The BookTrust launches its first ever Time to Read campaign – encouraging families to read together more often even when the children are "too old for a bedtime story".
Shared reading is the perfect way to increase quality family time, and open children up to new conversations.
In a recent study carried out by the BookTrust, parents were aware of the many benefits of reading with their children; 65 per cent stated that increased bonding and physical closeness with their child was the top benefit, followed by enjoying a shared experience (61 per cent) and having fun together (60 per cent). With more than half of parents surveyed with children age 11 admitting that they spend less time talking to them as they have grown older, read together is a way to breach this gap.
Professor Peter Fonagy, head of the Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology at UCL, and Chief Executive of the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, said:
“A strong, lasting bond between families and children is founded on shared interests, excitement, and wonder - all of which can be achieved by reading for pleasure, which opens doorways to safely explore new worlds and concepts that fire their imaginations. Children have a multitude of developmental needs that can all be served simultaneously by reading together with parents or carers they love and trust. The long term cognitive and emotional benefits are clear – reading together promotes optimal interpersonal, developmental and educational functioning in later life”.
As part of the first Time to Read campaign BookTrust will be giving a book to every reception age child across the country (that’s 700,000) – launching this year with Faber & Faber’s Kitchen Disco by Clare Foges and Al Murphy.
The BookTrust website also hosts booklists for reluctant readers alongside tips on how to get your child loving books.