10 Bedtime Stories Sitters Should Memorize

Nothing works like a good bedtime story to get the kids off to the land of slumber. Bedtime stories are the balm that soothes, the fairy dust that spurs the imagination, and the ties that bind. Some of the very best stories to share with children should be in every sitter’s repertoire. Here are ten bedtime stories that we think they should know by heart:

1. Cinderella – The story of a young girl with a pure heart who is mistreated by her stepmother, but wins the love of Prince Charming. This tale resonates with young girls everywhere, and best of all, the narrative is easy to memorize and doesn’t lose anything with a little ad-lib mixed in.
2. The Frog Prince – This tale of a spoiled princess who befriends a frog, not knowing that he is in fact a prince himself, is another great bedtime story. The frog is transformed into a handsome prince with just a kiss from … his nanny perhaps?
3. Goldilocks and the Three Bears – Chances are, you’ve already got this one memorized, because it’s an all-around favorite bedtime story. Goldilocks visits the home of the three bears, samples their wares, and is caught red-handed.
4. Little Red Riding Hood – This can be a fun tale of adventure and intrigue for young minds to carry off to sleep. Choose your audience carefully, though, as parts of this story create potentially graphic images.
5. The Boy Who Cried Wolf – An Aesop’s fable, it is enjoyed by children and easily narrated. It is the tale of a shepherd boy who pretends his sheep are in peril once too many times for the sake of attention, and trickery. A lesson in honesty before heading off to sleep.
6. The Princess and the Pea – A Hans Christian Anderson classic, this tells the tale of a girl whose royal heritage must be determined by a very unusual test. It can help kids get in touch with their own mattresses, if you get our drift – and we think you do.
7. Sleeping Beauty – A wonderful bedtime story that captures the mood as well as any other, this tale can be narrated in any length or version deemed suitable for the occasion, Children love the story of Sleeping Beauty.
8. Snow White – A great fairy tale, this one has characters that many will remember from their own childhood, so memorizing it may be academic. Still, it’s worth familiarizing oneself with, as it’s a captivating favorite of children.
9. The Three Little Pigs – Another fairy tale that lends itself well to variations in narrative and length. Young boys especially are fascinated by the three little pigs’ housing dilemma in the face of the big bad wolf.
10. The Ugly Duckling – An utterly enchanting saga of transformation and coming of age, this one warms hearts of all ages, and can be easily told from memory and/or improvisation. Your children will surely fall asleep with smiles on their faces.

Taken From Babysitting Jobs