Best bedtime stories to read to my child
- Updated on 31 Oct 2020
- Parents Corner
Contents
Children have an active imagination and want to be amazed, excited, and surprised by tales that are older than time itself. That is quite a challenge for many parents that may have already run out of the traditional bedtime stories for their kids and are looking for free bedtime stories for 3-10-year-olds. They are looking for the best free bedtime stories online and are running out of ideas. They also consult with friends and family members about stories that they grew up cherishing.
This is an even more critical time for parents to focus on telling engaging bedtime stories because of the nationwide lockdown. The pandemic has made parents excellent storytellers that are always seeking the best bedtime stories to tell their kids. Free bedtime stories for 3-10-year-olds are easier to find as they’re available online in various formats. However, the essential one-to-one nature of storytelling is still key to building a strong relationship with the little ones.
Going for the classics
The most popular stories are the ones that are instant classics. These amazing bedtime stories are loved and cherished by children of all ages, as they are fun, visually appealing, and impactful. Parents can go for the free bedtime stories online of Cinderella, Snow White, The Moon Rabbit, The Hare and the Tortoise, Pinocchio, Aladdin, and others. These popular stories are tied to motion pictures, online videos, and popular TV shows, which is why they make for an exciting and appealing adventure. These fantastic free bedtime stories for 3-10-year-olds can be found on online platforms and video browsing portals.
Parents can also opt for modernized versions of new characters, such as Elsa from Frozen, Rapunzel from Tangled, etc. for a more engaging experience. They can find free bedtime stories online and make their modern versions of these instant classics. Parents can take these beloved characters to new adventures and go beyond the original movie or TV show plot. These fantastic free bedtime stories for 3-10-year-olds can be easily modernized and customized as per the child’s preferences.
When selecting the right popular stories, parents can think about what message they are trying to emphasize. Parents can find the right storybook, online video, or novel to use as a narrative tool and explain the story in-depth. Explaining popular stories that you grew up with, such as Hansel & Gretel or Humpty Dumpty, also forms a closer bond between you and your children.
Households with grandparents also have their own bedtime stories to tell, empowering kids to think about their roots from a holistic standpoint. These local popular stories tales are highly impactful as they always have a meaningful message behind them. Additionally, tales centered around cultural meaning allow children to feel like they are a part of a larger ecosystem of their heritage.
Focusing on true life inspirations
Several true-life inspirational stories are out there, which kids can be inspired by instantly. Parents can select the right mentor, the right character, and the right circumstances to explain the story of a great leader or a real inspiration from generations past. These stories can also be extensions to the child’s passion-areas to drive their motivation further in these areas.
For kids that love cars, there are several inspirational free bedtime stories for 3-10-year-olds of Henry Ford, Enzo Ferrari, etc. to excite children about their favorite cars further. For children who love flying, parents can talk about the Wright Brothers, Amelia Earhart, and others’ real-life stories. Kids that enjoy baking, or mathematics, or science, can learn from inspirational figures such as Maria Anna Fisher, Einstein, Marie Curie, Newton, etc.
By selecting a new inspirational figure each night, kids can learn and imagine what it must be like living in their shoes. This creates a sense of excitement that many classic tales may not be able to bring out in the traditional sense. By having a real-life story told excitingly, parents can also be highly engaged in the whole process. Kids pick up that positive energy and absorb the story further. Key stories such as how Newton discovered gravity, how Einstein invented E=MC2, and how Marie Curie discovered X-Rays, can be told in a highly engaging format to developing minds.
Developing your own bedtime stories
The best bedtime stories are the ones that are created by the parents themselves. This is a great way to develop new narratives that are highly centered around the child’s own experience. Parents with children that are interested in certain subjects, toys or shows, can focus their story on those exciting aspects. Parents can also use mobile apps to design interesting new bedtime stories that are completely personalized to the child’s experiences.
Developing your own bedtime stories also help parents spark their innate sense of creativity and excite children with their new creations. Parents can also use favorite toys, new gifts, or exciting pictures to give children a sense of visual excitement as well. These tales can be tailored to address critical desires and preferences that your child has and integrate more significant meaning behind the story itself.
Parents can also use extraordinary bedtime stories to help children overcome their fear of something in their lives. Whether that be a fear of riding a bicycle or feeling embarrassed in front of big groups, parents can stitch together fascinating tales to help children overcome their fear in a relaxed environment. These bedtime stories can be helpful tools to gain a newer understanding of why your kid feels a certain way and to help them connect with their emotions better.
It is also essential to keep things interesting when telling a novel story. These stories can be filled with rich characters or be an episodic tale that can help establish a consistent night-time routine. Kids will become immediately excited to go to bed every night and will remain engaged in every new tale that you tell. This will also help kids cope with erratic schedules, disruptive events, and challenging situations, as you are always there to tell them an interesting story at night. Your children can also help guide the story and unlock their storytelling potential as well.
To remember
Parents need to listen to their children and to understand what bedtime stories they like. It is also essential for parents to enjoy the story as well so that they can explain the story in the best way possible. For older children, parents may also want to explain the subtler meaning behind popular stories so that their imagination is always active when listening.
Parents can also go deep into the narrative side of the story by embellishing characteristics and traits. They can make funny sounds, noises and tie the story back to an entertaining concept or idea when using free bedtime stories for 3-10-year-olds. Parents need to make the story as enjoyable as possible so that the children are keen on learning more through stories. Valuable lessons and morals can be inculcated through this approach, which is why parents must invest some time into the process.
References
https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/why-is-storytelling-important-to-children/zvqcnrd
http://journals.euser.org/files/articles/ejls_sep_dec_16/muhammed.pdf
