Not happily ever after

Leave alone kids, even 1 in 10 parents don’t quite get what that favourite bedtime story is all about. And, while most parents will shake their heads and emphatically state that they are not among those people who can’t understand bedtime stories, the finding comes from none other than an adult learning organisation Learndirect.

The organisation carried out a survey of 1,000 parents and found that many parents skip passages they have difficulty reading or make up words to get to the end of the sentence as fast as they can. All the adults surveyed had kids between the ages of five and 10. The poll coincided with Learndirect’s launch of a new children’s book aimed at encouraging more parents to test themselves as they read to their children. "Reading together as a family is very important to us. It’s an opportunity for quality time and we can do it anywhere," The Sun quoted said Northern Irish television and radio presenter Eamonn Holmes.

He added that the Learndirect’s new book is also great because while it tests an adult’s skills, it doesn’t take away from the enjoyment of reading to their kids. "It’s a good way to test yourself but it doesn’t take away from the enjoyment of reading with your kids," he said.

Psychologist Dr Pat Spungin also advocated the tradition of parents reading to their kids. "When parents read to children they are physically close, giving all their attention to their children and sharing the experience of reading something they both enjoy," Dr Spungin said. "In this age of screen-based leisure, regular reading with young children can establish good long-term reading habits." —ANI

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