THE BENEFITS OF BEDTIME STORIES

Visit your local Post Office to get your copy of the books featured in this article, as well as a wide range of other children’s titles.

BY MARCIA LEONE

Story time in our house has always been father-son bonding time. My husband works long hours and doesn’t see Archie until dinner, so reading books has become their special time. I’m not even allowed in the room!

We have a nightly routine where we switch off all screens after dinner, Archie has a bath then some quiet play before choosing three books to snuggle up with daddy.

Many studies have proven the benefits of reading to your children from a young age. Some of these include:

1. Creating rituals and routines – a special bonding time between parents and children, allowing you both to re-connect after the chaos of a hectic day.
2. It encourages a peaceful transition to sleep time – this is particularly important with the technology and stimulants children are now exposed to. Just like us, they need that wind down time to relax and switch off before falling asleep.
3. Listening to stories helps language development – various studies have proven that because books contain a broader vocabulary than child directed speech, children who are read to regularly will have increased language and vocabulary development. These can be early indicators that children will be more intelligent and find education and learning easier than those not read to.
4. It cultivates imagination – now that visual stimulation is served up via television, tablets, smart phones, and gaming consoles etc., children rarely get to tap into their imaginations unless we read to them, or until they can read. Without reading, the ability to visualise will become difficult for children.

Australia Post stocks a wide collection of quality story and educational books at great prices. Making Post Offices a convenient place to pick up a children's book.

We are currently reading the Mem Fox pack with Hattie and the Fox being Archie’s current favourite. The Ros Moraity pack is another we love, introducing children to Indigenous illustrations. Archie loves counting along with the animals in Ten Sacred Fish. 

This article was written in partnership with Australia Post.