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As a grandparent, I can't think of a better way to make my grandchildren feel relaxed and sleepy at the end of the day than to snuggle up with them and read them a bedtime story.
As a teacher, I know there are additional benefits: bedtime stories build children's love of reading, extend their imaginations, and help them to build a repertoire of stories.
Choosing a Bedtime Story
- Small children like to hear the same story over and over again. Choose a story that both of you like.
- While there can be dramas of all kinds within the story, a happy ending helps children to feel relaxed, safe, and ready for sleep
- If they are old enough to have a chapter book read to them choose books in which the chapters are reasonably short.
- Pictures are as important as words – they help children to make links between what they are hearing and what they can see.
Books to Choose:
Why not bring out some of the old favourites that you used to read to their parents when they were little. My own children enjoyed: The Lion in the Meadow, Mog the Forgetful Cat, and Where the Wild Things Are.
Or start a new collection especially for your grandchildren. Here are some great recently published stories: