One thing that tends to get skipped in my day to day life is reading to the toddlers. They get to hear me read Little House on the Prairie or Heidi or excerpts from my current reading list, but to pull them up onto my lap and read something that is specifically theirs, is a rarity.
I wanted to do something special for them, but my every day life just kept getting in the way. Then, I had a spectacular thought! But, let me back up for a moment…
Since the move, our routine has been off. One of the worst things about having a messed up routine, is bedtime. It becomes an absolute struggle. If you don’t have the time, energy, or wherewithal to stay consistent, it isn’t long before little ones figure out with a little screaming and crying, mom or dad will just let them stay up until they crash on the floor and someone covers them up and leaves them there. The next day they are tired, you are tired, and the whole cycle starts back over. (not that this has EVER happened in your home 😉 )
I knew all of us needed better sleep patterns, so I put together a bedtime schedule that had the toddlers going to bed half an hour earlier than the middlers, who went to bed half an hour earlier than the bigs. Great in theory – not so great in implementation.
(This an old photo of my kids when I moved several of the smaller ones into one room about 5 years ago. That transition was about as smooth as setting up a new bedtime. Talk about putting a lid on a can of worms!)
Note to self: When you have NOT been enforcing bedtime, DO NOT expect the children to like the implementation of a bedtime schedule for a very. long. time.
(You can see a rough sketch of our schedule, including bedtimes, HERE.)
So, now, let’s fast forward to my desire to add in some time reading to the toddlers…
It was my toddlers who were most bothered by the new bedtime routine. It was my toddlers who thought screaming, “Mommy, Mommy, Mommy,” over and over would be the ticket out of bed. It was my toddlers who made the time between their bedtime and the next set of bedtimes MUCH longer than 30 minutes.
This is where my spectacular thought came in!
Bedtime with the toddlers would be their special snuggle time, with a book, some music, and prayers and hugs from Mommy and Daddy. The books I chose to start with were the Snuggle Time series from Tyndale.
These precious books, written by Stephen Elkins, contain stories and lessons short enough to be palatable to a toddler, deep enough to satisfy Mommy & Daddy’s criteria, and sweet enough to endear them to the entire family!
How to Make Reading Time Special
You may choose to read to your toddlers at bedtime or before naps in the afternoon, or even first thing in the morning. Whenever, you choose, here are a few guidelines to follow to make the most of the time.
1. Keep it short. I would rather have my toddlers beg me for MORE than be a squirming mess by the time I finish reading a full-length book. This is one reason I like the Snuggle Time series – they are short, and more often than not, my toddlers beg for more.
2. Engage them in what you are reading. In our Snuggle Time books, there are a lot of things to see. I have them point out the Bible verse in the heart, point to various animals and things on the pages, and give them time to answer the questions the books ask. This keeps your little one thinking and engaged in Reading Time.
3. Don’t rush. Your little ones will know if you are simply doing this to checkmark a box. Slow down and take the time to really enjoy these moments. Don’t choose a time for Reading Time that is riddled with things to do. Again, this is why I chose bedtime – no one else needed me, and I could focus on them.
4. Match the mood. If I read to the toddlers during the daytime, my reading “style” is going to be MUCH different from my reading at bedtime. If you are reading during the day, you can be more lively, laugh more, be sillier, and even get up and move with your toddlers. But, if you are reading to them for naptime or bedtime, you will need to set the mood with a softer voice, dimmer lighting, and a calmer story.
5. Be consistent. For me, this is the hard one. I can easily forget or put off something like this. However, once your little ones see Reading Time as a “tradition”, they won’t let you forget! Creed brings me whichever Snuggle Time book he can find at bedtime and says, “Read me book?” Melts my heart every time.
Tyndale has graciously offered to give away a set of the Snuggle Time books to one of my readers, so let’s have a giveaway!
Susan Menzmer says
bedtime has always been our best reading time!
Angie Jenkins says
For me, I try to have thirty minutes of “preschool” time with my little ones. It’s during this time that I would read story books and devotionals just for them.
Sonja Z says
I only have 2 littles so reading to them right before nap time after lunch is the best time for us. My husband also reads the Bible to them at bedtime. These Snuggle Time books look like a great read!
Courtney Z says
Love reading at bedtime!!!!
Katrina says
What a cute set of books! There’s nothing better than having time to curl up and read together. We don’t have one set “best time” – though it has helped when the little ones are first getting up in the morning to sit and read – to give them some focused attention before things get going.
Darcy says
The best time for me to have reading time with my toddlers is in the morning. I’m a morning person and they would be calm enough to sit.
Becky B says
I am trying to read at night. It is hard because I am tired, but also good because it is set in the bedtime routine. Those books look really sweet.
Becky
Suanna says
I’m not sure what would be the best time for reading to my toddlers. I’ve always been a it’s time to get ready for bed…go to bed gal, so bedtime might be a new tradition to make their evening end enjoyably. Otherwise it would probably be in the morning.
Ashley T says
I would love this!! I’m always looking for great (and short!) bedtime books:) thank you for the giveaway!
Lauren Beck says
I love the idea of using these books to read to my little ones before bedtime at night. These books look adorable.
Cheri says
For me, first thing in the morning or at bedtime would be the best times to establish a regular reading time. Thank you for hosting the giveaway. I hadn’t heard of these books before your post.
Lisa says
Bedtime is the best read aloud time in our house too! The younger kids have grown to love this time, and these books sound like a wonderful way to close the day together.
Rebecca says
I would love to win this for my new nephew and his momma and daddy….start them young (he’s 2 weeks old). His momma wants to be a homeschooling mom, she ‘s got a real heart for it and they are trying to see if they can work it out.
Sande says
We all sit down and read together in the evenings before bed but the littles fall to sleep! I think morning reading with littles would work!
Nancy says
Before nap
Laura says
Right before afternoon nap would be the best time to read to my littles – I just need to make it a priority!
Sarah Brooks says
These look like wonderful books! I really need to find a time to be consistent with reading just to my younger ones.
Alyson Noto says
These look so precious! I, too, get hung up on the older ones at times and tend to let the toddlers “rule” me, so to speak 😉 Thank you for the reading encouragement, I’ll start today!
Amy @ Life to the Full says
We have reading time before bed with our toddler (and the newborn has to join in)! Sometimes we read in the morning and before naptime, too – just a quick book – but it depends on how willing our son is to sit still. These books look wonderful!
Emelia says
I so know how you feel with the struggle to be consistent with the bedtime routine. Reading is an excellent way to wind them down at night 🙂
Erynne says
They listen in on our read alouds and I randomly sit and read their books with them on my lap but I would like to have a set time to make sure that happens daily. Bedtime seems like great place to add this in. Great way to separate different age group bedtimes, too! Thanks for the tip!
Jamie says
Bedtime 🙂
Karen says
I love to read at breakfast and right before bedtime
Christa says
My littles love reading before nap and before bed. We snuggle in mommy’s bed which is a treat and they never forget or let me out of it!
Angie says
I read aloud to my kiddos at the end of morning routine. While I read to the littles, the bigs can be outside or independently reading. Then they switch. It’s a lot of reading at a time, but it works!
Lacey says
I don’t read to my children as often as I should. Since we moved we have been able to set up an awkward little room into a library. They have free access to the books we have and they take full advantage. Rainy days are my favorite to read and often you can see the bunch of us cuddled up with our own books. But reading TO them is something I want to work on.
Christa Pate says
My little Caleb often asks me to read to him first thing in the morning. That’s when he is most cuddly and will sit quietly and listen. I know he would just love these books!
Aimee says
Before bedtime is the best at our house.
Sherry says
I’m curious about these books….I’d love to win them and use them with my own littles 🙂
Crystal in Lynden says
Good post to read. Thank you.
