By: Lori Holewinski
Bedtime stories are a traditional way to help children transition into sleep after a busy day. The Mayo Clinic suggests that bedtime rituals, like reading, can help all of us ease from wakefulness into sleepiness. (Imagining a bear settling down with a good book before a long winter of hibernation!)
February is a good month to focus on reading. The flurry of the holiday season is behind us and the lure of the outdoors during spring is yet to come. What better time to choose a favorite book or two (or more!) and find a cozy place to leave your cares behind for a while.
If you have children at home, a cozy reading cave made with sheets or blankets or a comfy chair are great places to read. Tiny ones are cozy nestled in your lap while you read or tell them a story. Wherever you decide to read you will find that it reduces stress, improves cognitive ability, and even gives your social skills a boost!
A traditional book is the preference for many, but ebooks and audiobooks are becoming more and more popular for all ages. HEPL provides both through Overdrive (Libby) or Hoopla, so February is a perfect time to give them a try. While a visit to the library is an enjoyable outing, winter can make it difficult to make the trip. HEPL’s downloadable media offers you a selection of reading material you can access without leaving your home.
Since you will be doing all this reading in February, remember to log your pages or minutes in Beanstack here. All you need to do is log in or create an account and enroll in the Cozy Winter Reading Program for your age group. Your reading will earn you e-tickets for a final drawing for the prize bundle of your choice. The Cozy Winter Reading Program will run from February 1-28.