One of the results of raising readers is a tough bedtime. Maybe not for everyone but I recall as a child as does Serona that it was tough for him. As a parent I am raising kids who love books and have learned quickly the one thing we have a hard time turning off the light for and making them stop doing is reading. So what do they all do the moment they get into bed? You guessed it pick up a book.
We go through phases of how much we push turning off the lights, stopping reading and how much we allow this time in bed. Generally if it doesn't affect them the next morning I can't say I mind. However if they are crabby because they are not getting enough sleep that is another issue all together.
Well tonight - it is now an hour after bedtime and two out of the three are awake still reading in bed. I was all set to turn off the light when I discovered Ciaran reading (not looking at pictures) but actually reading a Magic tree house book all on his own. There is NO WAY I am going to turn out the light on that one. He has been struggling with confidence on reading quietly alone and still prefers to read out loud which we are happy to help with. But if he wants to read until 11pm tonight that will be just fine by me. Given that he wakes up around 6am each morning I am guessing he will be asleep within a half hour but I won't be turning the light out tonight.
Oh, how I can relate to your children!
ReplyDeleteI remember as a girl hiding a flash light under my pillow so that I could read after my parents told me to go to sleep - and was quite good at turning off that flashlight when I heard them anywhere close to my room. I did this very often, I'm sorry to say. :(
Once I was old enough that they didn't feel the need to make me go to bed, it turned into reading into the wee hours of the morning with the light on. I never was good at putting down a good book before I had finished it. This was especially bad in college, where I remember many times reading until 1 or 2 in the morning, and several times I made it to 3 or 4.
Oh, the memories. :) I like your rule. If it's not making them grouchy in the morning, there's no harm in reading a few more chapters. Of course, I'm highly biased. ;)
I have a 6yo who just really started reading fluently for pleasure. If at all possible, I let her read as long as she wants to at night. I think it's developing a good habit, and I am just so thrilled that she is loving to read! So I loved this post!
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