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Want a Quick Fix? Read Bedtime Stories
One of the best things you can do to support the learning of your child is to read to them every night before bed. If you make this a regular part of your child’s bedtime, they will 100% reap the rewards! Fact.
“The single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children.”
THE READ ALOUD HANDBOOK, JIM TRELEASE
Research shows that children who are exposed to reading before they start school are more likely to succeed when they are at school. Some studies have even shown that pre-school reading experiences can have an impact on children’s outcomes at secondary school.
Jim Trelease
Jim Trelease is the bestselling author of the book, The Read Aloud Handbook. He is an advocate for reading aloud to children and instilling a love of reading. Find out more about him here: Jim Trelease
“Students who read the most, read the best, achieve the most, and stay in school the longest. Conversely, those who don’t read much, cannot get better at it.”
The read Aloud Handbook, Jim Trelease
Throughout this post I will be quoting Trelease from his book, The Read Aloud Handbook. I hope you will be inspired (just as I have) by his words.
5 More Reasons Why You Should Read Bedtime Stories
- Story time is special family time – developing a sense of connection and belonging.
- Calms everyone down before bed.
- Sets a healthy bedtime routine.
- Encourages a ‘Love of Reading’ (the enjoyment of reading increases overall academic performance).
- Increases a child’s cultural capital (the essential knowledge children need for future success).
“Children whose families take them to museums and zoos, who visit historic sites, who travel abroad, or who camp in remote areas accumulate huge chunks of background knowledge without even studying. For the impoverished child lacking the travel portfolio of affluence, the best way to accumulate background knowledge is by either reading or being read to.”
THE READ ALOUD HANDBOOK, JIM TRELEASE
6 More Reasons Why You Should Read Bedtime Stories
- Supports with developing social and emotional intelligence.
- Teaches about the world around us including people from a range of backgrounds and cultures.
- Reading can help to develop a sense of empathy for the planet, living things and people around us.
- Provides a segue for talking about difficult subjects, such as managing emotions, understanding inequality or death.
- Books open up a child’s mind to imagine life beyond their immediate environment.
- Can develop a sense of personal aspiration.
“A nation that does not read much does not know much. And a nation that does not know much is more likely to make poor choices in the home, the marketplace, the jury box, and the voting booth. And those decisions ultimately affect the entire nation…the literate and illiterate”.
The Read Aloud Handbook, Jim Trelease
10 More Reasons Why You Should Read Bedtime Stories
- Teaches children to how handle books correctly – in English, turning the pages and reading text from left to right (vital pre-reading skills).
- Supports with the development of language and communication (essential ‘school ready’ skills).
- Develops knowledge and awareness of rhythm and rhyme (essential pre-reading skills).
- Provides a fun way to learn to recognise numbers and begin to count (helps with getting ready for maths at school).
- Introduces the alphabet and initial letter sounds (essential reading skills).
- Increases listening and attention (essential ‘school ready’ skills).
- Children learn to interpret pictures to tell a story or add greater depth (incredibly useful reading & comprehension tools).
- Stories develop imagination and creativity.
- Reading develops the ability to tell stories (essential as a pre-writing skill).
- Builds an awareness and appreciation of the arts.
A Love of Reading
“If your child loves to read—and does a lot of it—he or she will have a real advantage when it comes to school.”
Institute of Reading Development
The Institute of Reading Development
The Institute of Reading Development outlines on their website the benefits of a child developing a love of reading. They explain how children who love reading do better at school. The emphasis is on the love of reading not just the ability to read. In addition, they reveal how a love of reading has an impact on test attainment including maths scores.
“What we teach children to love and desire will always outweigh what we make them learn.”
“Every time we read to a child, we’re sending a ‘pleasure’ message to the child’s brain. You could even call it a commercial, conditioning the child to associate books and print with pleasure”.
THE READ ALOUD HANDBOOK, JIM TRELEASE
How Do I Develop my Child’s Love of Reading?
Read to them from a young age. It is as simple as that! See, a quick fix! Oh, how I love those!
Bedtime is a great way to routinely share books. Below I suggest 20 great bedtime stories to read with your child.
Enjoy browsing through my suggested book titles. I’m sure you will find at least one that isn’t already on the bookshelf.
