http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/sep/11/children-bedtime-stories-on-wane-survey?commentpage=2
I think the article above has been in a few different papers over the past few days - this is the Guardian's report and it's worth a read.
It's something I've had a hunch about as a headteacher for a while now.I often wonder how many children still experience the lovely, comforting time of a bed time story. I wonder if we're losing that magic a little bit nowadays as we're so busy at work and often for children at brownies/ swimming/cubs/scouts/ music lessons/football etc etc. That precious 10 minutes at bedtime is a time for calm and a bit of closeness however much you feel like 'ships passing' for the rest of the time I find.
I must say I'll probably feel sad when the bed time read comes to a natural end but at present we still share a book at the end of the day and have done from tiny. Book of the week this week is 'King of the cloud forests'. Frequently I pick up only to find Poppy has secretly read on but she fills me in! I don't mind-it's a way of sharing more books and, let's face it we all like a good story.
I would highly recommend the power of the bedtime story for everybody with children and really really feel sad that it seems to be a dying ritual. We worry about the food our children eat, the screen time they have but I'm also concerned that children are not experiencing the wonder of story, of being taken to new places and conjuring up those places and characters in their minds. It makes perfect sense to me that children who are read to are often avid readers and we know that avid readers more often than not achieve highly. That's great and there are lots of people (teachers included) who will be pleased with this data. BUT at the heart of bed time reading is the JOY of reading for pleasure together. Sending children off to bed on imaginative adventures is surely what it's all about?
I think the article above has been in a few different papers over the past few days - this is the Guardian's report and it's worth a read.
It's something I've had a hunch about as a headteacher for a while now.I often wonder how many children still experience the lovely, comforting time of a bed time story. I wonder if we're losing that magic a little bit nowadays as we're so busy at work and often for children at brownies/ swimming/cubs/scouts/ music lessons/football etc etc. That precious 10 minutes at bedtime is a time for calm and a bit of closeness however much you feel like 'ships passing' for the rest of the time I find.
I must say I'll probably feel sad when the bed time read comes to a natural end but at present we still share a book at the end of the day and have done from tiny. Book of the week this week is 'King of the cloud forests'. Frequently I pick up only to find Poppy has secretly read on but she fills me in! I don't mind-it's a way of sharing more books and, let's face it we all like a good story.
I would highly recommend the power of the bedtime story for everybody with children and really really feel sad that it seems to be a dying ritual. We worry about the food our children eat, the screen time they have but I'm also concerned that children are not experiencing the wonder of story, of being taken to new places and conjuring up those places and characters in their minds. It makes perfect sense to me that children who are read to are often avid readers and we know that avid readers more often than not achieve highly. That's great and there are lots of people (teachers included) who will be pleased with this data. BUT at the heart of bed time reading is the JOY of reading for pleasure together. Sending children off to bed on imaginative adventures is surely what it's all about?
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Here's some of our favourite bed time reads: some from my own childhood and some newer. 'Five messy babies' was a popular one a while back now:-)
The ones above are great chapter books. Looking forward to the next chapter is a good thing and all part of the anticipation. Sometimes it gets a bit to tempting and we have to read on even if it's a bit late-that's what happens when it's a good story.
I'd be really interested to compile a list of popular bed time reads for your family so if you have some to add please reply to the blog and feel free to add LOTS more......over to YOU
The ones above are great chapter books. Looking forward to the next chapter is a good thing and all part of the anticipation. Sometimes it gets a bit to tempting and we have to read on even if it's a bit late-that's what happens when it's a good story.
I'd be really interested to compile a list of popular bed time reads for your family so if you have some to add please reply to the blog and feel free to add LOTS more......over to YOU
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