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.

We have been reading to our 6 month old DD since she was a few weeks old. She loves her books and we read them at all times of the day. TBH she gets very excited at certain books so not always a good wind down

I did every single night until recently and instead now give th a choice of watching a DVD or reading a story. They pick a film every time now. :-(

Of course.
My ds (nearly 10) is just 'growing out of it' but I will still read a long / difficult book with him (he has dyslexia). On the nights he doesn't have a chapter (or 6.....) read to him, he listens to cd's of eg, Stephen Fry reading Harry Potter etc....

My dd, (6) is just discovering chapter books.

I LOVE it and will be very sad when we 'leave it behind'.
My only regret is sometimes I am too tired to enjoy it properly.

Sometimes, as a Family, we sit on a Sunday evening, with crumpets by the fire, listening to a 'story tape'.

I am also a gimmer.

Think the question's a bit misleading tbh. DD has always had bedtime stories (had her when I was 26), she loves them and it's an important part of our day, but my favourite part? Not really, because I know the delaying, huffing and yelling there's going to be in a few minutes when I finish reading and say goodnight... I mean, aren't the 55+ crowd perhaps reminiscing about how wonderful it was snuggling up for a book when the kids were tiny, and forgetting some of the horrors of bedtime?

But yes, I think books are really important and the bedtime story is extra special. Apart from anything else, I like the fact that no matter how the day turns out there's at least one book firmly scheduled into the routine. We normally read during the day too, but she doesn't always ask and I'd hate to realise one day that we'd gone several days without reading.

We have never had the horrors of bedtime (mornings and mealtimes are our trouble spots). My two (10 and 8 now) have always had books then gone to bed with no hassle, I leave the room and that's it. In fact for the last three years they've been having their stories in my bed then they go off to their room, I rarely follow them through or check on them. They occasionally re-emerge to go to the loo or get a drink of water, but that's all.

I'm 23. I read to my DC every night at bedtime but I hate it. Literally can't stand reading childrens books but I know it's important so I always do it anyway. My DC have so many books, about two bookcases full in their bedroom. It's probably one of my least favourite parts of the day. I love reading my own books though.

Luckily bedtimes here have always been easy too, but I still do not enjoy reading story books!

I still read to my 11 yo. He has dyslexia and is never going to enjoy books unless I keep it going until he's ready for me not to.

The books I read to him are from the teenage spy, "Alex Rider" series by Anthony Horowitz. I enjoy the stories too, and they are well written. It's really good one on one time that DS values. I also read to DS 2, who is 6.

Gah, I wish we didn't have the horror of bedtime... But we have delightful mealtimes so I suppose it all evens out!

My last memory of being read to is when I had flu aged maybe 13, and my mum came into my room and read The Children of Green Knowe to me because I was feeling so pitiful. It's always felt like a lovely cosy thing to me.

DS is 4.5 and we read every night. We are just moving onto chapter books after a very successful introduction of Flat Stanley to his book collection.

I am 30. Story time is one of my favourite points of the day with DS

Don't you think that is a generational thing? Mothers who have not had books read to them will not think that reading to their own children is important - if in fact, as a result, they are capable of reading to the children.

Well done you. Above and beyond but you are absolutely doing the best possible thing for your child. All good wishes for your futures. Keep up the good work.

Teladi: Well done you and your husband.

MJP1
The Snail and the Whale is the best book I have ever read!

Sorry, I'm not good at this!

My congratulations were to " Hotsaucecommittee"

My DD got a bit anxious last year (yr1) and started refusing to do her school reading book. After a bit of subtle investigating, it turned out she was worried that when she could read herself we wouldn't read to her anymore! Once I reassured her that we will always read to her as long as she wants us to, she was fine.

I still remember the first book I read to her at bedtime - miffy at the playground. I read the same one every night, starting when she was about 6 months old I think. I was 20 BTW, and I cannot imagine not reading to my DCs. I think it is mostly down to childhood - whether you see it as important or not I mean - but then, my mum didn't read to me anymore really once I could read :( I was a very early reader so didn't get much in the way of bedtime stories, but occasionally we'd share a book together and take turns. Anyway, it was never ever in doubt that I would read to my own babies as much as I could. Maybe it's partly because I didn't get much of it as a child - but I still knew books were important as we were a very booky family. Whereas if a child is brought up without any books - either being read to or seeing them in the home generally - then they don't know what they're missing so won't be likely to read to their own DCs.

Is there anybody there? (Sorry, you need to be quite old to understand that reference - but is there?)

My DD got a bit anxious last year (yr1) and started refusing to do her school reading book. After a bit of subtle investigating, it turned out she was worried that when she could read herself we wouldn't read to her anymore! Once I reassured her that we will always read to her as long as she wants us to, she was fine.

I still remember the first book I read to her at bedtime - miffy at the playground. I read the same one every night, starting when she was about 6 months old I think. I was 20 BTW, and I cannot imagine not reading to my DCs. I think it is mostly down to childhood - whether you see it as important or not I mean - but then, my mum didn't read to me anymore really once I could read :( I was a very early reader so didn't get much in the way of bedtime stories, but occasionally we'd share a book together and take turns. Anyway, it was never ever in doubt that I would read to my own babies as much as I could. Maybe it's partly because I didn't get much of it as a child - but I still knew books were important as we were a very booky family. Whereas if a child is brought up without any books - either being read to or seeing them in the home generally - then they don't know what they're missing so won't be likely to read to their own DCs.

Oops sorry for double post

I don't. I did up until he was 5ish (nearly 8 now)

Can't really explain why tbh; I realise im in the minority.

We read together at other times sometimes, though he also likes to sit there and read on his own.

Incidentally, to the poster who said it was terribly sad etc etc, it does not follow that an unread-to-before-bedtime child will ge academically inferior

Definitely still routine here. DD2 is 8.5 and reads me whatever is assigned reading from her schoolbooks, mostly. DH or I read to DS who is 5.

Am in my 40s.

Absolutely. DS1 is 5 so he has stories read by us with his younger brother before DS2 goes to bed and then he does his school reading afterwards. Reading stories is a big part of my DC's day, at bedtime and other times.

Yes, every night until about age 8 and stopped wanting it so much, now whenever they ask me. I read and they read and we talk about the book.

feathermucker - it was me who sad it was terribly sad but that was in the instances where the child can read so the parents don't see the point in reading to them any more. That is fine if that is what the child wants but I was really referring to those parents who decided it was time to stop not the child.

I made no comment on the academic ability of those children. They can read so they are obviously fine but there are other reasons for reading to children other than the academic.

We don't do bedtime stories. Doesn't really work with ds routine. We do read books in the day, though. It would be unusual for ds to have a day go by without at least one story.