Do you enjoy reading to your child? Or is it something you dread or try to avoid when you can? A recent survey conducted by book data company Nielson and publisher HarperCollins has found that only 40% of parents of children aged 0 – 13 enjoy reading to them.
We all know the benefits of reading for children and adults, and this starts in childhood, usually with parents reading to babies and young children. For children to see reading as fun and fulfilling, it is important that this is modelled by their caregivers. However, for parents who don’t enjoy reading themselves, it can be a tough ask for them to make reading fun. Many adults don’t have a good relationship with reading, maybe it was something they struggled with as a child themselves, or maybe it was a tedious part of their schooling, or maybe it wasn’t encouraged at home. Whatever the reason, it can have an impact on how parents approach reading with their own children at home.
According to the survey there was a significant difference in parents’ attitudes towards reading, depending on their age and therefore their own childhood experiences. For younger parents, who themselves grew up surrounded by technology and were often entertained digitally, they saw reading more as a subject to be learned, whereas more older parents saw it as a fun activity.
Whether or not you enjoy reading as a parent, it is an important activity to share with your child/ren. Aside from the learning opportunities that it presents, it also promotes bonding, is precious time spent together as well as potentially time to share the experience of exploring something new.
So, how to go about it when you don’t really want to do it, but at the same time appreciate its many benefits? Here are a few of our thoughts . . .
- Firstly, pick something to read that you will both enjoy – yes, that includes you too! There are some amazing children’s books out there, beautifully written and illustrated, just because you are now an adult, it doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy children’s books too – in fact we have a whole blog post about adults reading children’s books!
- Carve out time, ideally when you’re not tired (sometimes easier said than done!). It’s so easy to rush through story time at the end of a busy day. Often it can be the last ‘task’ to be done before bedtime – and that precious ‘adult time’ you might have been craving all day. But, if you can, maybe start bedtime a little earlier, or possibly find time elsewhere in the day where you can spend a few precious minutes together in the company of a good book.
- Spend time amongst books together. Take a trip to your local library and/or bookshop to explore what is on offer. Take time to see which books appeal, if you’re not sure, why not borrow a selection from the library you can try out at home?
- If a book really isn’t exciting either of you, leave it to one side, once reading becomes a chore it ceases to be fun. Sometimes it can take time to find the right books, but when you do it is so worth it!
Above all, remember that reading together should be a fun experience. If it isn’t, maybe have a look at what you’re reading, when you’re reading, even where you’re reading and take your time to find what suits you and your child. Creating a reading habit with your child is so important for their development as well as parent/child bonding, and it can also be of great benefit to you too. But remember, it’s not a race, it’s a journey that is to be enjoyed.
