The Benefits of Bedtime Stories
This blog post was researched and written by our Fall 2022 intern Peyton Jackson!
Bedtime stories can be the most memorable part of a nighttime routine, but did you know that reading bedtime stories not only strengthens your relationship with your child, but can also be helpful in growing their knowledge? Many studies have been done over the past several years, and each shows that reading bedtime stories is nothing but beneficial! They introduce children to new vocabulary, enhance communication skills, grow their love for reading, and can even lower stress levels.
It’s never too early to start reading bedtime stories! Throughout all stages of life, they are important. Before a child is even born, reading to them in the womb will familiarize them with the parent's voice and make them feel comforted. It even stimulates the baby, which makes them feel emotion and helps to prepare them for life outside of the womb. It is also possible that these children will go on to learn certain vocabulary younger than most. These benefits only grow once a child is born. When reading to your child before they can talk, they will pick up on sounds that will familiarize them with the language and help them when they learn to talk later on.
Once a child reaches school age, life becomes a little more chaotic. Ending the day with a bedtime story can relax their mind and keep them stress free. For both children and adults, literature is something that leaves our minds free to wander to unseen places. It can also reduce cortisol levels, helping children relax enough to go to sleep. Also, children at this age are often able to relate to the characters and stories that they are reading about which not only helps them connect, but teaches them empathy and understanding for others, which helps them be more compassionate to their peers. In addition to all of this, their vocabulary will continue to grow and their speaking skills will continue to thrive.
So, tonight, maybe turn the TV off a little bit earlier and snuggle in for a bedtime story! With reading compared to watching, children are forced to bring the characters and plots to life themselves. This activates parts of the brain that deal with mental imagery and narrative comprehension. Also, the good memories and comfort of a bedtime story will help your child love reading as they grow older. There are essentially no cons to reading a bedtime story, so add an extra one into the routine tonight!