Bed Time Stories
Submitted by: Doug Warburton

My children like me to read them a bed time story. I think that all of us liked having someone or anyone read us a bed time story when we were little. To listen and imagine what was happening in the words being said, it made something magical out of words typed on a piece of paper.

I love to read to my girls, and I know that they love it too! They argue about the story being read or which one will be read first, but they hop up on the bed and snuggle in for a great story.

I have my favorites, but they have theirs too. There are some that all of us like and those are usually the ones that I use as a closer for the night.

I like to make sound affects when I read, can't help it, it just happens that way. A blueberry hitting the bottom of an empty pail can have the word to describe it, but I need to add "plink" even though it was said, or a snort to make myself happy.

Reading is a wonderful time that can be shared by all and brings the family together, even if just for a little while. It is like eating at the dining room table together instead of sitting in front of the TV, it is family time. It helps to bond my family and helps for older ones to learn to read and younger ones to put pictures with words and also start to read.

One book that helped to start my oldest to turn the corner when she was little was "Are you my mother?" You can read and ask them what is happening in the picture. Children really do notice things and will see what is happening and break down the drawings in order to understand the story. There in is a helping hand to show them words that describe the pictures and give them the ability to put words and pictures together. Another story that is one of both my girls' favorites is "Blueberries for Sal". It is a wonderful story of a mother and her little girl collecting berries for winter and a mother bear and her little cub eating berries to get ready for winter. It is a great read, but also if you like to make sound affects, well it's pretty good for that too!

In today's society, it seems that there are too many electronic devices that occupy everyone's lives, and maybe that isn't the best thing, at least not all the time in my eyes.

Centuries ago, very few people were allowed to learn to read or write. This knowledge was something special and was available to a very few chosen ones. Somehow during the industrial and technological revolutions, things have reversed a bit. We as a society are forgetting to write (with a pen) read, spell or even check out a book from the library. Yet we still send our children to school to learn all these things that we tell them are so important, and we use a computer to spell check our letters and send "Happy Birthday" cards to our family and friends.

It has been said that all things in moderation are fine, but too much of something is not. Computers are great! I am using one as I speak, but I also have a fantastic book that I am reading which is on my night stand and it is Winnie the Pooh! My girls wait for me to come in and read and I love it!

If you want some great family time and your day is always busy or you don't have all the time wanted or your children don't like to go straight to bed, try a story. I would bet that you become a pillow or a snuggle post for your children as they wait with anticipation and prepare their minds for a wonderful adventure.

Read a story and create memories, ones that will last a life time...
Doug