A recent study of 2,000 parents carried out by CITV (the children’s programming arm of ITV, the biggest commercial television network in the UK) revealed that three quarters of Britain’s parents are too busy to read bedtime stories to their children. “Mums claim they are distracted by cleaning or cooking while dads blame late nights in the office or sheer tiredness when they do get home,” read the lead in a story published a couple of weeks ago by the Telegraph. The study also found parents seem content with allowing their children more screen time than reading.

CITV sponsored the study as part of their launch of their new children’s show (ironically enough) Bookaboo.* Fortunately the show highlights the pleasures of books – kind of a hip Reading Rainbow with a world famous rock puppy who plays the drums in his own rock band. The show incorporates celebrities reading with Bookaboo. Follow this link for an interview with Ex-England Goalkeeper David Seaman. Seaman, father of  two, believes "it's important that fathers do read to their children because it's a special time, I have two children, and I read to them both, sometimes they'll come and both listen to the same book - it's a magical moment and I advise fathers just to try it.”

In the US we just completed the National Education Association’s Read Across America push. Tied to the birthday anniversary of Dr. Suess, the push includes a Cat-a-Van Reading Tour. I think all of this is great, but the focus is on the kids. What can we do to capture the heart and mind of parents to make reading with their children a priority? Do you read with your kids? Why or why not?

I’ve mentioned here before but Book Dads is a great site for books to read to with your children. Colorín Colorado has a great selection of tip sheets for reading with your children (babies through 3rd Grade).

*On another note a study recently published in Pediatrics found that, while not recommended for other reasons, television viewing in infancy does not seem to be associated with language or visual motor skills at 3 years of age.