Amy Mac says
Mornings, I am too spent by bedtime 🙂
Catherine Morris says
We do our reading at night and these would be a great addition!
Julie B says
Bedtime is a great time for us to read, as well! Thank you for your encouragement!
Kristin says
Afternoons and/or bedtime work best for us!
Lara Speit says
Bedtime is definitely best for us too. It helps the little ones calm down and prepare for bed too.
Amanda says
We have all littles for the most part so we read before naps and bed.
Monica says
Definitely bedtime!
Sarah O. says
We like to read some time in the morning and then at bedtime, too!
Venessa Palmer says
We’ve always enjoyed reading to our littles! 😀
Meryl says
We have twins (20months) and an older daughter (5yrs). Bedtime reading has been important for a long time here. It is often the only time that they have my complete attention & my whole lap. It is also the only time that they settle down enough to read. When we pile up on the couch to read during the day, the twins usually get up and want to play after a few minutes. At night, they each have a 30min+ attention span. I agree about short books. I like things that I can memorize. Our favorite book is I Love You This Much, by Lynn Hodges.
Jocelyn Abyad says
Great suggestions!!
Cindy says
I think mornings during the summer would works best and after lunch during the school year.
Kirsten Pankratz says
Yes, I have finally got old enough kids that I have to have 2 reading time too. Usually after lunch is when I read to the little ones…..I remember my mom doing that and me lying on the floor right outside the little kids’ door so I could hear the nap time stories! (We were a big homeschool family) Good memories!
Jessica says
Such a cute series. I am always looking for new ways to share Bible stories with my kids.
Alesha says
Thank you for this reminder! Definitely before naps and before bed work well, but also in the morning before or even after breakfast when the littles are still snuggly is a great time for us. =)
Christine says
I like to read to my kids at the breakfast table and around lunch time.
Loura says
Bedtime is definitely my favorite time for reading.
Beth says
Still trying to figure it out. Currently trying to do a 5 minute devotions/prayer time in the morning. Then longer read aloud time in the evening.
Devoni Wennerstrom says
We always read at bedtime. It’s our favorite time to snuggle up with a good book.
Jessica says
We also try to have our younger ones in bed earlier. They would love these at bedtime!
Christin Hunt says
Perfect timing! I am struggling to find toddler reading times as well… As we also have just changed around bedtime, I think I will have to implement your idea. Thank you!
Kimberly D says
We do story time reading time right before naps and bedtime. Our three and two year old also sit and listen in the morning when the older children and I have Bible time. They get a “Character Concepts” story and snack afterwards if they are quiet during the Bible reading.
Katie says
bedtime! my kids love it and it is a reward for them when they get their nighttime chores done 🙂
Leah says
I read my toddler “Thomas the Train” books….he’s obsessed. But this book series is so awesome. My son would love them!
I actually set my children’s bedtime according to the At A Glance schedule you posted (with 30 min between the bigs, middles, and toddlers). Mine consist of only one big and one toddler and a few middles. It’s working so far, but it hasn’t been the easiest time. My toddler is the one we struggle with the most too. No matter how stern or loving we are, he creeps back up to tell us something, or ask for water or a “snack”. He has definitely fallen asleep on the floor next to the couch a few times, lol.
Marissa W. says
The best time for reading with my littles is before I tuck them in bed for the night. We sing from We Sing bible songs or read from a variety of different books- Dr. Seuss, library finds, Max Lucado. Sometimes we are able to fit in both. My 22mo. old sits in my lap or on sister’ s trundle as he wants and my 4 yr. old sits next to my side and cuddles. Bedtime always goes happier, easier, and more satisfying when I snuggle and give them some loving attention before the lights go out for the night.
Michelle says
My husband and I are always trying to improve our bedtime routine with 7 kids ages 9-0!
