Why children of school age still need a bedtime story

13 April 2012

Parents should continue reading bedtime stories after children start school or risk jeopardising their learning, experts have said.

Too many mothers and fathers apparently leave reading skills to teachers once their offspring turn five.

But the National Literary Trust report said in a report that those who continue to foster a love of books help their children achieve higher standards in national curriculum tests.

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It is 'one of the greatest gifts' a parent can give, said Julia Strong, organiser of the trust's campaign to encourage reading at home.

'Parental involvement in reading has more of an influence on children's achievement than any other factor - including how well educated or rich their parents are,' she said.

In the report, Reading for Pleasure, researchers Christina Clark and Kate Rumbold said that during the first four years of a child's life, 53 per cent of parents read to their offspring at least once a day.

This drops to 37 per cent for children aged five to eight and tails off again to 21 per cent among nine to 12-year-olds.

But the report found that having books at home encouraged youngsters to think of reading as an enjoyable activity.

Those who read for pleasure had higher reading attainment, better writing ability, wider vocabularies and better general knowledge.

'What is needed is some recognition that the importance of parental involvement in their children's reading habits does not decrease just because they enter school,' the researchers said.

Dr Clark, senior research and policy analyst for the trust, added that reading aloud gave children 'onetoone' help. 'It gives them exposure to words and consolidates whatever's being taught in school, reinforcing it,' she said. 'Parents can pronounce the words again and can explain, maybe better than a teacher can.'

The report warned that, over the past five years, there has been a decline in enjoyment of reading among children.

Thirteen per cent said they dislike reading - against an international average of 6 per cent.

The researchers also pointed out that primary schools have cut spending on books, even though it is linked to higher standards at age 11. Too few 'have given sufficient thought to promoting pupils' independent reading', they said.

Families Minister Parmjit Dhanda called on fathers not to shirk their responsibilities, adding: 'We all share a duty to do everything we can to help children make the most of life's opportunities.'

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