The benefits of bedtime stories (and how to read them well)

Ten minutes, a story and a familiar voice. Few habits cost so little and give so much. Here is what is known about reading to children, and some ideas for making it work at home.

What the research says

• Language: stories use words and sentences that do not come up in everyday conversation. A 2019 study estimated that a child who is read five books a day reaches age five having heard around 1.4 million more words than one who is not read to.
• Brain: an MRI study of 3-to-5-year-olds (Hutton et al., 2015) found that children with more reading at home showed greater activation in brain areas involved in understanding stories and picturing what they hear.
• Sleep: a story is a common part of the bedtime routine, and consistent routines are linked to falling asleep sooner and waking less.
• Bonding: it is a stretch of full attention, unhurried and uninterrupted, that many children look forward to all day.

When to start

From the beginning. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends reading aloud every day from birth. A baby does not follow the plot, but does take in the voice, the rhythm and the closeness, and everything else grows from there.

How long

Ten to fifteen minutes is enough. A short story every night is better than a long session now and then: repetition is what counts. And on a night when you have nothing left, a three-minute story still counts.

How to read so it works

• A calm voice and a slow pace, especially towards the end.
• Let them choose the story: it builds enthusiasm and gives them some control over bedtime.
• Ask the odd question («what do you think happens next?»), without turning it into a test.
• Agree beforehand how many stories there will be tonight, and stick to it.
• Low light and in bed, so the story is already part of going to sleep.

The same story, again

Asking for the same story over and over is not a whim. Repetition helps new words stick and lets them anticipate what comes next, and knowing what will happen feels safe right before sleep. You can offer a new one and finish with the favourite.

Reading or listening?

Your voice is irreplaceable: no narration competes with being read to by someone they love. But some nights you are worn out, and some evenings they want another story while you are making dinner. That is when a narrated story is a good ally, especially if you lie down and listen together. In lua every story can be read aloud or listened to, and they last between two and five minutes.