Five reasons to read your kids bedtime stories

Reading books to young toddlers, preschoolers and beyond has many benefits for the whole family. If reading that bedtime story seems like just another chore on your daily list, read on for five motivating reasons to delve into books with your kids at night.

1. Reading to young children is good for their developing brains

It's official! Plenty of studies confirm that reading to young kids stimulates their brain. Regular exposure to books during the early years builds vocabulary, encourages critical thinking and creativity, and even helps motor skills. Reading books also builds memorization skills, and can help children learn about society.

2. Reading at night helps you reconnect

Have you been bust all day? Really taking your time to read to your child or children every night helps you reconnect with your child. It lets the child know that he or she is important to you, so much so that you were willing to commit to spending time sharing a love of books every day.

3. Books encourage sleep

Listening to mom or dad read isn't just enjoyable, it's also relaxing. Unless you pick a scary story (which is a bad idea for most kids), books are a great way to prepare for a night of good quality, stress-free sleep. Instead of fighting sleep, kids who hear a story every night will look forward to bedtime.

4. Books make great conversation starters

Whether your kids are preschoolers, or older children who can already read themselves, books are a handy tool that allows you to start discussions about tricky subjects. From bullying to ecology, and religion to divorce, and even labor and delivery, parents can bring anything they want to talk about up much more easily through books. It's fascinating to hear a child's opinions on tricky subjects, and your child probably feels the same about your opinions.

5. If you read to your kids, you may find time to read your own books too

If you have shelves full of children's books, it's pretty hard to remain literature-free yourself. If you've missed out on reading good books for a while, reading to your children can be a good way to remind yourself how much you enjoy books. Get some new ones for yourself, too!You may also enjoy: When should you start reading to your baby?