Choosing a bedtime story

Bedtime Stories | Baby | Toddler | Pre-School | Child

Boost your child with a Bedtime Story

(Jo Windsor is a fully qualified primary school teacher with seven years teaching experience, and is now mum to two boys)

Books are fun!  Fun to read, fun to share, fun to explore!

So, what better way to end a busy day than with a Bedtime Story. 

But while your child is sharing a favourite story wrapped up in the security and comfort of a cuddle with mum, dad, siblings etc., they are also learning valuable reading skills which will contribute to and enhance their later reading ability. 

While they are relaxing and winding down for sleep, they are also beginning a journey that will take them on many adventures and provide many hours of pleasure.

Hints and Tips

* Make time for a story at bedtime - if you are short of time then simply choose a shorter story. 

* Choose bright books with colourful pictures that will appeal to a young child and are appropriate to their age and ability.  Reading is a very visual experience for babies and toddlers and the images help them to make sense of the words they are hearing.  Most books written for youngsters provide an approximate reading age to guide you.

* Bedtime stories also encourages good listening skills, another important life skill.  Make it worthwhile and make it fun!  Put on a silly voice, pull faces and lose your inhibitions a little.  The more fun the reading experience, the more they will love it!

* Try not to shy away from your child's current favourite, even if you have been reading it every night for a week!  Your child experiences many new and unfamiliar things as they grow and develop.  Familiarity helps them to feel safe and secure, particularly if it is a story that relates to something they know.  They will move on when they are ready!

* Be aware of subject matter.  No-one knows your child better than you.  What is a fun read during daylight hours, may create fear when the lights go out, especially once you are gone and your child is alone in the dark.  After all, reading develops imagination...

* Encourage participation!  Read slowly, talk about the pictures, discuss the story and listen to what your child has to say.

* Be a good reading role model!  Your child will learn from you.  Talk about your favourite bedtime stories, what you enjoyed when you were little, perhaps try reading a few…  If you show how much you enjoy reading, your child is more likely to enjoy it too!

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It's never too soon to start the reading journey!!

Bedtime Books for Babies/Toddlers

Babies enjoy bold shapes, bright colours and textures, things to touch and bits to chew on! 

Choose soft padded books for bath and bedtime with interactive shapes and mirrors, squeakers, sounds and textures to stimulate their senses.  Sing songs and share action rhymes.

Share in and applaud their exploration.  Your baby will love your enthusiastic response to their discoveries.

Baby Sleep Shop carries a wide range of soft padded and interactive books suitable from birth!

Bedtime Books for Toddlers/Preschoolers

Older children have started to make connections and links in all the different areas of their lives.  Toddlers and Preschoolers will enjoy books about their own day to day experiences as well as funny and imaginative stories. 

Stories help children to make sense of the world around them, but you needn't limit it just to fiction.  Engage their interest and enrich their reading experience by choosing from a wide range of books including fact, fiction, poems and rhymes. 

As your child progresses on their reading journey, choose books that are-

* bright, colourful and fun to look at.
* have lots of repetition
* includes simple language and rhymes

As your child begins to develop an interest in words as well as pictures you may want to -

* talk about the front and back covers of the book and discuss what the story may be about
* look closely at pictures, and discuss what they tell you about the story
* take turns at 'telling' the story
* follow words from left to right with your finger
* point out sounds at the beginning of words
* find words that rhyme
 
Baby Sleep Shop carries a wide range of books by popular children's writers to appeal to older toddlers and pre-schoolers!

 
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Bed time story books | Toddlers | Babies | Pre-School | Children

A Bedtime Story can provide a valuable opportunity to include reading within the busy day, but don't make it a chore! 

Please remember that a Bedtime Story is above all a time to relax and enjoy some special time with a family member or carer before sleep. 

The Baby Sleep Shop range includes a selection of books to be included as part of your child's bedtime routine.  They include fun bath time and bedtime storybooks suitable for babies, toddlers and preschoolers.

Baby Sleep Shop also includes a wide range of parenting books by a range of authors about establishing bedtime routines, troubleshooting sleep problems, and baby massage.

JW 2006