The Importance Of The Goodnight Story
Beyond instilling a habit, what we do when we put our children to bed and read them a good night story is to offer them a safe and stable framework. Thus, we make them feel important, we promote their self-esteem and we give them the necessary tools to face their day-to-day situations.
Reading a good night story to children is one of the routines that we incorporate almost automatically; They love that moment and it makes us feel connected and linked, we create an intimate space to close the busy day.
You will be surprised to know that this simple gesture is one of the most important you can have towards them, especially in the ages between 2 and 4 years. At this stage, infants need to feel safe because of the amount of fear they face; the goodnight story is one of the best ways to do it.
Why the goodnight story is a healthy habit
Routine
Children need routines, this gives them security. They are getting to know the world and everything is constantly changing; therefore, when they are able to anticipate what is to come, they relax.
After playing, the bathroom comes, dinner, we wash our hands and teeth, a good night story and go to sleep. These rituals allow you to relax and sleep better.
They feel loved
The simple fact that you reserve exclusive time to share with them is very enriching for both of you. Therefore, it is important that you forget your mobile or all the tasks that you have pending during the minutes you are with it.
Hearing your voice, feeling your closeness, and observing the intonation you give each part of the story makes them feel embraced, loved, and important. Without a doubt, reading a good night story is the best way to put the finishing touch to a day full of adventures.
Helps them process their experiences
Throughout the day, children face many new situations for them, perhaps they have had a fight with one of their friends from school or they have felt restless because they did not understand what their teacher was telling them, among many other possible situations. .
His little world grows every second and that is not always easy to assimilate or digest. When they listen to a story, they can see themselves reflected in it, identify some of their fears and insecurities and learn from the protagonist tools to cope with them.
Hence the importance of choosing stories appropriate to their maturational level. Beyond age, each child develops in a very different way and that must be respected; and that they are stories capable of transmitting clear and positive messages in a simple way.
You do not need to explain what is happening. Trust them, that they will get the part of the story they need at all times. This can even be therapeutic and, in this sense, you should never force what they are assimilating from their environment.
A cognitive booster
Although it is a time more linked to the emotional part and relaxation, listening to a good night story will always make them know new words, forms of expression and will help their language skills to grow.
In addition, you will work on their attention span, to follow the thread of a story and understand it from beginning to end, while putting their imagination to flight.
Relaxes them
A good story is the ideal way to end the day. They associate this moment with bedtime and begin to slow down naturally.
Choose stories with a happy ending, make your voice soft, try to lower the intensity of the light and always do it with them in bed. You will see that it is much easier to incorporate healthy sleep habits.
Always the same history!
Don’t be surprised if your child asks you over and over to read the same good night story. As we said, they feel at peace and safe when they are able to anticipate, know what is going to happen. Knowing all the words that you are going to say helps them to put their head in order and everything that has happened to them throughout the day.
On the other hand, the way we learn is through repetition. They discover something new each time you read that story to them and they are integrating new words, experiences, and reliving the emotion they felt the first time they heard it.
Don’t forget the limits
Our children need to feel loved and protected; Limits are the way in which they perceive that we love them and that we are taking care of them, because they still cannot know what they need at all times.
If you’ve told them that you were only telling them one story, respect that agreement. In this way, you are teaching them to have a word since they can trust that when you say something, you comply.
