Bookstart campaign encourages parents to enjoy books with babies

The study of parents of babies at seven months and under, carried out by ICM Research and The Fatherhood Institute on behalf of Booktrust, found that more than 64 per cent of parents never share books with their babies.

It also revealed that more than half of families do not own a single baby book until they receive their first free book packs through their Bookstart programme, with 75 per cent of mums and dads reporting sharing books with their babies as a result of the charity’s resource.

The survey, which has been carried out to mark National Bookstart Week (11-17 June), now in its 20th year, suggests that without the intervention of the Bookstart programme, many parents would not start reading with their children until much later.

In light of the findings, Booktrust is now consulting with health professionals to explore ways of reaching families with Bookstart packs at an even earlier age.

The charity is also urgently seeking additional funding to help sustain its £6m grant from the Department for Education.

The current Government funding, which funds the charity, its book gifting-Bookstart and Booktime programmes, and targeted initiatives, expires at the end of March 2013. Without this, the charity says it faces the possibility or having to reduce or cut key services.

Booktrust’s funding was cut by half in 2011 by the DfE and this year the charity’s grant was reduced by a further 20 per cent.

Viv Bird, chief executive of Bookstart, said, ‘The enjoyable routine of sharing books, stories, songs and rhymes with babies is vital in building pre-literacy skills as well as providing important cuddle time. These findings, while worrying, are also a validation of the continued importance of Bookstart as it celebrates its 20th year, suggesting that for nearly two-thirds of households the Bookstart pack introduces the first baby books into the home and promoting a positive home learning environment from the very start.’

Bookstart is holding a special party at Kensington Roof Gardens today to celebrate the charity’s 20th birthday. The event is being attended by special guests and supporters of Booktrust including HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, Booktrust’s patron, and the children’s laureate Julia Donaldson.

The charity will also be promoting its Bookstart 20 campaign, which aims to get people to pledge to share 20 books in 2012. Make your pledge at www.booktrust.org.uk/bookstart20