Re-reading your kid’s favorite bedtime story boosts their brainpower

The typical parent will read the same bedtime story to their children a whopping 416 times annually, according to a survey but this might not be bad news

A recent study, which polled 1,000 parents of children up to four years old, found that 79% have repeatedly read the same book at their child’s request. On average, a parent will read their child’s favourite story from beginning to end eight times a week, even reading the same book for six consecutive days.

The survey revealed that parents spend around 48 minutes each week reading one specific book, with each session lasting approximately six minutes. A staggering eight out of ten parents are so well-versed in their child’s favourite tales that they can recite at least one by heart, with some even claiming to remember up to eight.

This research was commissioned by Busy Bees following the introduction of Bee Curious, an independently assessed early years curriculum. The curriculum is crafted to foster a lifelong passion for learning through play and storytelling, promising to give children a head start in school and nurture crucial early development skills.

Jenny Shaw, academic lead at the childcare provider, emphasised the importance of storytelling for a child’s development, explaining it allows them to spend quality time with loved ones while learning about the world and expanding their vocabulary.

“Stories are key in nurturing children’s language development,” she explained, “it’s been proven that the number of words a child hears and speaks by the age of three plays a key role in their future literacy, communication skills, and academic success. This is why storytelling is at the heart of our new curriculum.

She reassured parents that even though re-reading the same tales might feel like a monotonous task, it’s ‘hugely beneficial’ for language growth. “Children love the familiarity of their favourite characters and repetition is essential for learning and helps children learn new words more quickly,” she said.

The study revealed that parents of preschoolers typically read three different books each night, with popular themes revolving around family (43%), friendship (34%) and farm animals (27%).

Two thirds of parents read to their kids because they understand its importance for their learning and development, while 63% simply enjoy the bedtime reading ritual. In fact, 46% admitted that reading to their child at night is one of their favourite parts of their day.

The survey revealed that other favoured moments for reading to kids include during playtime, before naps and even whilst they’re munching on their meals.

Jenny Shaw, from Busy Bees, chimed in: “Encouraging a love for stories from a young age not only enhances language and literacy skills but also fosters creativity, emotional intelligence, and a deeper connection between children and their caregivers.

“By making storytelling a regular part of daily routines – including at bedtime as well as other points in the day – parents and educators can help to lay a strong foundation for lifelong learning and curiosity, while also supporting children’s transition to school by developing their listening, comprehension, and communication skills.”

In honour of the curriculum launch, Busy Bees has announced the victor of its nationwide hunt to find the nation’s top bedtime storyteller.

Jonathan Vickers, hailing from Surrey, outshone stiff competition to bag £1,000 and a donation of the top 40 preschool books to his local library, ensuring as many local families as possible can relish these tales together.