Erin Russell says
Hi Amy! Thank you so much for sharing such a wonderful giveaway! I too struggle with toddler reading time, these snuggle time books sound AMAZING!
May the Lord Bless you and your family!
In Him
Erin
Ashley says
Thank you for this encouraging post!
Sarah says
thanks for the giveaway….love all that you share! 🙂
Chelsea Wipf says
Our daily book reading time has gotten totally thrown off this spring…right now, we are just doing a half chapter of Little House in the Big Woods after school is finished each day. I really want to get back to bedtime stories again, but that means that I need to get my bottom moving to have dinner ready early enough so that I feel like we have time to relax with a book before hurtling kids off to bed!
Marissa Anderson says
Reading at bedtime is a good wind-down time! These books look really neat!
Jen Lepage says
These books look so cute and we are always on the hunt for new books to read. I read to my older children after lunch and to my little ones sporadically throughout the day and before bed. (:
Audrey says
I read to my 6 children while dinner is cooking to keep things from getting too wild in the house before papa comes home. I would like to see these books.
Jeni Gardner says
Love this post. I, too, find that I’m often reading to the highest level in my home rather than snuggling up with the littles to read something special to them. I miss those days 🙂
Yvonne says
I have the EXACT same problem of wanting to read to my littles but never getting around to it. I feel so busy with the big and middles. Then at night I feel so guilty that I never did the one thing I’ve always enjoyed doing….reading to the littles. This series looks interesting
Emily says
What a great idea!! I often find myself doing this anyway (separating the littles and middles bedtimes) but to purposely do so would be much more enjoyable. Lately I’ve been reading Proverbs to my three year old just to get him to fall asleep. 🙂 We usually make it through 2 chapters each night and he’s out. These books look perfect for bedtime. Thanks for the great giveaway!
PS that picture of Creed is just too stinkin cute! I feel like we were just celebrating his birth on your blog. What a sweetie!!
Marion says
This a great giveaway.
Thank You
Marion
Lacey S says
As we have added a new baby to our family our bedtime reading had fallen by the wayside. Just recently I have been trying to make sure we start the bedtime routine early enough to enjoy a couple of bedtime stories. One other “reading to my littles” struggle I have is that they want the same story over and over and over. Every once in a while I grab a couple books off the shelf and invite them to join me… they never turn down the invitation!
Melissa Nunez says
I love reading and snuggling with my children, especially at bedtime. These books look wonderful.
Kathy says
I like to read to my children mainly at nite before bed but now with it being summer I’m hoping to do more reading during the day. Thank you for these reading suggestions. I look forward to it! God Bless you and your family!
Annie Campbell says
These books look like a very real blessing. We love doing our bible time at bedtime. Everyone is sleepy, but calm and readying their minds and hearts for restful slumber with God’s Word is a Treasure. I love your idea to use these precious books to do just that.
Annie Campbell says
Amy, I do not have a Twitter account, nor Facebook. But I hope i can still enter the raffle. ????
Isabel says
I think naptime and bedtime would would be the best times to do this.
Julianne says
I read to our littles before naptime & bedtime & our older kids & I read to them alternately each mid-morning as part of our school routine.These books look like they’re short & sweet which is great for bedtime & we appreciate something with some depth too, as you said.
Aimee says
I read to my toddler and preschooler before nap time. I would love these, because they don’t seem to get much out of the nighttime devotional we do.
mycraftingworld says
I love to read to them after dinner. It is quiet and they have full tummys and want to snuggle.
Jodie says
I love reading before bedtime, but afternoon usually works best with my littlest ones! I love Steven Elkins books!
Deanna F says
I enjoy reading when the kids are seated at the table after a meal or before nap/bedtime. I thought your tips were spot on!
Elisa says
I’m a book-a-Holic and reading has always been important to me as a parent and former teacher. That said, I don’t spend nearly as much time reading to little number two as I did with the first when he was the only. We do squeeze in a few books first thing in the morning, before nap and at bedtime. I try to pick one or two from each each groups collection. Luckily the older son doesn’t mind listening to his brothers “baby” books and the toddler enjoys the more complicated stories as well.