20 Great Bedtime Stories to Read
Alphabet Books
ABC Board Book, TouchThinkLearn
I love this ABC book because it is so tactile. Children can trace each letter with their fingers. The illustrations are simply beautiful. The only thing that lets it down is that it’s not totally phonetical. From a teaching point of view ‘o’ isn’t for owl, ‘ow’ is for owl.
Alpha Block, Christopher Franceschelli
Another great ABC book. The pages are set out like a peek-a-boo game which the children love. The illustrations are bright and bold. Again not 100% phonetic, but I’ve not yet found an ABC book that is.
Counting Books
Counting Chickens, Polly Alakija
The illustrations in this book are stunning! On each page there’s lots to look at, find and count. Not only does the text teach number and counting but also the days of the week.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle
An absolute classic! This book supports with the teaching of; the lifecycle of a butterfly, the days of the week, numbers and names of different foods.
Rhyming Books
How do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? Jane Yolen & Mark Teague
I love this book, it’s fun, informative and a helpful tool when discussing bedtime behaviour. A must for any dinosaur fans.
Fox’s Socks, Julia Donaldson
Great flap board book for learning to rhyme. Children love the interactive nature of this text.
Chocolate Mouse for Greedy Goose, Julia Donaldson
I have to say this is one of my favourite Julia Donaldson books. Like her other books it’s written in rhyme and the kids find it very funny.
Oi Cat! Kes Gray
A great read if you don’t already have it. Funny, well-illustrated and written in rhyme – ticks a lot of boxes. There are six ‘Oi’ books to choose from so have a browse.
More Rhyming Books
I’m Sure I Saw a Dinosaur, Jeanne Willis
Did he see a dinosaur or was he just helping his daddy out? A clever book to give your child something to think about.
There’s an Ouch in my Pouch, Jeanne Willis
This is a really sweet book about a Wallaby who begins to find life in his mummy’s pouch a bit uncomfortable. Written in rhyme with a few tongue twisters! A great book for a child who is expecting a baby brother or sister.
The Chicken that Hatched a Cow! Adam Bestwick
We love this book! It is a longer read than most picture books but it is very funny. This is a great text to read with your child as they are gearing up to start school. Use this book to help your child identify rhythm and rhyme as well as sitting for longer periods of time.
Books about Hair
Hair It’s a Family Affair, Mylo Freeman
My daughter loves this book! She has afro hair so it’s great for her to have a book that she can relate to. This is a great book for children of all races to learn about different types of hair.
Hair Love, Matthew A Cherry
A lovely book that shares the ups and downs of hair that “has a mind of its own.” A great text for encouraging children that don’t have straight, easy to manage hair to be proud and love what they’ve got. This book celebrates a hands-on dad who fosters a special relationship with his daughter.
Books with a Moral
Macca the Alpaca, Matt Cosgrove
Another one of our favourites! This is a great book for teaching about bullying and how we can stand up to bullies. It is light hearted, funny and brings home an important message. The illustrations are wonderful too.
The Bad Tempered Ladybird, Eric Carle
Written by the same author that wrote The Very Hungry Caterpillar. This book teaches the lifecycle of a ladybird, time, numbers and how to be a good friend.
The Rainbow Fish, Marcus Pfister
So many life lessons to be had from this story! It’s great for discussions around friendship and generosity, an inspiring read.
George and the Dragon, Chris Wormell
This quick read illustrates how everyone is afraid of something.
Neon Leon, Jane Clarke
This is one of my son’s favourites. He thinks lizards are great and is particularly interested in the way chameleons are able to camouflage. Poor Leon is unable to do this though. The illustrations in this book are wonderful – who doesn’t love a pop of neon? Colour is a big theme throughout.
Mr Wolf’s Pancakes, Jan Fearnley
Was the wolf always bad or did the behaviours of those around him make him bad? Mmmmm, an interesting philosophical debate could be had at the end of this one.
Other Well Written and Beautifully Illustrated Books
Please Baby Please, Spike Lee & Tonya Lewis Lee
Simply put, this is a stunning board book! The illustrations are just incredible. If your child is soon to be expecting a baby brother or sister this will be a great purchase!
Handa’s Surprise, Eileen Browne
This is a very clever book. The story is partly told in words but you must also read the illustrations to find out what else is happening. It is stunningly illustrated and great fun. You can use the book to learn about different animals, fruit and descriptive language.
Flo & Wendell, William Wegman
I bought this book to support with an illustration project I was doing at school. The author and illustrator combine photographs of his beloved dogs with hand drawn details. It’s a lovely book to share together.
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