Make the Bedtime Read the Best Part of the Day
Some of the most memorable story time moments with my kids were never elaborate. It was simply me, my kids, and their book– just quiet time between us, not a care in the world. By bedtime, most parents are beyond tired. The kids are tired. Everybody is tired because the day has probably been very long for everyone. Pajama time is ALWAYS a negotiation in my house. Someone’s asking for one more drink of water or another snack, and as a parent, you’re probably thinking what you have to do the next day. But, when you walk into their room and see them snuggled up in their bed, showered, teeth brushed, favorite book in hand, ready for you to read to them the same book for the 1000th and one time, you forget just how long your day was or all that you need to do the next day. All that matters is that snuggling begins, while you read, and the rest of the world gets to wait.
You don’t have to learn to make bedtime special or magical because it just is, special and magical. When you sit down and read with your child, or children, you are making lasting memories.
Please don’t ever forget that.
1. Have fun with the voices!
I promise you that your children do not care whether your voice is good. They really only care that you sound like “Donald Duck” or Mickey Mouse”. And, I find that sometimes my kids always seem to enjoy me better when my voice is worse than better. I guess they think it’s funnier. Sometimes the worse the voice is, the better. Let the mouse laugh dramatically. Give the tiny character an unexpected deep voice. Intonation is key. Whisper when a character is sneaking and go over-the-top when something surprising happens.
2. Let your child interrupt.
Story time doesn’t have to be just be you reading to them or them reading to you or a combination of both. INCLUDE THEM! As parents, we can sometimes get caught up with trying to simply finish the book because we want them to get a good night’s sleep. But, letting them interrupt the story because there’s something in the reading they want to ask about is fine. Or, they see a picture or character they want to ask a question…let them. Their question might start off about the book, but could then take a wild turn into something completely unrelated to the book. Before you know it you now have a whole new conversation with your child. What started off as one memory is now two.
3. Ask one fun question instead of ten serious ones.
Let’s be serious. You sit down with your child at story time and the last thing on their mind is you asking them questions. Story time does not have to turn into a comprehension lesson. You can still ask questions, but do it in a playful manner. Try asking something like… If you could travel to a moment in the story What one would it be, and why?” or “If you could pick one character in the book and give him superpowers, which power would you choose, and why?” One good question can turn a book into a conversation the two of you are sharing.

4. Make your child part of the story.
Make your child feel like they are a part of the story by adding their name in the story. For instance, change the name of the hero, or the heroine, to their name. If there’s a pet in your home, change the pet’s name to your pet and now their dog or cat can be in the story. Have your child then pick a room in your house and grab their favorite traveling companion so they can begin thinking about taking their own adventure. Storytime can be used so your child can invent what happens on the next page and get that imagination going. A story you’ve read a thousand times can suddenly feel brand new when a child gets to step inside with a little imagination.
5. Stop worrying about making it perfect.
Perfection…What is perfection? I think that everyone has their own definition of what is perfect, but when it comes to story time with my kids, anything that happens during that time, I consider perfect. Your child is not going to be grading you on how well you performed that night as the reader to them. They just love you and want you to be there. What they remember is that you were there to tuck them in bed. They listen to your voice, they laugh with you at the silly parts of the story, and they know that for those moments you were with them.
Story time should never be another checkmark on your to do list. Make story time a moment when the “list” finally stops for the day.
Some nights will be peaceful and you’ll lay back and just read together, while others might be very silly with very little reading. Some stories might last 5 minutes while others 30 minutes. No matter how the night goes, very peaceful and quiet or silliness all around, they all are important. They all are all special memories. The best part about story time is not always the story itself. It’s the time that you spend together. It is simply the feeling your child gets when someone they love closes the book, pulls up the blanket, and says, “Goodnight. ’Let’s do this again tomorrow.” Perfection at it’s best.