Whether children are toddlers or slightly older, you should never be too old for a bit of bed-time story telling.
It does seem to become a bit ‘uncool’ at some point though. Or at least it seems to be in my 8 year old’s class.
When I was in his classroom the other morning, and he hadn’t quite finished his reading book, I jokingly said “Never mind, you can read it before going to bed for your bedtime story!”
To which one of his classmates (with apparently supersonic hearing) piped up incredibly – “Does he have a bedtime story? I’ve never had a bedtime story, not ever.”
To which others chimed in ‘me neither, I don’t get stories.”
The 8 year old now shooting me daggers for buggering up his so called street cred and saying “No! I don’t get bedtime stories!” Complete with rolling eyes.
(You could just see he wanted to add on to the end of that sentence “Shut up Mother. Stop EMBARRASSING me. You are SO unfair.”)
Now just what is wrong with a bit of story telling? I find it quite sad that out of a whole table of children each and every one looked incredulous at the idea of a bedtime story at the age of 8.
Bedtime stories are great. Not only does the act of reading with your child create something nice you can do together, reading a book is a nice wind down activity that gets them ready for bed.
He’s too old for me to be reading to him now, and 9 times out of 10 he will read his books out loud to me, but that’s also good as it practices his reading and I get to be read to for once! 
Then occasionally he’ll forget how old he is and just want his mum or dad to read him a bedtime story….aaahh….
So however old your little one, take some time out to read books with them. They might see it as a pleasant surprise if it is something you don’t do regularly.
These are our favourite bedtime books at the moment -
Bedtime stories for any age children (yes even the pretending to be too old and cool ones!)
The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr
Now this is an old classic that I remember loving when I was small, and now mine love it too. Little Sophie is just about to have her tea with her mummy when there’s a knock at the door – it’s a big Tiger who wants to join them for tea!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tiger-Who-Came-Tea/dp/0007215991/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327615096&sr=8-1
Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper
Three little friends, the Cat, the Squirrel and the Duck, all living together and get together every evening to make pumpkin soup – the best you ever tasted.
Until one night Duck decides HE wants to make it and do it differently and they all end up having a squabble and someone stomps off…
Where’s My Cow? by Terry Pratchett
“Where’s My Cow? Is That My Cow?! HRRRUUUUGGGH!!!! That’s not my Cow! That’s a hippopotamus!”
A great book that will cause much hilarity, especially when it’s Dad reading it and doing all the daft sound effects. Causing MUCH hilarity.
So not one to read to them just before bed if they’re already hyper and giddy.
Excellent nonetheless.
Do you read bedtime stories to your children? Or are they at an age where they are ‘uncool?’ (Or at least an age where they pretend bedtime stories are uncool in public but secretly love them?!)
Share your children’s bedtime stories here, you never know, we might all stumble across a new favourite to add to the collection…
Where the Wild Things Are – complete with voices and dancing!
Ooh they’ve got that one, that’s one I haven’t read myself yet so will have to give that one a go!
my 10 year old son (only just turned 10 the other day) and 8 year old daughter will still ask for the picture books my youngest aged 4 likes to have read to him before bed… but shhh don’t tell them I told you that
x
My lips are sealed
I don’t think you can be too old! I still enjoy a bedtime story now! My husband, however, does not enjoy reading them to me. ;o)
I started reading to my daughter when she was a few weeks old. She is now 8 months and still doesn’t understand the story but she enjoys the cuddles and the sound of my voice. I hope she will want me to still read to her for many years to come!