed quietly when it's story time. I am a book worm though so probably encourage reading and books lots and lots

DiscoDancer · 13/05/2014 23:27

I am old too. Aged 35 Shock

StackALee · 13/05/2014 23:28

DS has anything from one book to ten depending on how tired he is.
I was so excited to find 'the giant jam sandwitch' in the shops.

mjmooseface · 13/05/2014 23:30

I'm 22 and have an 18 month old who I read to before bed a lot but not every night at the moment. I read to him often during the day and recite stories to him when he's fussing. Sometimes, he is a bit too quiet in his room and I'll sneak up on him thinking he's up to no good and I'll find him sat quietly looking through his books which fills my heart with joy! I love reading myself especially before bed and hope to encourage a love of reading in my son, too. Our routine is a bit crazy at the minute. I'm trying to get my son into bed at a much earlier time when everyone is less tired so I can make sure I read to him every night because those nights we do read together, he loves, and I love. It's a special time. And I believe teaching kids to read books is important.

drinkingtea · 13/05/2014 23:33

Why does the fact people are not saying it is their "favourite part of the day" mean it is "in decline"... seems an inaccurate and misleading conclusion... although I guess "parents under 25 don't claim bedtime story reading is favourite part of the day" is a rubbish headline :o

Its never been my favourite part of the day, even though I am ancient and had all my DC in my 30s... but I still do it, a story per child every night... Its perfectly pleasant usually, but sometimes fraught or frustrating if younger DC disrupts older ones or they keep interrupting in order to prologue bedtime but really, really need to go to sleep in order to be fit for the next day...

My eldest will be 9 soon, and reads very well and extensively herself, but still likes to be read to. I do it for all sorts of reasons, including a very strong desire to keep her English (mother tongue) at native speaker level despite the fact she goes to school in German and everyone else outside our four walls interacts with her in German - the same is true for her little brothers... I will keep reading to all the kids for as long as possible, but its not my favourite part of the day, never has been, but I have read every night (except the ones I work, when their dad reads) every night for almost 9 years...

Jenny70 · 14/05/2014 06:02

We still read to our 10,8 & 6 year olds (mid 40's here), the threat of no stories is usually enough to call into line any misbehaviour - so obviously they do value it highly. And we like snuggling up and reading to them - especially now the stories are more interesting than baby books :)

FairyPenguin · 14/05/2014 06:55

We have always had a story at bedtime. DS (4) loves his story and would have us read to him for ages if we let him. We went on our weekly trip to the library today and he chose over 20 books that he wanted to borrow! When he was younger he was very wriggly and storytime used to be the only time we'd get a good cuddle.

DD (7) usually reads to herself nowadays, and has done for about 3 months. She is a fluent reader and finds it quicker to read in her head. Every now and then she lets us read to her though. We are both avid readers so get where she's coming from!

Sometimes I find DD reading to DS - very sweet! In fact, he asked her to read his bedtime story last night!

We're mid-late 30s.

royalmama · 14/05/2014 07:04

We still have bedtime reading as part of our bedtime routine and the kids absolutely love it and insist on it( even when I'd rather not). I can tell it has had a very positive effect on them too, in terms of giving them things to think about, chat about, encouraging them to read more and read with much expression.DS1 who is 8 is such a good story teller and DS2 who is 6 is so fond of discussing what we read. I think this is one of those special bonding activities parents could both invest in and benefit from because it is isn't everyday your children will be that: children.

HecatePropylaea · 14/05/2014 07:26

Well, they are 13 and 14 so if I tried to read them bedtime stories theyd laugh in my face Grin

But yes, when they were younger, bedtime routine included a bedtime story.
it also included a bedtime song, oddly. Grin

HecatePropylaea · 14/05/2014 07:28

Oh, yes, I was 24 or 25 when my first was born.
I have to work it out on a bit of paper cos I can never remember. How weird is that? Grin