Why Bedtime Stories Matter for Your Child’s Development

Message from our Head of Primary, John Dibdin

As a child growing up, I used to love having a bedtime story from my mum or my dad. Some of my earliest, warmest and most loving memories are of that special time, when the day was done and I could put off sleep for a few minutes. I would curl up and one or other of my parents would sit on the side of the bed and read to me.

Because of the experience of being read to at bedtime, I became confident with the rhythm and flow of stories. I learned the stories by heart and, even more importantly, I understood that a book was a wonderful thing, containing other worlds and full of excitement, humour, tension and satisfaction. I learned to make pictures in my mind of the characters and scenes, to feel what they were feeling and to invest in their quests and adventures. The joy of escaping to a different place and putting the cares of the real world to one side was magical, and it still is.

The experience of having a bedtime story is important for developing confident reading skills in our children, but it is so much more than that. It is also a gesture of love. We put down our busy lives and focus completely and utterly on what is most precious to us. No phone. No email. No distraction. Just parent and child, together.

When we lost my dad over ten years ago, I remember going into my mum’s room to say goodnight to her and my sister was sitting by her bed, reading her a story. I was so touched to see it that this became a regular event again in our lives that we both did with her. In her loss, this was another way of showing our mum that we loved her.

Just parent and child, together.

You will never regret spending time reading to your children, and they will never forget it.

Practical tips for parents:

• Choose age-appropriate books that match your child’s interests.
• Let your child pick the story to encourage engagement.
• Keep it consistent, even 10 minutes a night makes a difference.
• Make it interactive by asking questions about the story.

If your child prefers screens, start small. Offer short, fun stories and make reading part of the bedtime routine. Children often respond to the warmth and attention that comes with shared reading.

Looking for book recommendations? Visit our Primary library (Monday–Thursday, 7:30am–4pm and Friday, 7:30am–12:15pm) or speak to your child’s teacher for ideas to make bedtime reading a joyful habit.