Esther Lock says
I read stories to my toddler and six year old when I am nursing our baby. When not nursing …….bedtime is for us the best time!
noel says
Bedtime works best but I have trouble being consistent with it, too:)
Cecilia says
Me – at naptime, My husband – bedtime
Sasha says
I love your idea for bedtime reading … I was just thinking this as well for my 3 and 4 year old. I would love to read these books to them.
Ashley C. says
At night before bed. Helps wind them down 🙂
Julie G. says
These look wonderful!
Kristina says
I agree with you Any in that bedtime would be ideal for us too. The baby and 18 mos old are asleep so it’d just be the toddlers and my big
Jennie says
I had been struggling to fit this in as well. Bedtime became our best option too! You are right, they do NOT let you forget about it either! 🙂
Carrie Ayars says
I have found that early in the morning is the best time for us. My older children are sleeping in late because of summer. The little ones are still up bright and early. Reading before breakfast is a perfect way to start the day!
Amy Hanners says
I love reading to my littles at bedtime especially – though I’m not as consistent as I’d like to be! These books look great!
Julie says
Bedtime, definitely. We try to have a “children’s hour”.
Amanda says
These books look great for cuddle time with my littles.
Crystal Teague says
I think I would try nap time first and then maybe bedtime.
Shelby says
The books look cute :)! We typically have toddler reading time before nap time and then at night we read a chapter book that will interest all of them but are typically geared toward the 6-10 year olds. Throughout the day we read our school read alouds. My hardest issue to work out with our reading schedule is a time to read to the teenagers. Between the two of them and me one of us is always busy!
Lacey says
We read out of the kids’ Bibles every night after baths and before bed. We made it a rule we can read any story they pick as long as it is about God or someone or thing Biblical for bedtime. Other stories or books can be read at other times. We always try to focus on God and our prayers before bed. We also read almost every morning after the baby nurses.
Jessica says
I have some reading time with my littles in the morning before school, but I have to admit I have not been as consistent with this recently as I should be. Bedtime is a struggle for me because I am a morning person. So, by the time evening comes around I am dragging my feet, ready for bed myself..
Tanya says
Would love to have a set of these books. We always read to our 3 at bedtime as well. Daddy reads/sings with the older 2 and I read/sing with my 18 month old. They always really enjoy there bed time routine, sure it takes longer that way, but they sure settle done better after that
Krista says
Reading time for us takes place at any time of day. After breakfast, after nap and always before bed.
Inga says
Great gift idea!
Inga says
We read at bedtime and nap time.
Lisa Jones says
We have actually gotten out of the habit of bedtime reading, but these books look great to get us back in the groove.
Leslie DeJarnette says
So encouraging to hear about your reading routine! Read-alouds provide cherished family time for us, too.
Kina says
First thing in the morning would be best for us. The kids like to climb in bed with me in the morning and snuggle. By the end of the day I am exhausted and probably wouldn’t be consistent with bedtime stories. They do listen to music or audio books while falling asleep though.
Daesha says
Love these!
Amy says
After lunch, when baby is sleeping
Megan Schow says
I read to my just turned 3 year old at nap time and bed time. 🙂
Heather Pelletier says
I have always loved reading at bedtime. Perfect wind down activity.
Merry says
We like to have reading time right before bed time
Charis says
I read to my almost 2 year old first thing when I get him up for the day (for maybe 10-15 minutes)– sometimes the 4 year old joins us too. That way if the day gets busy, I know we will have read together at least a little bit!
Misty says
Mornings is my favorite time.
Sherri Y. says
After nap time, to help the little one slowly wake up, would be our best reading time.
Jennifer says
Reading is a special time to have with little ones. I did have the habit of reading right before bed,but got out of it. I think I’ll have to start it back up.