https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 09 Jul 2026 17:17:37 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-bedtime-stories-a-privilege-or-routine-in-your-house#post-2382739 Wed, 09 Dec 2015 10:33:37 +0000 .twist. 2382739@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yea, both! Time and behaviour (which affects time) play a role too. I'm not going to read him a book 10 minutes after bedtime because he wasn't listening to me. </p> <p>It's part of our routine, but if, for whatever reason, our routine is messed up, he may miss out. He doesn't like that though so we don't usually have to skip it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-bedtime-stories-a-privilege-or-routine-in-your-house#post-2382737 Wed, 09 Dec 2015 10:31:36 +0000 catlady 2382737@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Both for us. We do one extremely short book every single night. But she often likes us to read a whole pile of books before or even during her bath, and sometimes we cut her off if it gets unreasonable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-bedtime-stories-a-privilege-or-routine-in-your-house#post-2382621 Wed, 09 Dec 2015 08:54:51 +0000 MrsRcCar 2382621@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Routine! It helps both of my boys wind down for bed. We are presently stuck on reading the little engine that could. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-bedtime-stories-a-privilege-or-routine-in-your-house#post-2382615 Wed, 09 Dec 2015 08:49:36 +0000 NovBaby1112 2382615@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Both. If LO isn't listening or misbehaving, I tell her I am only reading 2 books instead of the normal 5. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-bedtime-stories-a-privilege-or-routine-in-your-house#post-2382581 Wed, 09 Dec 2015 08:29:55 +0000 Smurfette 2382581@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Routine but if she is throwing a fit because we saw it is bedtime, we threat no stories. Usually it works to calm her down. But there have been nights when she doesn't get any. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-bedtime-stories-a-privilege-or-routine-in-your-house#post-2382569 Wed, 09 Dec 2015 08:25:04 +0000 bushelandapeck 2382569@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's definitely part of the routine for us but we do let him know that we might only have time for one book (or none) if he doesn't cooperate and brush teeth, put on pjs, etc. I can't think of a time where that hasn't worked. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-bedtime-stories-a-privilege-or-routine-in-your-house#post-2382561 Wed, 09 Dec 2015 08:21:43 +0000 honeybear 2382561@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mostly routine, but we read during the day too, so if it's a particularly late night or whatever, we have occasionally skipped or dramatically shortened the evening reading time. He's a master foot-dragger at night, so I have been making an effort lately to make sure we get in plenty of reading at other times so that I don't feel bad about closing the book a little sooner right before bed. </p> <p>I maintain my cool about reading at night in the face of lousy behavior during the day by picking a book I want to read. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-bedtime-stories-a-privilege-or-routine-in-your-house#post-2382550 Wed, 09 Dec 2015 08:14:16 +0000 catomd00 2382550@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think it should be a privilege but I don't make it part of the routine either. I didn't want to deal with the one more story battles. We do books downstairs after dinner. Bed time routine is just pjs, teeth, bed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-bedtime-stories-a-privilege-or-routine-in-your-house#post-2382536 Wed, 09 Dec 2015 07:37:05 +0000 looch 2382536@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Privilege and I tell my son this on a regular basis. Sometimes we have to skip it because of time constraints but I am not above skipping it for poor choices. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-bedtime-stories-a-privilege-or-routine-in-your-house#post-2382527 Wed, 09 Dec 2015 07:27:31 +0000 hellobeeboston 2382527@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Routine. We read at least 3 books a night, if not 6 or 7 depending on length. If LO is behaving very badly around bedtime we take a book away and let him know he's getting one less book, which is actually working for the most part. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-bedtime-stories-a-privilege-or-routine-in-your-house#post-2382498 Wed, 09 Dec 2015 03:13:58 +0000 lamariniere 2382498@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think they are both. The vast majority of the time, like 98%, they are routine. But they can be taken away in the case of really bad behavior. