The Importance of Reading to Children Before Bed

For the first few years, I used to read to our children every night before bed. Now, however, things are a little different.

It seems like the last year things have gotten busier and busier and by the end of the day, we’re worn out. We’ve bought and renovated at least three houses since then, and business has really picked up. I have a certain amount of guilt when I tell you that because of this, I have let our bedtime ritual of reading books to our kids fall by the wayside. Ugh. I hate even typing that.

But it’s true. Lately, all we’re doing is laying down with them for a few minutes, kissing them good night and turning out the lights. I can’t remember the last time I read them a book before bed. But that changed last night.

I made a promise to myself yesterday morning that no matter what, I would read them a book before saying good night. So after dinner, they went to the bathroom, brushed their teeth and all piled into Anna’s bed. We read this book and the kids were mesmerized the entire time (who can’t relate to a book about the dentist?). And as I was lying there reading to them, I remembered the feeling of love and security that I got from my mom reading to me when I was young, and I remembered how much our kids love being read to.

Beyond the sentimental value of reading to children at bedtime, there are also very real benefits to it. According to SCLHealth.org, reading before turning the lights out:

-Helps their language development and overall literacy
-Grows their imagination and appreciation for stories
-Builds their vocabulary and helps them to speak better
-Encourages engagement and conversation

My mom always read to us when we were younger and I still remember her voice saying the words of my favorite childhood books like it was yesterday, books like Goodnight Moon, Love You Forever, and The Runaway Bunny. That time with her before bed and her voice inflection and the way I felt so safe, so loved, by the person I loved most in the world, was everything to me.

They’re some of my most favorite memories as a child, and I hope our kids feel the same way when they think about how I read to them growing up.