A poll of over 2,000 adults, carried out on behalf of the National Yearof Reading (NYR), found that mothers were twice as likely to readbedtime stories to children, with 76 per cent saying they did soregularly, compared to just 42 per cent of fathers.
Work pressures such as stress and long hours were cited as the mainbarrier for 58 per cent of fathers, while a lack of confidence meant onein ten felt the role was better suited to mothers.
The research said that boys are falling behind girls when it comes toreading and that more male readers would help address this.
Honor Wilson-Fletcher, NYR director, said, 'Reading has never been moreimportant, but we know boys lag far behind girls when it comes toreading. Boys need to see their dad enjoying reading if they are tobecome readers themselves as they grow up.'
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here
