Dads' bedtime absence affects boys' reading
Melanie Defries
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Less than half of fathers regularly read bedtime stories to their children, new research has found.
A poll of over 2,000 adults, carried out on behalf of the National Yearof Reading (NYR), found that mothers were twice as likely to readbedtime stories to children, with 76 per cent saying they did soregularly, compared to just 42 per cent of fathers.
Work pressures such as stress and long hours were cited as the mainbarrier for 58 per cent of fathers, while a lack of confidence meant onein ten felt the role was better suited to mothers.
The research said that boys are falling behind girls when it comes toreading and that more male readers would help address this.
Honor Wilson-Fletcher, NYR director, said, 'Reading has never been moreimportant, but we know boys lag far behind girls when it comes toreading. Boys need to see their dad enjoying reading if they are tobecome readers themselves as they grow up.'
Visit www.yearofreading.org.uk.
