Dulwich Divorcee sent me some headphones for the 5 year old recently. They were too small for her big girls. Waste not want not, that’s our motto.
Since they arrived the 5 year old has become as one with my ipod. She loves music and seems to pick up lyrics really easily (unlike me). She and the 3 year old have their own playlists; the 5 year old’s mostly consisting of Abba, Mika, Disney and some other bits and bobs.
Lately she’s been listening to music before she goes to bed on and off, often falling asleep mid playlist.
Recently I discovered some Roald Dahl CDs in a cupboard which were handed down from Big Cousin D and downloaded them onto the ipod.
Excitedly I told the 5 year old about the stories (we had read The Twits last year). Last night she went to bed as normal at around 7.30. Usually with or without the ipod she is asleep at the latest by 8.30pm.
Last night when I went up to bed (at 11pm) she was still AWAKE!
After checking she wasn’t, in fact, asleep with her eyes open (she does that sometimes) she told me that she had listened to The Twits and was now listening to The BFG.
She didn’t much like The BFG, especially when he kept talking about food because it was making her hungry. She then raised one eyebrow as she read my face and deciphered whether I’d fall for the ‘hungry’ line and rush downstairs to get the biscuit tin for my poor starving girl.
She got short shrift.
Now I am delighted that she is loving Dahl, I think it’s great, in fact I want to rush out and buy more, particularly James & The Giant Peach, but I am not liking the tired girl that greeted me this morning.
She has a Christmas party to go to this afternoon so by the time I get home from work it will be a full on whine-a-thon powered by Fruit Shoots, Cheesy Wotsits and Party Rings. Add that to the fact it’s Christmas Eve tomorrow and the 3 year old is about to explode with excitement and life will be a barrel of laughs this evening.
I think we will be limiting the stories to daylight hours from now on.
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Nicola on December 23, 2009
My boys love me to read Dahl…but each chapter seems to take an age. Hadn’t even considered getting them on CD…mind you, I’m not keen on having Captain Underpants up until 11pm asking for bisciuts…so maybe not.
admin on December 23, 2009
The Twits was manageable, a chapter a night, but some of the others are slightly longer chapters.
I’m dusting off all the Enid Blyton books in anticipation. First stop The Magic Faraway Tree.
Insomniac Mummy on December 23, 2009
Oooo! I never thought about giving Ethan a CD and headphones before. I bet he’d love them.
But, oh dear! 11pm? At least it wasn;t a school night!
admin on December 23, 2009
She’s in the school holiday club though.
I just couldn’t believe she was still awake. I might campaig to have them read in really boring monotone voices for bedtime.
Vic on December 23, 2009
I loved Dahl’s books as a child. I was tempted to get some audio books for the boy. Now I’ll definitely think twice! lol
admin on December 23, 2009
Ah, I think you should still get them for the boy, just not during sleeping time!
TheMadHouse on December 23, 2009
We are working our way through Beatrix Potter, having done wind in the willows. I need to accommodate the 4 and 3 year old. But my 4 year old is currently sat on my IPOD!!
admin on December 23, 2009
We have some Beatrix and Winnie the Pooh too, think they may be slightly more sleep inducing. Might give em a whirl!
Annie on December 23, 2009
When my now 19 yr old was little he had a tape recorder and a Mr Blobby tape to listen to to go to sleep. OMG, it still gives me nightmares.. Blobby, Blobby, Blobbeeeeeeeee!
Both my older kids lovely listening to stories, particularly Beatrix Potter and Roald Dahl, especially if they’d got the books to read along at the same time.
We also had quite a few late night listenings until I had to insist on switching it off at a certain time.
I’m glad she’s found something she loves though, even if it does make her hungry LOL
James and the Giant Peach was one of my alltime favourite stores along with The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.
admin on December 23, 2009
Mr Blobeeeeeeee, I can’t think of anything worse! Maybe I should let her listen at night but go up and switch off after an hour. Hmmm.
The Lion the Witch and The Wardrobe – a great classic – will add it to my list!
Z on December 23, 2009
My children loved listening to audio books – they were on cassette tape in their young day, which meant that they listened together to one side and then it switched off.
I’d be careful and limit the time each day that she listens through headphones – overuse damages hearing and it isn’t known what a safe limit is for children, especially so young as your little girl There are teenagers at my local high school with impaired hearing/tinnitus, but they still won’t give up their MP3 players, even though that’s what’s causing the problem.
admin on December 23, 2009
The headphones we have are specially designed for children and don’t go above a certain volume level so we’re safe on that front.
I remember having loads of tapes, with books. My favourite was Thumbelina.
English Mum on December 23, 2009
My little fella’s like that. He’s 11 now and loves the fact that he’s near enough to walk to the library on his own. He’ll easily do a book in two nights if I’m not on patrol to send him to bed. It’s lovely that she’s starting early. Although I sympathise with the little zombie they turn into the next day
PS: How pretty is Annie!
admin on December 23, 2009
I’ve always read to them – from when they were both babies so I’m really excited that she’s enthusiastic about reading.
She’s learned to read over the last year and loves nothing more than sitting with a good book. Long may it continue!
Muddling Along Mummy on December 23, 2009
Hope she wasn’t too exhausted today but how great she’s loving those books!
Claire on December 26, 2009
Wow, Enid Blyton, Roald Dahl and The Lion the Witch in the Wardrobe – all my childhood favourites! Read and re-read and unitl the pages were practically falling out! When she’s old enough the Northern Lights trilogy by Philip Pullman is a must – currently re-reading it for fun!