At What Age Should You Stop Bedtime Stories? - General Discussion

Captain Crunch · 22-12-2006, 22:33

At what age should you stop reading children bedtime stories? My friends' son will be 8 in March, and he still gets read a bedtime story. That seems a little old to me. I wouldn't ordinarily care even if he was nearly 15, but if I go to visit, I invariably get coerced into reading him a story. I confess that's something I've never felt comfortable doing (I'm not really very keen on children), and I was kind of hoping it would have finished by now.

Any parents got any views on this?

stud u like · 22-12-2006, 22:36

It depends on the individual. Some kids get a story until they are 12 or 13. Some don't get a story at all. If he likes stories,I would encourage it. He sounds very imaginative and literary minded.

eunicelouise658 · 22-12-2006, 22:40

I think it's wonderful he still wants a story. My nearly seven year old granddaughter still loves her bedtime story. She also now reads to her two year old sister. I do believe though it's a special time for children to connect with their parents.

Captain Crunch · 22-12-2006, 22:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by stud u like

It depends on the individual. Some kids get a story until they are 12 or 13. Some don't get a story at all. If he likes stories,I would encourage it. He sounds very imaginative and literary minded.

Possibly as old as 13 huh? Interesting. I certainly wasn't read any stories by the time I started school at the age of 5. I had to read stories by myself

Maybe my parents just couldn't be bothered.

Prince Monalulu · 22-12-2006, 22:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by stud u like

It depends on the individual. Some kids get a story until they are 12 or 13. Some don't get a story at all. If he likes stories,I would encourage it. He sounds very imaginative and literary minded.

Imaginative and literary minded?
How'd you know that, the child isn't doing the reading.

Nahh hang around for a bit for any difficult words or concepts, then leave them to it, at that age.

My sister used to try punishing my niece by removing privileges, games, TV , pocket money, etc.
Nothing worked, she was quite happy to sit in her room reading for hours.

♣ Moya · 22-12-2006, 22:57

I think the last time I read to my youngest was when she was in top juniors, so 11.
She was home with tonsillitis & I suggested she read a book. She asked me to read. No problem.

michael,76 · 22-12-2006, 22:59

dad read to me up to the age of 10 I think. But they weren't 'stories' at that age, usually a few chapters of a Famous Five or something like that.

frightlever · 22-12-2006, 23:01

"I wouldn't ordinarily care even if he was nearly 15, but if I go to visit, I invariably get coerced into reading him a story. I confess that's something I've never felt comfortable doing (I'm not really very keen on children), and I was kind of hoping it would have finished by now."

So tell his parents how much you enjoy doing it and stress how pretty he looks while you read him his stories. Should quit in no time.

blueblade · 22-12-2006, 23:08

Well I'm not a parent, but I can truthfully that I got my last bedtime story read to me by my Grandmother on a visit, age 5 or 6.

Once I could read, I had my own books at bedtime, including those read under the bedsheets with a torch, whilst eating biscuits. Trouble was the crumbs used to dig in once you settled down to sleep.

julesT · 22-12-2006, 23:26

My last bedtime story was around the same time I started primary school, then it was my turn to read to parents

♣ Moya · 22-12-2006, 23:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by michael,76

dad read to me up to the age of 10 I think. But they weren't 'stories' at that age, usually a few chapters of a Famous Five or something like that.

The Famous Five!

Julian, Dick, George (Georgina), Anne & Timmy the dog.
Still got 18 of the 21 I did have,
Both my daughters read them.

redjay · 22-12-2006, 23:39

I think moments spent with your children sharing a book are precious, to me any time spent with my kids is special, I don't think age has anything to do with it. I read stories to my youngest two, they are 8 and almost 10. I also share books with my eldest daughter on the odd occaision and she is 17!

Sulriss · 22-12-2006, 23:44

Wish someone would tell me a nice bedtime story.

Touché Rupert · 23-12-2006, 02:22

i used to get read to by my dad until i was about 6 or 7 i think. I can still remember it like it was yesterday! (i'm 21 now)... he used to read those books by the guy who wrote "green eggs and ham"

I miss childhood

TPL · 23-12-2006, 02:29

By the time a boy gets to his teens he'll usually prefer to make his own entertainment at bedtime, if he's still being read a story well into his teens then something may be a little amiss.

lipslikesugar · 23-12-2006, 02:31

We read to our children every night, they are 9/7/4. It helps them learn to read and gain a desire to read.

In regards to the OP I would tell your friends that you believe that the bedtime routine should be something between parents and children. Unless, you are a god-parent or aunt or uncle, I don't think you should be roped into doing this routine.

Smeggypants · 23-12-2006, 02:33

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maimou · 23-12-2006, 02:39

My dad read to me every night until I was about 8 I think. I could already read from about the age of 4 but it was a comfort thing I suppose, plus he did lots of good voices and actions so it was like a soap opera (but sadder, when we read Charlotte's Web).

Muggsy · 23-12-2006, 06:42

I don't think there's any should about an age at which to stop reading bedtime stories.

It gives the children the opportunity to enjoy stories that they might find difficult to read for themselves; gives the parents the opportunity to practise their acting skills doing lots of different voices, and is some shared time together at the end of the day.

Let the children decide when they prefer to read for themselves at bedtime.

