• Home
  • Shop
    • Dr. Seuss Book Club
    • Disney Book Club
    • Baby Einstein Book Club
    • Sesame Street Book Club
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • My Page

Enriching Young Minds

  • New Parent
    • Brain Development
    • Health & Nutrition
    • Sleep & Self Care
    • Milestones
  • School Readiness
    • Getting Started
    • Social & Emotional Life
    • Family & Community
    • Milestones
  • Reading Lifestyle
    • Parenting Tips
    • Making a Difference
    • Fun, Food & Games
    • Milestones
  • Learn to Read
    • Common Challenges
    • Learning Styles
    • Smart Strategies
    • Milestones

Bedtime Stories: Well Read and Early to Bed

November 6, 2015 by Maria Tallarico Leave a Comment

Setting_up_a_routine_with_bedtime_stories

It’s amazing how incredibly intuitive children can be. A perfect example is bedtime. My kids always seem to sense the end of the night is approaching and suddenly become bereft with needs. Thirst, hunger, the desire for an extra-long bath, an urge to play with every toy in their bedroom—all of these stall tactics seem to pop up just as I was ready to wind down.

Channel that restless energy into actual rest—and help them sharpen their reading skills—with these 5 practical tips.

Make Room for Nonsense

It may sound crazy, but penciling in a little silly time can save your sanity. Aiming for tucked in/lights out at 8:00 pm? Start choosing books and getting settled in at 7:15pm, leaving enough time to read and chat (older kids are particularly prone to nighttime chatter). Rushing through books can be anxiety-inducing for everyone and cause exhausted meltdowns, prolonging bedtime even further.

Set up a Routine with Bedtime Stories

Consistency and routine is always a good way to begin and finish the day. Keep a rotation of three books on the nightstand: a short, manageable one for your child to read; a more challenging book you can read together; and a household favorite to end the night with. Setting this pattern has many benefits. It sets a clear beginning/middle/end allotment every night, it allows your child to practice reading in a relaxed mental space, and it sets a clear signal that the evening is over and it’s time for bed. (Tip: Empower your little ones to help choose their own books and keep many age appropriate options on hand so they aren’t stuck with titles that are too easy or too advanced for their level.)

Celebrate Sights and Sounds

Mastering sight words (words that don’t follow a phonetic formula and are learned by memory, i.e. the, when, would) along with the phonetic sounds of the alphabet is key to reading and fun to do aloud with many books. Have your child help you identify sight words, and for phonetic sounds, carefully sound out words like “ssssssnake”, “b-b-ball.” Treat it as reading hide-and-seek and praise your child each time he or she sounds out a letter or identifies a sight word. To up the reward ante, offer small prizes like gold stickers (or better yet, more books!) for a job well done.

Keep Your Options Open

While many parents love passing on classics from their own childhood, like everything else in life, kids have their own opinion on books. Take note of the genres that excite them most, and zone in on those at bedtime. Even the most uninterested reader can become sparked with curiosity when the right series comes along. If your child can’t fully identify what he or she enjoys, ask questions about their favorite characters and storylines and focus on titles that pique their interest. Picture books, science fiction, travel—the options are as varied as they are for adults.

Press Reset on Bedtime

Often, developmental phases and changes in routine can disrupt bedtime reading, turning a once-enjoyable activity into a struggle or—worse yet—a burden. Consider what has led to the disruption—too much screen time, an abundance of homework, and overtiredness can all be culprits. The resistance might simply be a case of book boredom. If a well-worn tome isn’t getting the same love it once did, it might be time to retire an old title to make room for some fresh new picks.

Follow these tips to allow time for reading and play and still get some shuteye yourself—any parent’s own fairy tale ending.

Photo: ya_mayka/Shutterstock

Filed Under: New Parent, Parenting Tips, Reading Lifestyle, School Readiness, Sleep & Self Care, Social & Emotional Life Tagged With: bedtime routine, bedtime stories, reading, routine, sleep



Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

connect with us

email newsletter

Sign up to receive email updates and find out what's going on with us!

QUIZ

Dr. Seuss Who Said It?

Take this quiz to find out how well you know your Dr. Seuss quotes.

LET'S GET STARTED

Your Score!

 

 

TAKE OUR LATEST POLL

What's your favorite Dr. Seuss book?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

SURVEY

  1. Which Dr. Seuss Character Are You?
  2. Are You A Helicopter Parent?
  3. ......More
a little about us

Julie Temple Stan

julie

Reading advocate. A cappella geek. Sleep-deprived mommy. Editorial Director.
follow @ KidBookMommy.

Jamie Levinthal

Jamie

Brand-new mama. Trained K-6 teacher. Sucker for the outdoors and vintage everything. Champion of all things reading.

Elizabeth Cook Babbin

Elizabeth

Reading Specialist. Mom. Cheerleader for kids. Doctoral candidate. Lifelong learner.

Celia Behar

Celia

Envelope pusher. Therapist. Writer. Bourbon lover. Lil' Mama.
follow@Therstar @Thelilmamas www.thelilmamas.com

More Bloggers...

Cynthia Stierle

Cynthia

Hiker. Dog lover. Book reader. Clutter keeper. Beach goer. Drama mama. Writer.

Dottie Enrico

Dottie

Book lover. Norwich Terrier owner. Iris Apfel devotee. World-class coffee drinker.

Miranda Daniloff

Miranda

Wife, Mom & Stepmom. Reader. Writer. Blogger. www.beyondworklifebalance.com

Melissa A. Kay

Melissa

Writer. Truth seeker. Fitness devotee. Food and wine enthusiast. Companion. Feline fanatic.

Laurie Petersen

Laurie

Explorer. Writer. Editor. Absurdity seer. Recovering nag.
follow@lauriepete

Geri Coleman Tucker

Geri_Coleman

Journalist. Soprano. Struggling clarinet player. Disability advocate. Travel enthusiast. Jack Reacher fan.

  • Home
  • Shop
    • Dr. Seuss Book Club
    • Disney Book Club
    • Baby Einstein Book Club
    • Sesame Street Book Club
    • Hooked on Phonics apps
    • Hooked on Phonics Products
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • My Page

© 2016 Sandvik Publishing, Danbury, CT, 06810. All rights reserved.