Why Bedtime Stories Are the Best Part of the Day

As a mum of two, I know how hectic evenings can be.

The chaos before calm

By 7 pm in our house, someone has usually spilled something, someone is still hungry, and the dog needs walking. Bedtime feels less like a ritual and more like a negotiation. Sound familiar?

Yet somehow, the moment I open a book and my two kids snuggle in on either side of me, the chaos dissolves. Their breathing slows. Mine does too.

What the science says (and what I lived)

Research from the American Academy of Pediatrics confirms that children who are read to daily have stronger vocabularies, better emotional regulation, and higher school readiness scores. But as a mum, what convinces me is watching my five-year-old use the word 'peculiar' correctly at breakfast because she heard it in a story three days ago.

“Reading aloud is the single most important thing you can do to prepare a child for reading.”

— Jim Trelease, The Read-Aloud Handbook

It's not about the book, it's about the moment

I've read picture books, chapter books, made-up stories about our cat becoming a spaceship captain. The topic matters far less than the togetherness. That undivided attention — no phone, no to-do list — is something children feel deeply.

My one tip if you're time-pressed

Even 10 minutes counts. If you're exhausted, let an app like ReadFluffy generate a personalised story. Your child hears their name, their favourite character, their world — and you get to be present without having to invent the whole plot from scratch.

Anna is a blog writer and mother of two. She writes about real family life, not the Instagram version.