One common challenge faced by parents is how to put their kid to sleep. This can be a problem especially if you have a very energetic and active child.
But don’t despair because there’s always a solution to every problem and reading a bedtime story is one of them. Research has shown that dads who read bedtime stories help their child do well in school.
Reading stories at bedtime helps in developing a child’s brain, language and emotional responses. It lets them learn literacy skills in a fun way. It’s also an opportunity for them to learn about stories of people, animals and other things even if they’re just fairy tales. Emotionally, it helps to calm them down before they go to sleep after an active day.
Doing this action is a sign of good parenting. It is, therefore, a parent’s responsibility to find time to read a book every night. Consider this time as a bonding moment as well between you and your child and one that will always be carved in the mind of your kid.
An ideal way to start your storytelling session is to create a relaxing and quiet atmosphere in the bedroom. Turn off the TV, computer or radio and then encourage your child to listen closely while you’re sharing the story.
Avoid reading in a monotonous manner. Dramatize the story by using different voices depending on the characters involved.
If you have a toddler who’s still learning how to talk, you can repeat the story several times. This will help improve his memory and develop his language skills.
Remember that repetition is key to memory retention and it will allow the child to be familiar with words. So take the time to read a bedtime story to your child regularly and do it with enthusiasm.
Originally posted on October 3, 2012 @ 11:46 pm