Kids love to read but are more attached to screens
A recent survey reveals that about half the children in the UK spend more time watching TV or playing on the computer than reading.
The research also indicated that a third of all parents said that bookshelves in their homes were now infested with DVDs and computer games.
The survey, commissioned by the reading charity Booktrust, polled 3,090 children and parents.
Surprisingly, the numbers also reveal that reading has become more popular and 96% of all children enjoy it.
Despite this encouraging news, one in 20 British households has fewer than 10 books, and boys usually have fewer reading material than girls.
The study also indicates that parents were less likely to read with boys than with girls.
The survey showed that 67% of mothers of children aged between four and five admitted to be the principal reader, while fathers said to play that role in 17% of the cases. This year’s results did show that father’s are increasingly involved with reading to their children.
Most parents said ‘pleasure’ was the reason given for reading with their kids, as 54% said the last reading period shared with their child had been the previous day and one in three do this activity everyday.
However, the study did reveal that 57% of parents said that their child devotes more time for watching DVDs and playing video or computer games than for reading.
Diana Johnson, England’s school minister, said parents who share this activity with their may inspire a lifetime’s love for books.