Stardust & Bubbles

I can’t recall all the bedtime stories my parents read to me as a kid. But I do remember how our bedtime routine made me feel.

I felt safe, cozy, and special, knowing my parents set aside this time just for me.

As a doctor and entrepreneur, my parents worked tirelessly, so I didn’t get as much quality time with them as I would have liked. That made our storytime before bed even more meaningful.

Reading a bedtime story is such a simple act, yet it has profound effects. In a world full of distractions, sitting together to read offers a precious moment to share presence and imagination.

What’s even better? The science behind it!

There are massive cognitive and emotional benefits that kids gain from bedtime stories, including emotional bonding with their parents, improved vocabulary, and increased creativity (National Literacy Trust, 2020). Storytime can also positively impact children’s sleep and help ease bedtime anxiety.

Research shows that children who read for pleasure tend to perform better across various school subjects, and this habit positively impacts their overall well-being (University of Cambridge, 2023).

Did you know that children who are read just one book per day will hear roughly 290,000 more words by age five than those who don’t regularly read books with a caregiver? (Ohio State University, 2019).

Plus, according National Literacy Trust, families who read together create more opportunities for meaningful conversations, fostering empathy, and strengthening their emotional bonds.

Based on the research by Duursma, Augustyn, and Zuckerman (2008), here are six key benefits of reading to children:

The takeaways?

1. Reading is not just a skill – it’s a way for children to activate their imagination and creativity, bond with their caregivers, and can be part of bedtime routine which can help them sleep better.
   
2. Reading is a habit that needs repetition and regularity by having caregivers consciously make time for it.

Making time to read, even just five minutes or one story a day, gives kids all the benefits of storytime. When we read to our children, we’re not only giving them a story; we’re giving them comfort, confidence, fun, and joy.

This love for books helps kids navigate life’s challenges. For example, Scottish teen Leah Findlay, shares how books helped her connect with loved ones and cope during difficult times, including tough exams and the loss of her father.

I think of everything books have helped me through, and all the wars we have fought together. But most of all, I think of how grateful I am that my parents read to me when I was small.  

Leah Findlay, Penguin Random House Creative Student Prize 2021 for shortlisted essay

Leah’s experience highlights the power of a love for reading in helping us overcome challenges and build resilience—an example of how stories stay with us and shape who we become.

For more inspiration, check out this TED Talk by fifth-grader Kaylie Peckham, who shares why reading is so magical and how it inspired her elementary school classmates.

So, what were your favorite books from childhood storytime?