6 yr old and bedtime story

[peppajay]

My daughter is 6 and in year 2 and either me or my hubby still read her a bedtime story. She isnt the best reader and doesnt enjoy doing anything on her own she relishes adult interaction, but none of her classmates are read to anymore. There is a few in her class who have TV's in their room so they go to bed and watch tv and the others read to themselves in bed for half hour or so but my DD would be distraught if we left her to read: 1) she isnt the best reader and would need so much help and 2) would hate us not being involved.

When we do read to her she still likes what I call picture books like 'A squash and a squeeze' or the blue kangaroo books whereas a lot of her friends are reading Enid Blyton or Horrid Henry.

So am I babying her too much and spending too much time with her or at 6 she she be expected to read to herself. She is in yr 2 but August born so very young.

Thanks x

and don't underestimate what they can understand. I read Lion the Witch and Wardrobe, Charlie and Chocolate Factory etc to them aged 5 or 6.

When they are tired on a school night, they often prefer an easier read, but in the holidays we read chapter books which they love to listen to.

I read to and with my DS who's in yr3 and nearly 8. He also reads alone, to me and to his 5yo sister. I think this has helped him advance in his reading skills and taught him to enjoy the magic of books. I have no intention of stopping

My mum read to me until I went to senior school, and then after that we often took turns to read to each other of an evening. It's the best thing ever! And it's nothing to do with learning or school or targets so enjoy the freedom of reading whatever she feels like, the most important thing is Books Are Fun. :)))))

I am reading Harry Potter to my yr7 11yo and yr5 9 yo. They keep asking so must be enjoying it. Keep reading to your dd

Keep reading! I remember reading to mine years after they were fluent readers. When youngest was 7 older ones still used to come into bed and listen, they were about 11 and 12. I would quite like to lie in bed and be read to now and I'm 56!

No TVs in bedrooms here either, and that includes the one DH and I sleep in. I think it helps to set the example, we have one TV and it's in the living room.

I have an August born 6 year old DD in year 2 as well. She would cry if we didn't have bedtime story time together (literally, I made the mistake of trying to save time once...never again!!) however she has recently started wanting to do the reading herself. I am still sat on the bed with her, but she is the one doing the reading - things like "5 minutes peace" and "let's go home, little bear" from recent memory. Or if the book is too long then we take it in turns to read every other page, although that is more for my own sanity! DD loves reading and writing though, that is her "thing" more than maths etc. If your DD doesn't enjoy reading then I don't think bedtime is the right time to force it, bedtime is a chance to relax not get stressed! :)

DD turns 9 next week and would be horrified if I stopped reading bedtime stories to her. She is actually a good reader but seems to lack the patience to read herself longer books - possibly because she insists on reading out loud still - but has just finished Twins at St Claire's and is EXTREMELY pleased with herself. I've been away for a couple of nights so I don't know what she's reading now - she may well have reverted back to picture books.

Meanwhile, I have read her all the Narnia books, all the Harry Potter books, a selection of Morpurgos, all three Magic Faraway Trees, all three Wishing Chairs, all sorts ... more recently, The Hound of the Baskervilles, and currently a Clive Barker (The Thief of Always, it's age appropriate, but you should've seen the look on DH's face, muahaha).

I still read to 6yo DD and 10yo DS and "no story" is the most dire threat/punishment imaginable. No way are they having TVs in their rooms in the foreseeable future either.

I remember my DDad reading to me until I was about 10 or 11 - I remember the daft voices he used to do! It's a lovely thing to do, and I intend to read to all of my three for as long as possible.

This thread is weirdly making me cry!

Partly happy memories of my childhood and partly hoping reading to Dd never ends as its my favourite time with her.

My parents read to/ with me until I was a teenager. We read lord of the rings, great expectations and loads of others. Occasionally I read a book with dh to this day.

I had a uni friend whose mum read the oddessey and the Iliad to her.

