12 Benefits of Bedtime Storytelling

The benefits of telling a bedtime story should never be undermined by any parent. Why is a bedtime story so important for your child's overall development? Here are some intrinsic benefits of bedtime storytelling, which we often need to reiterate to ourselves in order to be motivated to read a story to our kids every night.

1) Develops Language

Telling bedtime stories helps your child expand his vocabulary repertoire. New words are aplenty in story books. Your child will also learn multitudes of sentence structures available in a particular language.

2) Enhance Listening and Oral Communication Skills

It enhances his listening skills, and develops his ability to comprehend a series of interconnected events and characters in the story. A good story teller also interacts closely with the listener and encourages him to respond to the topic in the story. His oral communication skills will improve, increasing verbal proficiency.

3) Ignites Interest in Reading and Writing

Story telling is a great way to ignite interest in reading on their own and also in expressing their thoughts and feelings through writing later on.

4) Develop Thinking Skills

There are various thinking skills that are mastered by your little one as he listens to a story. He learns to sequence a story chronologically. He also learns to predict what might happen in the subsequent pages. He also learns to recall the information and use them where appropriate in real life.

5) Problem Solving Skills

Your child also learns to solve problems through stories that he listens to. For instance, he may have some behavioral problems in school which his teacher may have highlighted to you. Read him a story to show him how to behave appropriately in various situations.

6) Stimulates Imagination and Enhances Creativity

A good story teller teleports the listener to a different realm, from reality to the realm of fantasy. Your child will learn the difference between the two. His imagination and creativity will be stimulated and enhanced.

7) Emotional Development

Your child learns to experience different emotions as he empathizes with the main character in the story. Happy, sad and angry are common emotions he may encounter and realizes that they are a part of him. He learns to accept and control his emotions in real life.

8) Moral Values

Some of these tales tell us of moral values which may be difficult to impart in normal day-to-day life. Nevertheless, they are important for your child's moral development. Knowing that other kids also learn basic manners and respect for elders in stories, he will soon cultivate a set of moral values for his own.

9) Exposed To New Ideas

As your child listens to different ideas in stories, he will be more open to accept new thoughts and ideas. He learns to be more flexible in his thinking but, at the same time, have his own points of view.

10) Experience Different Cultures

Your child will learn that there are many different people in this world. They come from different cultures and backgrounds but sometimes they share some similar traits. There are many universal life experiences that your child can learn from.

11) Relaxation

Reading to your child will help him to relax and wind down after a hectic day. It sets the mood for sleep and lets them recharge to conquer the challenges of the following day. A great way for you and your child to relax!

12) Bonding

The last but not least benefit would be the quality time you spend together with your child. This intimate and personal time between the parent and child is not easily replicated in other situations. Your child will have a deep bond with you.

There may be more than one thing your child remembers from his childhood. Let the memory of his parents telling him a bedtime story be one of them...