Decline in number of children being read to before starting school.

[CrocusesFlowering]

This is just depressing to read.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/children-reading-school-laureate-phillipson-b2938529.html
Although it's a similar pattern in other countries. Finland is taking action to try to foster reading.
https://chytomo.com/en/helsinki-takes-action-to-reverse-the-reading-decline/

She probabbly struggled and had comments since she started school so it's defensive if she doesn't try she's not failing.

Started to see it in DS in early years - didn't find that school very helpful they said he'd just catch up. Did a reading program at home and the joy when he started to be able to read is now a very treasure memory. Same age I was given an intesive reading program in primary school and then started reading. I was read to at home and my parents read round us - but the then undiagnosed dsylexia was making it all harder and I think I was in danger of giving up.

I think people are overlooking how much life has changed for families. It’s not just that loads of parents can’t bothered.

Many mothers with younger dc work now & more work ft. Parents are more time pressured & wheras dc would often play out after school they are now in homes & a screen is an easier way of keeping them out of your way.

As pp said reading to your dc doesn’t automatically mean you pick up reading nor does dressing as a K pop demon hunter for world book day mean you aren’t a great reader.

I was a voracious reader as a dc but only really read on holidays now. I just don’t have the luxury of immersing myself in a book most days & there are so many other distractions that are easier to pick up & put down when time is short.

None of that prevents parents reading bedtime stories.
Everyone (should) put their child to bed.

I suppose it's what's normal. My parents always read bedtime books so it's my normal. Even when my mental health went to shit in lockdown or while DH was working away and I wasn't coping well I still read to them because I'd had it normalised.

Well I think there will be a cohort that don’t have time to read but bedtime stories alone won’t be enough for every dc.

Don't forget young dc can be at school from 7am-6pm due to parents needing to work so sometimes probably fall asleep before much bedtime reading.

I think the fact other countries have similar issues shows it’s not just lazy parenting.

Where did the data actually come from? I find it hard to believe 50% of young dc have never had a book read to them.

Exactly. Many parents have been on their own, or worked full time in the past. Every parent can read to their child. They just have to make time for it.

Then fit in a storybook at weekends. It's not going to be a huge tome. Even 20 mins would be something.

Why? There are lazy parents in all countries, it's not unique to Britain.

Some countries have a societally better attitude to the expectations of being a parent or value education much more than British people do, but even in those countries there will be an element of lazy parents.

That is such a shame not even considering the potential impact on literacy.

Used to love doing story time with my 2

Some of them can't keep their eyes off of a screen long enough to read to their children. I know multiple parents who never read to their children but stick them in front of a screen daily.

As pp have said, it's a lovely experience for the parent, as well. I miss those days!

@MrsEmmelineLucas as I said statistics show that more mothers work with younger dc and more work f/t vs the past.

Why do you think wraparound care demand has increased so much?

Even commutes have increased for the average worker, this is all increased time pressure on the average family.

It’s far too simplistic to blame lazy parenting imo so we will have to agree to disagree.

Even with huge demands, you can find 20 mins to read a bedtime story. You can find some time over the weekend. I've been a busy parent, I know what it's like. However. Just as you prioritise good food, exercise, creative play etc, you can prioritise reading with your children, and reading to them.

Why? There are lazy parents in all countries, it's not unique to Britain

I haven’t said lazy parents don’t exist in other countries? Are you arguing that it’s simply because the number of lazy parents in the UK & other countries has increased?

I feel this from the other side. I remember my parents reading to me each night, then trying to creep away as we’d fallen asleep and us waking up and insisting we hadn’t fallen asleep and pleading they keep going - then asking them to go back a few pages that we’d obviously slept through! They must have been so tired!

Stories were the best part of bedtime, I loved it. I wanted to go to bed to get the next chapters.

These memories will last forever too and I am forever grateful.

I am a passionate reader and previously a compulsive reader. Until I got a smart phone I carried a book everywhere. I used to take 7-10 books on holiday. I couldn’t take a bus journey or a pee without a book.

gradually reading a smartphone replaced this.

when my children were born I fairly quickly returned to work, and worked 10 hours a day, 5 days a week, nursery runs, baths, cooking healthy food, enriching activities plus basic things like swimming etc engulfed my time. I remember in those days by Friday afternoon I would be slurring my words with exhaustion.

from about 4pm everyday all I could think about was getting back to bed. I went to bed at the same time as my children for 10 years.

my children did get read to. But it wasn’t every night. There were times it wasn’t even once a week.

I can totally see how parents can’t manage it.

I am as well. It's very bonding, and closes the day beautifully.

We read to our DC a lot. We have literally hundreds of books 😂 you can pick up books 2 or 3 for £1 in charity shops. I also love to read, I have a proper book for downstairs reading and keep my kindle for nighttime or travelling. Our school also pushes reading a lot, not just academically but for enjoyment. So each week the kids pick a book from the school library to take home, they open the library one afternoon a week for parents to go in with their child and borrow a book, they do sponsored reading events, they really emphasise the importance of reading for enjoyment to parents. I love how much they promote books and reading, I often buy them books from the charity shops to put in the school library too 😂 (because they are often deals too good to miss and I can't resist!)

There’s no reason for a 3/4 year old to start school knowing how to read. They need to be out playing in mud and exploring. They can learn to read during formal education. But yes, reading as a family, of course.

@MrsEmmelineLucas I am making the point that I don’t think every family can find that 20 mins every single day. Just like I don’t believe all families can cook from scratch every single day. As opposed to they simply can’t be bothered

I don’t work f/t
I am financially comfortable
I have a hands on DH
I have never needed much wraparound care
my dc are at excellent schools

I still find it hard to fit in everything I should be doing for my myself & my dc so I think it’s pointless to just judge others.

@Itsmetheflamingo thats exactly what I am talking about but I guess some find it easier to judge you for being lazy!

It's a discussion about reading to children.
The merits of which have been proven time and again. You can't find time? Ok. That's your parenting choice.
I think it's poor that some children are never read to, and never get the joy of reading, and that parents are missing out as well.

Was everyone here read to as a child? Honestly it would really surprise me but that is probably because my parents never read a word to me or my siblings. It absolutely was not a thing in my super monstrous extended family, chock full of teachers too so there was a really strong emphasis on education. Lots of Phds, doctors, professionals, educators etc among us so it hasn’t really impacted us.

We read to my kids but maybe naively would have thought is only a very short lived modern ideal.