Why you should read to your children before bedtime

There’s nothing like a good bedtime story to lull a youngster into a peaceful night’s slumber.

It calms them after a busy day, helps their minds go to wonderful places, and so much more.

What are some of the benefits?

Reading to your child helps you bond. Parents — and kids — are so busy today with work, school and daycare that they often don’t get to spend quality time together. Reading to your child gives you uninterrupted one-on-one time together.

Reading helps children stretch their imaginations. Again, today’s structured lifestyles leave little time for kids to dream and use their imaginations. Additionally, in a world of technology, children are often plugged in and bombarded with information throughout the day. Reading lets them escape to faraway lands and fosters creativity.

Although most storybooks are fiction, there are lessons to be learned from reading that teach children about life and relationships. Doing so before nodding off to sleep helps a child retain those lessons.

Reading to your child helps him or her become a better reader, as well as fosters a love of reading that lasts a lifetime. Research reveals that youngsters who are read to read earlier than those who don’t, and perform better academically, as a result. They learn letters, numbers, shapes and colors. It increases their vocabularies, as well, so they’re better able to communicate at a younger age.

And let’s face it, reading is simply relaxing. Reading to your child helps both of you unwind and preps you for a night of high-quality sleep. A good night’s sleep makes for a better tomorrow, leaving you refreshed and ready for whatever the day may bring.

Visit a Verlo Mattress showroom in McHenry, Crystal Lake & Lake Geneva : 800.224.VERLO : Verlo Mattress Factory