How long should a bedtime story be? A guide by age
Recommended bedtime story lengths for toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children, and how to stretch or shorten a story gracefully.
A rough guide
Ages two to three: about five minutes. Attention is short, and the routine matters more than the plot.
Ages four to six: ten to fifteen minutes. Children can follow a simple beginning, middle and end, and enjoy a small surprise.
Ages seven and up: fifteen to thirty minutes, often split into chapters across several nights. Older children like cliffhangers that carry over to tomorrow.
Watch the child, not the clock
Yawning, slower questions and heavier eyelids mean the story has done its job, even if it isn't finished. Stopping mid-story is fine; tomorrow's chapter becomes something to look forward to.
If your child is still wide awake after the story, a longer story isn't usually the answer. A calm ending, dimmer lights and quiet music work better.
Chapters make longer stories easy
Breaking a long story into chapters lets you choose how much to read tonight. StoryChoose writes stories from 5 to 60 minutes, split into chapters, and remembers where you stopped.
Try a story starring your child tonight
Free to start. No card needed.