Have you ever tried to put a child down without reading a bedtime story? Herding cats is like herding cats. Sleep is elusive and chaos ensues. The moment you begin spinning a thread, magic begins to happen. The eyes widen and the imagination ignites, before you know, everyone is drifting into dreamland.
Remember the nights your parents read you your favorite book and tucked you in? There was something magical about those moments. It could have been the soothing cadence in their voice, or the way that they brought each character to life. Bedtime stories are a tradition that has been around for centuries. They do more than put kids to sleep.
Take Timmy for example. Five-year-old Timmy has an imagination as wild as any Hollywood blockbuster. What is his favorite story? His favorite tale? He insists that he hears about Captain Starbeam’s adventures in galaxies distant. Guess what? Timmy has his eyes closed tight with his teddy by the time Captain Starbeam (again) saves the day.
Parent and child bond over bedtime stories. They’re not just tales of daring-do, or fanciful lands. Imagine this: you’ve just finished a long workday and your brain is mush. All that stress will melt away as soon as your child sits beside you with their favorite book. You are transported to another world where heroes and dragons triumph.
These rituals are not only beneficial for parents. These stories teach kids so much! The vocabulary grows faster than a birthday balloon. Moral lessons can be learned without feeling preachy. After all, who would not want to learn bravery or kindness from a little mouse or a rabbit that talks?
Let’s talk about creativity! Even the most ordinary object can be transformed into something special in a child’s mind by a good story. A shoe can be transformed into Cinderella’s glass shoes; a box of empty space becomes a pirate ship navigating treacherous waters.
Did I ever mention my nephew Jake when we were talking about pirates? He decided one night that he would rather be Pirate Jake than the normal Jake from next door. I narrated his adventures, while he held his toy sword as if it were Excalibur! But what about in the morning? Jake is back to his regular self… until it’s time for bed!
Don’t just think that bedtime stories are for children! Adults can benefit from them, too (although perhaps without the talking animals). Have you ever tried listening to audiobooks before going to bed? It’s a great way to relax! It’s incredibly relaxing to be read to by an adult, especially when it’s Stephen Fry reading Harry Potter or Neil Gaiman telling one of his darkly magic tales.
Let me share another pearl: changing things up keeps people engaged! Another night, it could be silly poems by Shel Silberstein or Dr Seuss tongue-twisting verses.
Next time you are tucking in someone (or yourself), keep this little nugget in mind: A good bedtime story can make it an adventure that’s worth looking forward to each and every night!
Grab your bookshelves and prepare for a fantastical adventure where anything is possible… even flying pigs in tutus!
Sleep tight & sweet dreams!