Bedtime stories for your son or daughter

What children want at bedtime

Boys and girls differ far less than the marketing suggests. At bedtime, most children want:

• A calm voice that is the same each night.
• A familiar shape. A start, a small adventure and a safe ending.
• Their own name. Hearing it makes them feel noticed.
• A feeling of being safe and loved. The story should end warm and cosy.
• A little bit of fun. Giggles, gentle surprises, silly voices.

How to choose

1. Follow the child's interests, not a label. If they love diggers, choose diggers. If they love fairies, choose fairies. Many children love both.
2. Pick the right length. Under five, around three to five minutes is plenty.
3. Avoid scary parts. Choose stories with gentle problems and kind solutions.
4. Think about themes. Counting, colours, feelings, kindness and nature are good for young children.
5. Repeat favourites. Children like the same story many times.

A story starring your child

Many parents like a story that uses their child's name, because it holds attention without any acting. Snuggle Up Stories makes an animated story where your child appears as a felt character, with their name stitched into the scenes and said aloud by our narrator, Grandad Joe. You choose the look, including hair, skin tone and glasses, so the character looks like your child. Our stories are written for any child, so whether you have a son, a daughter or both, they work the same way. You can add a brother or sister to the same plan.

Every story starts in the bedroom, goes through a gold door to a new adventure and ends back in bed with a small keepsake. There is a learning moment too, such as counting, shapes or kindness.

Ideas to tell yourself

• The adventure of the missing sock. Follow a sock on a journey around the house.
• The sleepy moon. Tell the moon about your day, one thing at a time.
• The animal bedtimes. What does a fox do at night? Where does a bear sleep?
• Your own day, retold. Tell their day back to them as a story, with them as the hero.

Tips for a smooth bedtime

• Keep the same order each night.
• Dim the lights.
• Finish with the same words.
• Let them choose between two stories rather than asking what they want.
• If you are tired, a short story is fine.