How to Pick Great Books to Read to Your Child at Bedtime

Reading to your children before they go to sleep at night is a great way to foster a love for the written word in them.  Children who love to read have been proven to do better in school, and reading to them daily can help to develop and expand their imagination.  When you are at the bookstore choosing a book to read to your kids, you need to choose based on their reading level, intelligence and personality.

Choosing the best book doesn’t always mean choosing the one that you liked as a child, or the one that is a best seller.  You need to consider the things that your children like and dislike, as well as the things that scare them.  You don’t want to read a scary book to your little ones if you know they frequently have nightmares! 

The age of your child is important as well.  It’s a good idea to talk with your children to see what type of book they might want to hear.

‘Goodnight Moon’ is a classic rhyming story that parents have used for years.  Many of the books by Dr. Seuss are short and fun, and they can make excellent bedtime stories.  When your child is a bit older, you might want to add some longer chapter books to the bedtime mix.  Books such as ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘The Adventures of Tom Sawyer’ are timeless classics that children love.  You can read a chapter a night and then discuss the book the next day.

Take the time out of your evening and read to your children.  It is a great bonding experience that you and your children will enjoy.