https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 04 Apr 2026 08:51:48 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reading-books-at-night-with-a-flashlight#post-2371992 Sun, 29 Nov 2015 08:05:47 +0000 mrs.cookie 2371992@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee Aw, that's awesome!! It's so nice to have something like that click into place.<br /> I know the exact feeling of being so excited and proud of your kid but also wanting them to get enough sleep. My 5 yo son T started reading at night around this time last year, (4 y 10 m) and we were thrilled with his early reading. It translated to fluid daytime reading by around his 5 th birthday so about 2 months? Now reading is one of his major pastimes but we have had to set strict limits at night, and have a no reading rule before school until he's 100% ready to go. So we let T read until 8.15 pm, and then it's lights out, no lamp/flashlight and we'll go in and tell him to stop reading if we hear pages turning in the dark! It still takes him another 30-45 mins to actually wind down and go to sleep, hence why we have to cut him off from the books by 8.15 😂😘.<br /> I know it's a great problem to have, but T can get really lost in his books and we need him to get enough sleep or we all pay the next day! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reading-books-at-night-with-a-flashlight#post-2371991 Sun, 29 Nov 2015 08:05:43 +0000 mrbee 2371991@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Andrea: Yah you're totally right... gonna try a limit tonight, just because last night he went to bed at midnight and woke up at 10 am!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reading-books-at-night-with-a-flashlight#post-2371990 Sun, 29 Nov 2015 08:04:27 +0000 Andrea 2371990@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: true, DD has used it as a stall tactic as well. Reading is tricky, though, because they're doing it so quietly by themselves so you assume that they're sleeping. Then you check back a few hours later and *gasp* "You're still up????" So no, we need the limit or else it's grouchville in the morning. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reading-books-at-night-with-a-flashlight#post-2371983 Sun, 29 Nov 2015 07:56:39 +0000 mrbee 2371983@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Andrea: I think my son reads at night partly because he just doesn't want to go to bed yet? Gonna try encouraging him to read during the day too! He initiated a "storytime" with his sister today where he read to her, which was encouraging... hope he's able to transition to daytime reading all by himself! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reading-books-at-night-with-a-flashlight#post-2371960 Sun, 29 Nov 2015 05:04:03 +0000 Andrea 2371960@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: daytime, too! Book worm!</p> <p>ETA - I don't agree with no regulation because I tried that and she ended up sleep deprived for school so that's not acceptable. And it's been going fine. She sleeps at the designated time and there's no fuss. As long as they have ample time to read during the day, why do they need to stay up all night? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reading-books-at-night-with-a-flashlight#post-2371924 Sun, 29 Nov 2015 01:44:10 +0000 lemondrop 2371924@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd let him, I always did! It's how I decompress at night, my wind down from the day. Some days I fall asleep instantly, others take longer. </p> <p>I figure unless it's interfering with school lesson time, I'd go with it. Plus one night up too late, the next night should make up for it. If he's falling asleep during the day, then I'd consider the timer or suggesting an earlier bedtime to allow for more reading. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reading-books-at-night-with-a-flashlight#post-2371922 Sun, 29 Nov 2015 01:31:20 +0000 erinpye 2371922@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did that, and never stopped. My parents finally just made a deal with me: as long as I was able to get up for school in time to get ready, and I was in a good mood, I could read as late as I wanted. I spent my entire childhood reading every night until 11 or midnight, and now do until around 1-2 AM. Some of us just are natural night owls :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reading-books-at-night-with-a-flashlight#post-2371920 Sun, 29 Nov 2015 00:44:03 +0000 LindsayLou 2371920@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think a timer sounds like a great idea! I also think just a gentle warning might work, like a reminder that it's really bedtime now, after he's been reading for a little while. I was the oldest in my family and loved to read in bed by flashlight. We all had the same bedtime but my parents let me stay awake and read for a while--I loved the chance to read, it was a nice way to unwind, and it made me feel grown up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reading-books-at-night-with-a-flashlight#post-2371905 Sat, 28 Nov 2015 23:54:25 +0000 pastemoo 2371905@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do nothing! Sometimes even now when I am beyond stressed I will stay up too many hours late reading. Unless you see consequences of sleep deprivation or some regular change, why do anything?<br /> You could also just buy really cheap flash lights that will die out </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reading-books-at-night-with-a-flashlight#post-2371903 Sat, 28 Nov 2015 23:51:47 +0000 Greentea 2371903@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would let him do it! Unless he is extremely grouchy the next day or can't wake for certain events (but then there is reason for the limitation and you could talk about that, otherwise-), I'd let him self regulate. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reading-books-at-night-with-a-flashlight#post-2371879 Sat, 28 Nov 2015 23:08:28 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2371879@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah I was always getting in trouble for not putting my book away when I was told, that was one rule I consistently broke. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reading-books-at-night-with-a-flashlight#post-2371856 Sat, 28 Nov 2015 22:26:59 +0000 Mrs.KMM 2371856@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I read for hours by flashlight as a kid growing up. Honestly, I would not want to discourage it too much because I would want my children to remain very interested in reading. But I think the best bet is probably to set a time limit on it. So they can still read at night my flashlight but only for a certain amount of time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reading-books-at-night-with-a-flashlight#post-2371852 Sat, 28 Nov 2015 22:23:13 +0000 mrbee 2371852@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bao: That's a great idea, thanks!</p> <p>@Andrea: Nice to know I'm not alone! Does she read during the day too, or mostly at night? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reading-books-at-night-with-a-flashlight#post-2371836 Sat, 28 Nov 2015 22:06:06 +0000 AggieDaze 2371836@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 2.5 year old recently started this (though he is fake reading). The first week I was concerned because he was staying up an hour later and reading... But the amount of time he stayed up has slowly dwindled. Some nights he goes straight to sleep, and some nights he reads until he's sleepy so luckily we haven't had to push any rules yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reading-books-at-night-with-a-flashlight#post-2371832 Sat, 28 Nov 2015 21:57:38 +0000 Andrea 2371832@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I tell her that she can read until X time and then it's lights out or else she can read for hours, too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reading-books-at-night-with-a-flashlight#post-2371752 Sat, 28 Nov 2015 19:16:41 +0000 Bao 2371752@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: could you maybe set a timer and tell him he's welcome to read until it goes off and then lights out? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reading-books-at-night-with-a-flashlight#post-2371749 Sat, 28 Nov 2015 19:09:38 +0000 mrbee 2371749@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son has started to read by himself, thanks to some new books that he loves. It's hugely exciting, but there's one wrinkle: he has been staying up for hours and reading by flashlight. </p> <p>I want to encourage him to read by himself, and have fond childhood memories of reading by flashlight myself! But I also want to set boundaries, and ensure an earlier bedtime. I haven't done that yet, just because I'm so thrilled about this development (and so far, he's mostly read by himself only at night).</p> <p>We will encourage daytime reading and start bedtime earlier. Any other thoughts on how to encourage/manage a new self reader? </p>