There are some childhood memories that stay with us forever. Not because they were grand or expensive, but because they made us feel safe.

For many of us, one of those memories is climbing into bed on a cold winter's night with a book.

The house is finally quiet. Pyjamas are on, teeth are brushed, and everyone is tucked under a warm duvet. A bedside lamp casts just enough light onto the pages, while the wind and rain do their thing outside.

It's the perfect time to disappear into a story.

As a parent, I've come to realise that reading before bed isn't about squeezing in another learning opportunity before lights out. It's about ending the day well.

For twenty minutes, the busyness disappears. There are no phones, no rushing to the next activity and no pressure to be anywhere else. It's simply a shared story, a few questions, a laugh at a funny character, and often the familiar request: "Can we read one more page?"

Those are the moments that matter.

Of course, reading before bed has plenty of benefits. It builds vocabulary, encourages imagination and helps children relax before sleep. But those things happen quietly in the background.

The real magic is that you're sharing something together.

Winter almost gives us permission to slow down. We naturally spend more time indoors, wrapped in blankets and looking for ways to feel cosy. A good book fits perfectly into that picture.

It doesn't matter whether your child is reading independently or you're reading aloud. What matters is creating a routine they look forward to. Even ten or fifteen minutes each evening can become a treasured part of family life.

Children may not remember every bedtime story you read, but they will remember how it felt to snuggle up beside you, turning pages together while the rest of the world waited until morning.

This winter, choose a few favourite books, switch on the bedside lamp and make time for a story. It might become everyone's favourite part of the day.