Research by early years publisher, Ladybird, has shown that 81% of parents see one of the benefits of reading is to enjoy quality time together.
68% cited bonding as one of the key motivations to read with their child, while 88% agreed that reading with their child is about shared enjoyment and is not a chore.
75% of those surveyed said they wish they had more time to read with their child, and 33% wish they had more confidence to do so. Of those questioned with children under one year old, over 36% felt their child was too young to read to.
With the results in mind, storyteller, Lucy Walters, has shared her top tips on getting creative with the usual reading routine: “Finding a quiet moment for story time can be tricky, but even just five minutes without distractions will help your little one grown in curiosity, confidence, literacy and language. Talking, listening, reading the story together, will help your little one join in at their own pace. It’s not about reading the story perfectly, it’s about enjoying the words, the pictures, the time together.”
Despite some parents feeling their children were too young to read to, Ladybird says there are huge benefits to reading from an early age with babies. Ladybird’s resident expert Laura Henry-Allain MBE, said: “There are many advantages of reading with young children, such as familiarising them with their parents’ smile and voice, helping them to recognise patterns, and supporting sensory development, which are just as prominent in the early weeks adn months from birth.
“Reading books with children is beneficial to their all0round development and learning, as well as offering quality bonding time. Introducing books to children from a young age helps them to develop life-long positive reading behaviours. Enjoying this together on a regular basis will have a lasting impact and is the start of establishing a lifelong love of reading for little ones.”
Leanne Gill, publishing director at Ladybird, added: “At Ladybird, we understand that reading helps to create truly special moments between families, whether it’s a new parent reading with a newborn for the first time, or a grandparent reading to an inquisitive toddler. We are proud to offer a wide range of books to support families during every bonding moment.”
