You’ve heard it once and you’ll hear it again and again. Our world is built on stories. Religion, myths, legends, gossip, history, politics, science, superstitions, news, beliefs, ghost tales, rumours, movies and tv - all of them are a form of storytelling and narrative. These stories, whether it’s the tale of how your parents met or how history was made or about the ghost that haunts the school or how God created Earth or simply about a caterpillar that couldn’t stop eating, shape us and shape our world and how we live in it. It’s unsurprising then that one of the most impactful and memorable parts of our childhood is bedtime stories.
If you’re anything like me, then the day you stopped getting read a bedtime story was the worst day of your, at that point, very short life. You were perfectly able of reading by yourself but there was something special about being read to and you weren’t ready to let go of it. This later led to you growing up reading to your poor dog, all the way from Humpty Dumpty to Hamlet… right? We all did that right?! More and more adults are now realising a love of being read to which we can see with the immense rise of apps like Audible and the meditation app Calm that offers bedtime stories read by the likes of Harry Styles and Idris Elba. Ewan McGregor next, please! What is it then about bedtime stories that have us craving them even in our adult lives?
The biggest link between adults' and children’s desire for bedtime stories is fairly simple - they’re relaxing. Bedtime stories are primarily seen as a sleep aid for restless children (and sleep-deprived grown-ups!) and this is because they lull us into a state of relaxation and calm. The soothing sound of the reader’s voice paired with a good story is the perfect way to wind down after an exciting day of causing chaos. Listening to a story is a fantastic stress reliever which is a reason many nowadays reach for story-telling apps in this hectic world. Oftentimes, the storyteller can also become so relaxed that while reading the story they fall asleep along with the child or even before them! This is not the case with Idris Elba though, sorry to disappoint.
Reading a bedtime story to a child every night is one of the best ways to bond and enjoy each other’s company in a stress-free environment. Life can get busy and it can be hard to find time to spend together without other things getting in the way. Setting some time aside every night to read a bedtime story is an act that will not go unnoticed. Children will appreciate this routine and look forward to it every day, furthermore, the treat of a story will make them a little more accepting of bedtime itself. While reading with your child, you are not only enjoying each other’s company but it is also an incredible opportunity to get to know your child’s growing personality. Discussing details of the story and its characters allows both you and your child to get to know each other and your individual thoughts better. The stories and conversations you share with your child at bedtime will help to shape them as individuals, and can often be the best part of the day. How often do we just get to sit and talk to our children and hear their fascinating views of the world? Additionally, you both get to share a safe and calm space at the end of a long day - the more you and your child can find times like this together the better you’ll bond.
We don’t realise how important and helpful reading to children is as it often becomes just a part of the daily routine but in reality, it has exceptional benefits for your child’s emotional and cognitive intelligence. Storytelling has been used throughout time to teach us morals and values, and it is no different nowadays. We can use bedtime stories to teach children about empathy, understanding, different lives and cultures, as well as allow them to learn about their own emotions and values. Stories have always taught us about the world around us and they can help your child understand how to live in the world, how to treat others, and how to love themselves. Developing your child’s emotional intelligence will greatly benefit their overall mental well-being.
Stories don’t only aid our emotional intelligence however, they quite literally contribute to a child’s brain development! Through the stories we’re told as children we develop reading skills, writing skills, comprehension skills, listening skills, language skills, literary skills, communication skills, logic skills, concentration skills, problem-solving skills, social skills, expanded vocabulary, better focus, confidence, broadened imagination, curiosity, creativity, better attention span, and … deep breath … improved memory. Phew! That was a lot of skills. So what’s not to love?
The biggest in that list, in terms of storytelling benefits, is of course literary skills such as reading, writing, vocabulary, language, and comprehension. When we read to our children we are teaching them our language and how to utilise it effectively. Bedtime stories are a brilliant opportunity to teach your children new vocabulary and language techniques such as rhyming! Even when you feel your children have outgrown bedtime stories, I encourage you to reconsider. Even though they can read independently, by reading to them you can introduce them to more advanced literature and help to develop their comprehension of more difficult concepts even as they practice their reading independently. Furthermore, you can give them access to stories they would otherwise have to wait years to experience. Teachers still read to children all the way into high school so why shouldn’t parents?
The stories we engage with can often mould our outlook on life. That’s why the books we read to our children should have a message of hope that can inspire our children to persevere even when things are hard. Exposing our children to characters who overcome hardship and push forward despite their circumstances, all while staying true to themselves will facilitate your child in developing a positive outlook on life which will help them as they navigate the world. Don’t forget to throw some fun or silly stories in there too though, balance is the essence of life! Our kids need a giggle as much as the rest of us!
Bedtime stories were a treasured part of my childhood, they are my favourite part of babysitting, and I look forward to reading to the future children in my family one day. I hope that by the end of this blog, you’re looking forward to reading to your child or partner or dog or cat or are reaching for an audiobook to experience that childhood comfort again. We live and breathe stories, they are the basis of human connection and communication so please never stop sharing stories with your loved ones whether it’s about tigers gatecrashing tea parties or the funny altercation you had at a restaurant. Your child will forever treasure the time you spend together enjoying a bedtime story and it will have an impact beyond your imagination on their future development.
Holly Myers
