Do you read stories to your children before they go to sleep?
By orange4me
@orange4me (41)
Philippines
April 9, 2008 11:57pm CST
I don't usually read stories to my kids during bed time. But last night, my little girl requested that I read to her. Of course, my 3 little boys were excited to listen.
As I was reading the story, I noticed that they become excited everytime I exagerate a word or a part of the story, when I make faces, and voice or tone variations. They really do not know the story, so it really did not matter to them what I say. It was how i said it or delivered the story that seemed more important.
We were laughing out loud, the four of us. And my husband was staring from afar wondering why I was making all this hand and arm movements. He said later that I looked crazy and funny at the same time.
I felt so happy afterwards. I cannot wait for tonight for another story.
6 people like this
21 responses
@GreenMoo (11834)
•
17 May 08
My kids have always loved being read to and looking at books together, although my oldest think he's getting too old to snuggle up now.
What's particularly lovely to see though now is my eldest now reading to my youngest. They sit together in my bed, propped up against the pillows, and my heart swells up.
@taylor96 (46)
• United States
15 Apr 08
I always read stories to my kids at bedtime. It is a great way to bond with them. I started when my daughter was a few months old and now she is eleven and still loves me to read to her. My son also enjoys it as well. As soon as I say it's time for bed they brush their teeth and rush upto their rooms to pick out a book. So parents it's great to read to your kids it also improves their own reading skills. So keep it up! See Yah Jen
@kuting (885)
• Philippines
10 Apr 08
my son is only one year old and i haven't tried reading to him when we are together. he's in the care of my mom and a nanny. during my visits, i'd try to read him the abc and numbers, and some nursery rhymes but he's more interested in pictures. im planning to get him a bed time story book soon when he's around 3 coz by then he'd be more interested like the other kids in stories, funny or made up or otherwise.
1 person likes this
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
10 Apr 08
I always read to my daughter before she goes to bed and she loves it, she is always asleep before I finish what I am reading. My hubby says it is because I am boring her!! It can be really good fun, mine love it when I change my voices and play the different characters, I do not mind doing that when there is no rush for them to go to sleep. If I need my daughter to sleep though I just read it in a normal voice!!
@Swaana (1205)
• India
10 Apr 08
I really love the story time me and my kids share. Though the elder one is 6, she loves to listen to stories, though she have started to read stories by herself. I dont read them the stories, but I read them first and then enact the stories. Yes they really love when I act the stories to them. I become more happier when my son enacts the story in the same way that I have told them.
1 person likes this
@seiyuh (162)
• Philippines
10 Apr 08
I don't have any kids, still single here. :D But this post reminds me of our babysitter who would tell us her invented fairy stories before goin to bed. And most of the time, we would beg her to tell the story again and again on the following nights. :D I still remember her own fairy tales today.
1 person likes this
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
18 May 08
I don't have any children, but if I did I would definitely read to them at night. It's un, and it's educational to them. When I was a child, and when my sister was a child, Mom always read to us, at night.
@Darkwing (21583)
•
11 Apr 08
My kids have grown up now and have kids of their own, but I used to read them a story every night, and they do the same with their kids. It is a great feeling when they enjoy it so much, isn't it, and I think it helps them to sleep more peacefully.
I hope your happy experience repeats many times. Brightest Blessings.
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
10 Apr 08
I love storytime with my son. He also loved the way I changed my voice tones too. I do read to him most nights and now I have him reading simple books to me. He is in Kindergarten and loves books.
@bingfengrui (1)
• China
13 May 08
hi my friend
u r my frist friend in mylot
though my english not very well
i knlow u have a warm family
best wishes
!!!!!!!!!!1
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
11 Apr 08
Story time before bedtime is my favorite part of my day. My son loves it as much as I do. And you bet it is all about the voices, tone and exagerations. This is the start of teaching children the love of reading. Keep up the good work, orange4me.
@shaggin (72148)
• United States
19 Feb 11
I love reading to my children. From about 6:30 - 7:15 each night we read stories. Then they brush their teeth and go to bed. Its a nice way to wind down our evenings and relax and prepare our bodies for rest. My daughter can read well but she still likes me to read to her. Sometimes she will read to her brother and I though during our night time reading together.
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
20 Mar 12
I do read stories for my kids too, not before the sleeping time but before dinner. Earlier I used to say stories before sleep, but now a days I am tired and I can’t control my sleep when I am in bed. No patience to narrate a story. However, I read stories for them in two languages and often translate it to our native language. (Since they are not doing the education in native language, I must read stories in other languages they study in school). My 4 year old can read story even though he yet to start his reading class (lol). It is really fun to spend time with kids and reading stories for them.
@tash01 (2030)
• Jamaica
21 Aug 12
When my son was younger,i read him story every night.Now he is 6 years old,he is reading the books all by him self.
The last time i try to read him a book,he told me that he is too big for bedtime story
.And now he is reading all my him self,which is very good and am proud of him.
And nwo he is reading stories to him baby sister,every night...
.
.And now he is reading all my him self,which is very good and am proud of him.
And nwo he is reading stories to him baby sister,every night.... @hopebird2008 (81)
• China
11 Apr 08
Yes,just like my dad did.
I ofen think over the stories till now.It's a very good way to educate your child.Strongly suggest you have a try.
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
10 Apr 08
when our daughters were younger we did read to them and sing to them (and with them)before they went to sleep. They both had their favourite books that they wanted read night after night...now they are older (11 and 14) so they read themselves (sometimes if my 9 year old is sick, we read to her).
@simplyshawn (650)
• United States
11 Apr 08
That is such a great story! I read to my boys almost every night. And now my 6 yr old is reading to me. It is a nice time to snuggle and just be with each other and doing something that is enjoyable for everybody.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
11 Apr 08
when my children were little, along time ago, I always read to them at bedtime and they loved it. I even told stories to them sometimes and they clamored for more.it is a great wayto introduce reading to them and teach them to love reading.
@jing81 (9)
• Philippines
11 Apr 08
My son loves it when I read to him his books. But we do not do it every night, only when he remembers it. I do not initiate because I get sleepy everytime we read. Last night we read a total of 3 books! By the time I was done with the third book I too was ready to sleep.
@Sheena_C (87)
• Canada
10 Apr 08
I try to read to my son every night before bed. He loves his story time. I make sure I use different voices for each character and make faces and noises along with the story too.
I think acting it out also helps him to remember what happens in the book. Every night I read him a story then he says he wants to read it back to me and he tries to copy what I did when I read it. He makes tries to make the same faces and noises. He likes getting a reaction out of me like I do with him.
