[B]ath, Book, Bed is the answer all parents and carers of young children have been looking for and puts stories firmly at the centre of a good night’s sleep.
All parents / carers worry about getting young children to sleep at night – and of course getting enough sleep themselves. But it doesn’t have to be a bedtime battle! Reading a book before bed as part of a regular nightly routine is the perfect way to get your little one ready to visit the land of nod. ‘Bath, Book, Bed’ is all you need to remember!
The UK’s largest children’s reading charity – BookTrust – have launched a free new booklet featuring the top tips and advice of TV parenting expert Jo Frost as part of the campaign.
Research shows that bedtime routines are associated with improved sleep in young children. Benefits include earlier bedtimes, shorter amount of time in bed before falling asleep, less night-wakings and longer sleep duration. And regular language-based bedtime routines such as singing, reading, or storytelling are associated with children’s increased sleep duration and improved cognitive skills.
But it doesn’t stop there. The same routine every night involving a story and shared reading won’t just help them fall asleep – it will also feed their imagination, creativity and confidence. Children who are read to every night start school ahead of those who aren’t – and the gap only widens as they get older.
Parents and carers can pick up their free copy of the new Bath, Book, Bed booklet from libraries across Cumbria, and check library Facebook pages for details of what is going on in your area. The booklet can also be downloaded from the BookTrust website which features a Best Bedtime Books list and has more ideas, guidance and practical tips on ensuring stories are part of every child’s bedtime routine. Many of the books are available in Cumbria libraries, where they can be borrowed free of charge. It is also free to join your local library.