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-bedtime-stories-a-privilege-or-routine-in-your-house#post-2382484 Wed, 09 Dec 2015 02:08:23 +0000 lemondrop 2382484@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Routine, but they are shorter, so everyone gets to pick one. My husband and I alternate nights, so it's not as trying. </p> <p>But if nobody is paying attention, the light goes out and I'm done. Usually all I have to do is stand up and they are suddenly behaving again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-bedtime-stories-a-privilege-or-routine-in-your-house#post-2382479 Wed, 09 Dec 2015 01:21:34 +0000 erinpye 2382479@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly, I feel bad, it's not a privilege, but lately it's been getting forgotten a lot. We need to get back into a routine of reading every night, but right now, our girls have a bedtime dance they made up, that they like to do instead, haha! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-bedtime-stories-a-privilege-or-routine-in-your-house#post-2382475 Wed, 09 Dec 2015 00:36:56 +0000 HLK208 2382475@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Routine. But I get it, especially when no one is behaving!</p> <p>DH and I actually got into an argument about this before. He took away storytime before bed and I feel like there's so many other things that we can take away. I want my kids to love reading rather than resent it for some reason because of a punishment. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-bedtime-stories-a-privilege-or-routine-in-your-house#post-2382472 Wed, 09 Dec 2015 00:25:35 +0000 littleblessings 2382472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Both a privilege and routine. DD gets stories every night as long as she goes to her room without fighting. If she fights then that takes time that we could be reading </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-bedtime-stories-a-privilege-or-routine-in-your-house#post-2382459 Tue, 08 Dec 2015 23:48:25 +0000 californiadreams 2382459@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's routine. I've had to limit the # of books based on behaviour and even that meltdown didn't seem worth it. I dint think I've ever skipped books altogether. Part of it I admit is not wanting to deal with the meltdown that would ensue. And regardless of what's going on before, book time usually calms him down. Unless he is overtired - then I read the books faster by skimming through it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-bedtime-stories-a-privilege-or-routine-in-your-house#post-2382448 Tue, 08 Dec 2015 23:19:27 +0000 Greentea 2382448@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A must, not a privilege. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-bedtime-stories-a-privilege-or-routine-in-your-house#post-2382435 Tue, 08 Dec 2015 23:01:38 +0000 Autumnmama79 2382435@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Neither! Bedtime stories are a right in our house!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-bedtime-stories-a-privilege-or-routine-in-your-house#post-2382419 Tue, 08 Dec 2015 22:41:57 +0000 Mrs. D 2382419@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>routine.<br /> I'm a teacher, and there is SO much research to support this as early literacy learning. YOU are your childs first teacher. Reading together allows your child to see reading as a pleasure not a chore, exposes them to well known stories ingrained in our culture, allows them to make connections between the book and their lives, and so many other things that will help them have an easier time at school. PLEASE make it routine! I've had students who have NEVER been read to at home, and you CAN see the difference. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-bedtime-stories-a-privilege-or-routine-in-your-house#post-2382408 Tue, 08 Dec 2015 22:29:01 +0000 Grace 2382408@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Routine. Reading is one of the most important things to me, so I can't see myself discouraging it. Having said that, she's only 2 and hasn't really given me a reason to cut down the stories. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-bedtime-stories-a-privilege-or-routine-in-your-house#post-2382386 Tue, 08 Dec 2015 22:01:34 +0000 lovehoneybee 2382386@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's part of our routine, but we've also taken them away for the night when he's seriously not behaving (after a few warnings). He hates it, so we talk about how "we'll read tomorrow night when you behave like a big boy and listen to mommy..."</p> <p>I'm always torn about it, because he loves reading, but he loves reading so it's effecting... