Bed time routines and parents reading bed time stories

[jokrys5959]

I'm researching bed time routines, bed time stories in particular. I'm really interested in hearing how often/for how long/up until what age people read bedtime stories - either picture books or story apps. Would love to know which books/apps your pre-school children prefer and what it is they like about them. My own son is on the autistic spectrum and our bedtime story routine doesn't always go to plan but is usually a lovely end to the day. (He is eight and still delights in being read to.)

DD is 2.5 and gets a story before her nap and before bed. Always tucked up in bed, and usually the same bloody story each sleep for a few days. I let her choose, but do put the books I hate out of reach (Mr Men mainly).

Her favourites at the moment are any Julia Donaldson one, but specifically Room on the Broom, and the Hairy McLairy series.

We both seem to like a story with rhyme in it. I think it helps relax her before bed.

I eagerly anticipate the age where we are in chapter books!!

DSes are 5.10 and 4.2 and we read 3 bedtime stories every night before bed - one chosen by each of us. DS1 usually chooses a factual book about dinosaurs (we do a couple of chapters, about 5-10 minutes worth), DS2 chooses a Thomas one and I go for a rhyming/gentle one as its the last one to be read!

They share a room and have a big beanbag on the floor which we cuddle up on and do the reading then into bed, have done this for years and no sign of stopping yet. DS2 does his school reading books and any others he fancies attempting after tea and before bath.

Read to both our boys at bedtime. Get them bathed, teeth brushed and upstairs to sit and read. I usually read to DS1 (age 6) in his room while DH reads to DS2 (2yrs) in his room, then we have cuddles and bed. DS1 as a pre-schooler loved Julia Donaldson books (The Gruffalo and Stick Man are still among his favourites!) He loved the stories and how clever they were and how the illustrations can be linked in some of the books (eg, there is a Gruffalo bauble on the tree in Stick Man and in The Gruffalo's Child, she is carrying Stick Man etc!)

DS2 is only 2 but loves his bedtime stories. He likes anything about Thomas Tank Engine.

They are both read to for about 15 minutes a night. Though DS1 reads to me each morning too for school.

All mine have hated having a bedtime story :(
BUT we do read a lot during the day.

Our bedtime routine is cuddles and kisses goodnight, brush hair for DD, brush teeth for all 3, then tucked up in bed for the 2 yo, the nearly 9 year olds take themselves off to bed.
Weekends the nearly 9 yo get a dvd.

Ds is 2.8yo and has had bedtime stories since he was a few weeks old. We only tend to have books about bedtime in his room ( all the rest are downstairs) such as Goodnight Tractor/Digger/Pirate and I Took The Moon for a Walk. He has two each night after teeth and pjs and loves his stories usually.

How often - every night
How long - I read two books, DH reads three books. If it is latety-late I read two short books, if bedtime's prompt I crack open the long books.

What does she like? All sorts, really. I'm very enthusiastic about children's books, and she's coming along with me. If she's choosing for herself she'll choose books in a series she's seen before, I think this is quite important to her. For example, she loved Harry and the Bucketful of Dinsoaurs before the right age and despite no particular interest in dinosaurs. I think what she liked about them was that we happened to have four or five of them in the house because I'd found some in a charity shop.

DS (3) especially loves when the stories are rhymes. After reading the same story (over and over and over again) he eventually memorises them and can then help "read" them with us and gets a huge sense of achievement out of it.

DS (3) especially loves when the stories are rhymes. After reading the same story (over and over and over again) he eventually memorises them and can then help "read" them with us and gets a huge sense of achievement out of it.

DS (3) especially loves when the stories are rhymes. After reading the same story (over and over and over again) he eventually memorises them and can then help "read" them with us and gets a huge sense of achievement out of it.

DS (3) especially loves when the stories are rhymes. After reading the same story (over and over and over again) he eventually memorises them and can then help "read" them with us and gets a huge sense of achievement out of it.

DH usually reads DS1 (3.7) his bedtime stories while I do DS2 (16m) as DS2 doesn't stay awake long enough for them both together yet.

DS2 gets one biggish story (Tabby McTat or Gruffalo) or a couple of little ones (Toddle Waddle, Wow said the Owl or similar). DS1 gets about 4 or 5 stories (indulgent daddy!). Usually ending on The Gruffalo in bed in the dark. Takes about 20-25 minutes.

Mind you, as I type this at gone 8pm I can hear DS1 singing Bear Hunt to his cars

It's going on as I write here. Dd has had a bedtime story for as long as I can remember; dh does. She's 10 now!
Things have changed though, with dd taking on the characters etc.
Between them, it's very comical to listen to.
It won't be too long before this will end.....and we'll miss it

Both DC aged 9 and 6 have a story every night. The older one then goes to her room and reads until lights out.

We have been doing this since they were very young 1 yr to 18 months old.

It is lovely down time for everyone and provides a lovely opportunity to talk before bed!!!!

We read to DS1 (3) every night before bed (and sometimes at other times of day too). The default is three stories (which usually equates to 10-15m, though it can be up to 25 if that bastard Dr Seuss is involved). However, he sometimes loses one or in extremis, even two stories if he's not good about getting out of the bath when asked, brushing teeth and putting pyjamas on.

I would pull my own teeth out rather than take away the third story, though, that would put bedtime into a whole world of hurt...

Occasionally DS will say he only wants two, one or even no stories if he's feeling really tired/poorly.

I'm so jealous of you all with your bedtime reading!
My youngest literally tells me to go out and shut the door! She is only 2!!!