Lime Green · 23-12-2006, 06:54

I loved reading to my daughter. She decided that she'd rather read for herself when she was about eight, but whenever she was feeling a bit poorly, would ask me to read to her. She's all grown up now, but told me that she loves to listen when I read stories to my tree year old niece. apparently my Three Billy Goats Gruff is rather good.

22-12-2006, 22:33	#1
Captain Crunch Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Gender: Male Location: South of Watford Services: Orange 8Mb Broadband Posts: 1,527	At What Age Should You Stop Bedtime Stories? At what age should you stop reading children bedtime stories? My friends' son will be 8 in March, and he still gets read a bedtime story. That seems a little old to me. I wouldn't ordinarily care even if he was nearly 15, but if I go to visit, I invariably get coerced into reading him a story. I confess that's something I've never felt comfortable doing (I'm not really very keen on children), and I was kind of hoping it would have finished by now. Any parents got any views on this?

22-12-2006, 22:36	#2
stud u like Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Gender: Male Location: The Sunny Side Of The Street Services: masculine men with passion! Posts: 19,016 Blog Entries: 14	It depends on the individual. Some kids get a story until they are 12 or 13. Some don't get a story at all. If he likes stories,I would encourage it. He sounds very imaginative and literary minded.

22-12-2006, 22:40	#3
eunicelouise658 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,738	I think it's wonderful he still wants a story. My nearly seven year old granddaughter still loves her bedtime story. She also now reads to her two year old sister. I do believe though it's a special time for children to connect with their parents.

22-12-2006, 22:57	#6
♣ Moya Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 22,575	I think the last time I read to my youngest was when she was in top juniors, so 11. She was home with tonsillitis & I suggested she read a book. She asked me to read. No problem.

22-12-2006, 22:59	#7
michael,76 Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 1,125	dad read to me up to the age of 10 I think. But they weren't 'stories' at that age, usually a few chapters of a Famous Five or something like that.

22-12-2006, 23:01	#8
frightlever Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 472	"I wouldn't ordinarily care even if he was nearly 15, but if I go to visit, I invariably get coerced into reading him a story. I confess that's something I've never felt comfortable doing (I'm not really very keen on children), and I was kind of hoping it would have finished by now." So tell his parents how much you enjoy doing it and stress how pretty he looks while you read him his stories. Should quit in no time.

22-12-2006, 23:08	#9
blueblade Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Gender: Male Location: Chelmsford, Essex Services: Sky HD, VM broadband Posts: 37,387	Well I'm not a parent, but I can truthfully that I got my last bedtime story read to me by my Grandmother on a visit, age 5 or 6. Once I could read, I had my own books at bedtime, including those read under the bedsheets with a torch, whilst eating biscuits. Trouble was the crumbs used to dig in once you settled down to sleep.

22-12-2006, 23:26	#10
julesT Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,209	My last bedtime story was around the same time I started primary school, then it was my turn to read to parents

22-12-2006, 23:39	#12
redjay Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Very rural Devon ♀ Services: Brad Pitts Masseuse Posts: 1,416 Blog Entries: 3	I think moments spent with your children sharing a book are precious, to me any time spent with my kids is special, I don't think age has anything to do with it. I read stories to my youngest two, they are 8 and almost 10. I also share books with my eldest daughter on the odd occaision and she is 17!

22-12-2006, 23:44	#13
Sulriss Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 6,179	Wish someone would tell me a nice bedtime story.

23-12-2006, 02:22	#14
Touché Rupert Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Leeds Services: Sky + HD, X-Box 360 Elite, BT 8MB, Apple TV ! Posts: 1,209	i used to get read to by my dad until i was about 6 or 7 i think. I can still remember it like it was yesterday! (i'm 21 now)... he used to read those books by the guy who wrote "green eggs and ham" I miss childhood

23-12-2006, 02:29	#15
TPL Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,332	By the time a boy gets to his teens he'll usually prefer to make his own entertainment at bedtime, if he's still being read a story well into his teens then something may be a little amiss.

23-12-2006, 02:31	#16
lipslikesugar Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Sugar Fields Posts: 2,633	We read to our children every night, they are 9/7/4. It helps them learn to read and gain a desire to read. In regards to the OP I would tell your friends that you believe that the bedtime routine should be something between parents and children. Unless, you are a god-parent or aunt or uncle, I don't think you should be roped into doing this routine.

23-12-2006, 02:33	#17
Smeggypants Banned User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Universe Services: TV and Telepathy Posts: 15,526	padding to allow message to upload 74

23-12-2006, 02:39	#18
maimou Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Athens - GR Posts: 8,334	My dad read to me every night until I was about 8 I think. I could already read from about the age of 4 but it was a comfort thing I suppose, plus he did lots of good voices and actions so it was like a soap opera (but sadder, when we read Charlotte's Web).

23-12-2006, 06:42	#19
Muggsy Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Services: Bespoke jostling Posts: 9,064	I don't think there's any should about an age at which to stop reading bedtime stories. It gives the children the opportunity to enjoy stories that they might find difficult to read for themselves; gives the parents the opportunity to practise their acting skills doing lots of different voices, and is some shared time together at the end of the day. Let the children decide when they prefer to read for themselves at bedtime.

23-12-2006, 06:54	#20
Lime Green Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 1,006	I loved reading to my daughter. She decided that she'd rather read for herself when she was about eight, but whenever she was feeling a bit poorly, would ask me to read to her. She's all grown up now, but told me that she loves to listen when I read stories to my tree year old niece. apparently my Three Billy Goats Gruff is rather good.