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-bedtime-stories-a-privilege-or-routine-in-your-house#post-2382372 Tue, 08 Dec 2015 21:36:09 +0000 MOMTOLITTLEB 2382372@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO is newly 2 so still pretty young but aware enough that he usually knows when he's misbehaving. I don't think I would take the stories away because I like them as his unwind time. I can see myself getting super frustrated though so I'd hand it off to Daddy on a bad night. If he wasn't available I'd read to him.</p> <p> I feel like it's the time he goes from screaming at me putting his pjs on to sweet boy who can't get enough kisses so it's big in our routine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-bedtime-stories-a-privilege-or-routine-in-your-house#post-2382359 Tue, 08 Dec 2015 21:19:06 +0000 Foodnerd81 2382359@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSRS: thank you Daniel Tiger!! Yes it's totally that episode. That night she ate the entire yellow pepper saying Yummy yummy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-bedtime-stories-a-privilege-or-routine-in-your-house#post-2382355 Tue, 08 Dec 2015 21:15:40 +0000 loveisstrange 2382355@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>They are both. It's our routine, but if she's being crazy at bedtime and won't lay down, she can lose that privilege. She rarely does, because she loves books and it's a big deal for her not to read one. We have only had to follow through maybe twice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-bedtime-stories-a-privilege-or-routine-in-your-house#post-2382349 Tue, 08 Dec 2015 21:12:13 +0000 MrsSRS 2382349@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: @Foodnerd81: Do your LOs also only like bell peppers because of Daniel Tiger?<br /> @Ree723: I think this was perfectly reasonable parenting. You didn't say "I won't read to you because you're a horrible threenager," you said, "we only have time for books if you clean up." Then you followed through. Way to go! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-bedtime-stories-a-privilege-or-routine-in-your-house#post-2382239 Tue, 08 Dec 2015 19:00:04 +0000 pinkcupcake 2382239@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Routine. We read anywhere between 3-5 stories before bed although if it's a super late night we'll skip a book to get her to sleep sooner. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-bedtime-stories-a-privilege-or-routine-in-your-house#post-2382216 Tue, 08 Dec 2015 18:43:15 +0000 mediagirl 2382216@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do a lot of reading at night. 3 books in our room, 2 in hers. The books in our room are the first to go wake she's being bad. Yeah, I hate taking books from her but she loves them so it's also a good punishment. </p> <p>@Foodnerd81: I see I'm not the only one who has use a green pepper as a bribe. Weird kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-bedtime-stories-a-privilege-or-routine-in-your-house#post-2382213 Tue, 08 Dec 2015 18:36:07 +0000 Ree723 2382213@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: That made me literally burst out laughing! Gosh you terrible mother you, withholding vegetables from your child! :silly: </p> <p>These posts are making me think I should maybe revisit how we do bedtime stories. We usually only do one because they're long books (Amelia Bedelia stories, Paddington books, Bitty Baby books, and her current fave - the Children's Atlas of the World, ha!), so maybe we should have some shorter books for bedtime (Llama Llamas, Curious George etc) and have bedtime be two or three stories so we have a bit of leeway... DD is a huge bookworm but will happily read books on her own too, she just prefers the snuggle time with mummy. That being said though, she doesn't need them to wind down for the night so it's not an issue of fussing vs no fussing.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-bedtime-stories-a-privilege-or-routine-in-your-house#post-2382212 Tue, 08 Dec 2015 18:33:30 +0000 mauxie 2382212@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Reading is routine, but these days, based on how late it is and sometimes behavior, we increase/limit the # of books. It definitely is a strong motivator and at times, I do feel bad about using it a tangible reward since overall, I want the kids to love reading bc reading is just plain awesome </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-bedtime-stories-a-privilege-or-routine-in-your-house#post-2382209 Tue, 08 Dec 2015 18:26:43 +0000 daniellemybelle 2382209@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO gets at least one book every night before bed. Sometimes we will do a second or third book but if she is acting up we won't, and if she throws a fit for more books we don't give in. Sounds weird to be like, "No, you cannot have more books!" but it becomes a bedtime stalling tactic.</p> <p>We read together before her nap and randomly throughout the day every day though so it's not as if she isn't getting plenty of reading. </p>