Experts reveal: Children are NOT reading enough books – and dads are to blame

Is your child reading enough? Experts think not…

Experts reveal: Children are NOT reading enough books - and dads are to blame

by Kayleigh Dray |
Published on

Every parent wants to make sure that their little one gets the best start in life.

"Dads should also be picking up a book and reading aloud to their youngsters"

But experts have revealed that our obsession with technology - or, more specifically, men’s obsession with technology - is turning our little ones into poor readers.

Diana Gerald, the Chief Executive of the Book Trust, has now issued a stern warning to fathers everywhere.

She told the Sunday Times: "Dads are great users of electronic media, very quick to switch on the TV or pick up a tablet.

“Children see this and, when you combine that with the historical fact that dads have never read as much as mums to kids, there is a problem."

She added firmly: “It’s great to be able to get the football results online at the flick of a mouse, but dads should also be picking up a book and reading aloud to their youngsters."

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Shocking new figures from The Book Trust has shown that 50% more mothers read to their child at 0-11 months than fathers.

The behavioural gap continues even as children get older, with a quarter more mothers reading with their five-year-old than fathers.

And it's not just the older generation of fathers stuck in a cultural rut; evidence shows that only 25% of fathers aged 15-24 read to their child compared to 61% of mothers of the same age.

Fathers should not see reading to their children as a chore - they should see it as a fun activity for them to do together.

If you need help finding the perfect story to read to your little one, check out The Book Trust’s Book Finder here now.

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