Getting the children off to sleep can be a bit of a nightmare – all the fuss of the evening routine and the fact that more often than not they don’t actually want to go to bed! But there is one bit that can feel really special – and that’s reading or telling them a bedtime story.
Most children enjoy settling down with the comfort and security of hearing their dad’s voice. If you’re telling them a story even better! They think it’s a chance to stay up for longer, whilst you’re probably hoping it’s going to send them off to sleep a bit quicker. It’s also a chance to have some quiet time together, away from all the earlier hassles of the day. If you don’t live in the same home as your children or are away a lot of the time, then bedtime is the perfect chance to squeeze in a few minutes when you can. Whether they are visiting you or you’re back after a long day at work, a few minutes together can be really rewarding.
Parentline Plus top tips on making the most of bedtime stories
- If you enjoy reading, then ask your child to choose a book. If it has pictures show them to your child so they feel involved.
- If you don’t like reading, or don’t have any storybooks to hand, then make one up! Children really like hearing new stories especially if they are the main character.
- Make it up as you go along, you don’t have to have a beginning, middle and end already in mind.
- Let your child get involved, encourage them to add bits to the story, they can be very creative!
- Most of all – enjoy it! This is quality time with your child, so make the most of it.