Being read to is really good for improving their own reading, expression, understanding, vocabulary

I read to my DS(9) and my DD(6) everynight. Try The Magic Faraway Tree, as it is chapter based and both my two loved it, my daughter also loved Milly Molly Mandy, The Wombles, Rainbow Fairies (which I loathed but they lead her onto really reading for herself). She is now totally hooked on Harry Potter - but only going to the third at the mo as the fourth is a little more grown up.

I've come to this thread rather late, but I am glad to see the virtually unanimous YES for reading, and NO for TV in the bedroom!

We read to DS from when he was a baby. He had the set of Beatix Potter books (in the blue wooden bookcase) and aged around two, he knew most of Appley Dapply's Nursery Rhymes off by heart.

I can't remember how old DS was when both I, and his mum, stopped reading to him, but it may have been around end of Junior school. I used to read Arthur Ransome books to him, as those are my own favouites. I think I also read him bits of Under Milk Wood.

Now aged thirty, he reads very sophisticated stuff I wouldn't begin to understand.

Yes definitely keep reading! We still read to dd who is 6. We also read to each other and we are 41! It is a lovely thing to do.

Catmint apparently reading out loud to someone is one of the ways you can ward off dementia - it uses a much wider range of brain functions than reading in silence. I suspect this is true, because it is tiring - as well as putting in inflection, doing the voices, making sure the author's intent comes across, you are also reading ahead at the same time so that you know what's in the next couple of sentences and can get it right.

You're talking major exercise in anticipation, comprehension and expression, a really good brain workout.

I hope my DDs don't stop wanting to be read to any time soon - we still have a loooot of Terry Pratchett to go.

Keep reading - I still read to my 6 yr old and I imagine she would howl the house down if I suggested we stop! I'll keep doing it as long as she wants. Usually I read one story, DP reads one story and then DD reads one to us
We still read (and buy!) picture books, but are introducing chapter books too. I've found listening to longer stories as audio books has made her more interested and she enjoys reading the stories we have previously listened too as well - she doesn't have to wait so long to know what happens as she already knows!
My DP read to his older children throughout junior school and occasionally later too - he sometimes reads to me as well which is lovely.
DD would love her own TV but it's just not going to happen.

We still read to DS1, who is also year 2.

He's a good reader but wants to be read to. For ages, he wanted Tiddler, Percy the Park Keeper etc and refused any chapter books.

I think he was knackered from school & just wanted something familiar before bed.

However, we have just moved on to Secret Seven, which he really enjoyed and followed the words. The last book, we read a chapter each.

She's 6. She won't want you to read to get forever

My 7 yo DD wrote in my mother's day card

"I love you because you read to me and give me kisses"

I thought that was lovely.

She has a preference for what I think of as babyish books, she's at least 2 years behind the recommended age in terms of her interests, but her reading is possibly above average. I'm not sure what level would be average for a 7 yo, but she can read chapter books by herself, but much prefers me to read to her.

Read to your LOs until they refuse to let you do it anymore. And read this, it's a lovely article to keep you going.

The Streak

DS and I just talked about this tonight. He's scared if he reads for himself I'll stop reading to him. I told him I will read to him for as long as he wants me to, and he beamed. We're reading The Wind In The Willows.

He's 6 too.

My girls do have a tv/dvd in their room but it's strictly for Friday nights only when I let them watch a dvd with a 'mid night feast' (its actually about 7.30) lol the rest of the week I read to them. They are 6 & 9, the older one stopped sitting with us & just reading to herself for a short while when she moved to yr 4 but is back now :) I also give them 1/2 to read to themselves after, I'll read to them as long as they want me to.

Dd7 would be mortified if we diddn't read at night. They are behind in learning to read compared to the UK but she can read small books herself ..however she choses and we go from fairies, to a barbie book ( bleuggh) princesses to Enid . We have just finished Charlie and the Chocolate factory which she also asked me to read in the mornings!!!

DD1 is 8 and a very good reader, but she still enjoys being read to and so i read to her every night that I am not working. I tend to read books to her that she may not choose to read herself but I know that she will enjoy. I will be carrying on reading to both her and dd2 until they tell me to stop .