The bedtime story is much more than a way to get children to sleep. It’s one of the most valuable moments of the day: ten minutes of calm, closeness and words. It’s also one of the best ways to prepare a child for reading.
What your little one gains from a story every night
- Vocabulary. Stories use words we don’t use in everyday conversation. Hearing them again and again, children make them their own.
- Attention and listening. Following a story from beginning to end trains concentration.
- A love of reading. If books are linked to a happy moment, they’ll want to read them alone later on.
- Emotions. Stories help children name what they feel: fear, jealousy, joy, anger.
- Connection. It’s time just for you, with no screens and no rush.
A simple routine that works
- Same time every day. After bath and pyjamas, already in bed.
- Soft light. A small lamp is enough. The calmer the room, the better.
- Let them choose the book (even if it’s always the same one).
- One story, or two at most. Agree beforehand to avoid the “one more!”.
- A calm ending: a gentle question, a kiss and lights out.
How to read aloud so they’re hooked
- Do the voices. You don’t need to be an actor: a deep voice for the grump and a high one for the little one work wonders.
- Play with the pace. Faster in the action, slower and softer towards the end.
- Pause. “And what do you think happened next?” They love guessing.
- Point at the pictures. Lingering on the details stretches the moment without tiring them.
- Lower your voice in the last pages. It helps the body understand it’s time to rest.
What if they want the same book every night?
That’s a good sign! Repetition makes children feel safe and helps them learn. Each time they notice new details, predict what’s coming and, little by little, start “reading” the lines with you.
Until what age should you read aloud?
Much longer than we think. Even when your child reads alone, reading aloud lets them enjoy longer, richer stories than they could read by themselves. And the closeness is just as valuable.
We wrote Draquis & Mipis with this moment in mind: a funny story for a little laugh… and a calm ending. And because it uses clear, simple letters, when your little one starts reading, they’ll be able to read it to you. Discover it here.