How do I read a bed time story to my 5 year old and my 2 year old at the same time?

Question

Sorry, never been a dad before. I have been reading bed time stories (books) to my 5 year old for almost 5 years. My 2 year old is now becoming interested in books. They sleep in thee same bedroom. I read the 5 yo story and the 2 year old goes crazy in his crib and wants to be part of the book reading. problem is that the book I read for 5 year old are advanced for 3 yo so 2 yo looses interest quickly. If I read 2yo baby books the 5 yo wants Inonun on it and is disruptive. Wife is not a big reader.

Answer 1

Take the two year old in and read that story first while the 5 year is putting away toys, brushing his teeth and finishing getting ready.  Put the 2 year old in his crib with a board book to 'read'  and then read the five year old a story.  If the 2 year old can't handle that, move the location of the 5 year old's story to the living room or your bedroom and then tuck that child into bed also.  Pretty soon they will both be interested in the same level of story and it'll be easier.

Answer 2

Let them choose books together, or get books about "jack and jill", "humpty dumpty", "the cat in the hat", etcetera. They are classics, that will be be good enough until the youngest is three and the oldest is six. By then, the six year old probably won't want to be read to anyway..

Answer 3

Tell your 5 year old that you read to him/her when he/she was 2 nd that you would like to do the same for your 2year old. Then tell the 5 year old that you will first read to the 2year old and if the 5 year old is good and doesnt interupt, then you will continue to read a 2nd story for the 5 year old. Tell the 5 year old that if he/she cannot behave while the 2 year old is being read to, then he will miss out on a story for that night.

2year old stories are not long so your 5 year old should be able to handle it. if the 5 year old cant handle it, then at bed time, read the more mature book to both, and then read younger books to the 2 year old at nap time. it actually is good to hear all type of reading for your 2 year old, but your 5 year old will benifit more from the right age level books.

Read to them from a chair in the middle of the room. Or if you want closeness, read in a chair next to the crib, and with the 5 year old on your lap.

hope this helps

Answer 4

get something that is easy to read and that maybe you could sort of teach them to read, if the 5 yo doesnt know already.

Answer 5

Read a couple of books for the 2 yo first, then move into the older books.  Remember when you read the older books to use fun voices and sound effects, that will help to keep the younger child's interest.  My husband has read all the Harry Potter books aloud to our four year old and our 22 month old-it's all about the voices for him.  Now our daughter thinks any English accent is Harry Potter!   And mega kudos to you for reading to your kids-studies have shown that children whose fathers read to them score better on certain tests.

Answer 6

10-20 mins b4 bed time read 2 the 5yo and then at bed time read to the 2yo thats what i did and it worked out great

Answer 7

Try looking for a book that is suitable  for both the 5 year old and the 2 year old so non of them would loose interest in books

Answer 8

This is a tough one, but the only thing i can suggest is to try going to your public library and ask them what they suggest are some age appropriate books that both can enjoy. I'm sure you're not the only one that has had this problem.

Unless one can be entertained with a book on tape while you read to the other, I'm not sure.

You could always do sock puppets to a book...like a book of fables. That way the younger one is focused on the puppets while the older one is more interested in the story.

Answer 9

Read a book with the same intrests to both

Answer 10

Read a story that is mid way, or try to simplify the sentences in the 5yo books.

Answer 11

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