Some parents don’t read bedtime stories to their children because they think they don’t like them!
Nearly a quarter of parents read to their children once a week or less, according to a new survey. When asked why they don’t read, 24% claimed their children didn’t like stories while a further 13% blamed time constraints.
But it’s encouraging that the other three quarters of parents DO read to their children more than once a week. So to coincide with National Reading Month and last week’s World Book Day, the survey asked 3,000 parents for their children’s favourite stories.
Topping the chart was Goldilocks, followed by Winnie the Pooh, Roald Dahl, Snow White, Rapunsel, Dr Seuss, Sleeping Beauty, Harry Potter, Peter Pan and Hansel and Gretal.
“It’s nice to see classic fairytales that parents will have enjoyed as children and are still proving popular,” said Janette Wallis, educational expert from LeapFrog toys, which undertook the research.
“It’s encouraging to see that parents are still taking the time to enjoy reading with their children. It’s such a key part of every child’s development and an ideal opportunity for family bonding time,” said Janette. She gives these tips to help you engage in storytime:
- It’s quality over quantity so use what time you do have to really engage your children in the story.
- Find a regular time for reading that your children can look forward to - it doesn’t have to be bedtime, any time of day can be perfect to share a good book.
- Add some drama. Try using different voices and actions, or insert your child’s name in place of another character.
- Involve your children. Get them to pick the book and ask them questions about the story or let them read bits to keep them engaged.
- Find time to read to yourself. Set a good example by letting your child see you reading – anything from a newspaper to a recipe.
Check out our favorite children’s books, and make sure you let us know which stories your children like.
