Brit Dads Miss Out On Family Reading Time
Brit Dads Miss Out On Family Reading Time
Three quarters of UK dads lack time to read with their children due to work commitments
With rising family costs and longer working hours, 74 per cent of fathers in the UK are missing out on reading to their children due to work commitments, according to new research commissioned by leading educational toy brand LeapFrog.
Of the three quarters of dads hindered by work obligations, 27 per cent claim that their job stops them from getting home at a reasonable hour. A fifth (20%) state they need to work longer hours due to the recession and more than a quarter (27%) say they are too tired to read to the children when they get home after a busy day.
Aside from work troubles, a further one in 20 (5%) claim they are not confident in their own reading abilities which deters them from reading to their own children. The same number of dads also state they are too embarrassed to animate the character’s voices in the books they read, even though their children prefer for stories to be read in this way.
Almost one in ten (8%) fathers admit they have never taken the time to enjoy a book with their children and a further 17 per cent stop reading to them when they start school. Almost a quarter (24%) claim they only read to their child at the weekend as they need to be in bed early for school during the week.
Whilst the majority of dads are missing out on reading time with their families, almost a third (32%) state it as the activity they’d like to do more of with their children.
The top five ways in which dads want to spend more time with their children are:
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Reading books
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Spending time outside playing sport
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Taking children to the library
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Playing on educational devices
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Getting involved in their children’s education
Educational expert Janette Wallis, commented on the findings:
“Every parent is aware that factoring time into each day can be a challenge, which is why it’s often easier for parents to read just before bedtime. This is a quieter time of the day where parents can really relax and enjoy some quality time with their children – and getting lost in a good book is a great way to do this. As well as helping them to build their academic skills in terms of literacy and comprehension, it also allows children to be imaginative and explore characters and voices too. The research shows that finding this time can be even trickier for dads, but it’s important to get in to a routine and share the reading time equally with your partner, even if it’s just at the weekend.”
The research also reveals that whilst eBooks are steadily rising in popularity, only one in 20 (6%) UK families would choose to read with their children on tablet devices at home, suggesting that traditional children’s books will continue to stand the test of time.
Robert Dekker, Senior Marketing Manager EMEA and Australasia commented on the research:
“It’s encouraging to see that reading is still such an vital part of family life and that parents continue to view this as one of the most important gifts that can be given to their children. It is also interesting to see that traditional forms of reading continue to remain popular within the household despite the increasing popularity of technology based products. Here at LeapFrog, we’ve developed Tag as great reading tool for children that combines both traditional and interactive reading methods to bring stories and characters to life.”
About LeapFrog
LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. is the leader in educational entertainment for children. LeapFrog’s award-winning product portfolio helps millions of children achieve their potential by delivering best-in-class curriculum through engaging content, fun multimedia learning platforms, and toys. The Learning Path, LeapFrog’s proprietary online destination for parents and extended family, provides personalized feedback on a child’s learning progress and offers product recommendations to enhance each child’s learning experience. Through the power of play, LeapFrog’s products and curriculum help children of all ages prepare for school and life success. LeapFrog’s products are available in more than 45 countries and have been used by teachers in more than 100,000 U.S. classrooms. LeapFrog is based in Emeryville, California and was founded in 1995 by a father who revolutionized technology-based learning solutions to help his child learn how to read. Come see the learning at www.leapfrog.com.
NOTE: LEAPFROG and the LeapFrog logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.
The poll of 1,000 UK parents was conducted by OnePoll in March 2012.
Additional statistics:
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One in 20 (5%) claim they are not confident in their own reading abilities which deters them from reading to their own children
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One in 20 (5%) dads also state they are too embarrassed to animate the character’s voices in the books they read, even though their children prefer for stories to be read in this way
‘Tips for squeezing reading into a busy day’provided by Janette Wallis, editor of The Good Schools Guide
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Choose a time of day that works for you and try to stick to it. Children (and parents!) can be too exhausted for reading at bedtime. In our family, bath time worked best!
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With 27 per cent of dads saying they are too tired to read to the children when they get home after a busy day, the important point to remember is that if you’re short on time, keep it short and sweet and don’t feel guilty. Better to squeeze in only a couple of minutes of reading than to let the day go by with none. End on a cliff hanger!
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As children learn to read themselves, consider allowing them to stay up a bit later as a treat – so long as it’s reading time
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Engage children’s competitive streak. Make the most of school readathons – how many easy books can they can polish off? Plan a cinema outing – but only if they’ve first read or shared the book on which the film is based. Put a sticker on a calendar for each ‘reading day’; once they have 20 in a row – no gaps! – it’s time for a treat
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Don’t forget the school run. For younger children it’s a great time to search out letters on signs or billboards. Older children can use the journey to read aloud to you. It’s also a great time for CDs, e-readers and interactive books like the Tag Reading System