Despite research on the importance of
reading with children from a young age, a recent survey revealed few parents
with kids age eight and younger are engaged in nightly reading. However,
research reveals that bedtime stories build the foundation for children’s future
achievement in schools.
Key findings from the research include:
The amount of time spent reading:
·
87% of parents say they currently
read bedtime stories with their children.
·
But only one in three parents (33%)
read bedtime stories daily with their children.
·
Children of families with an annual
household income below $35,000 are more likely to watch TV (40%) than read
books (35%).
Findings
on printed book use:
·
Printed books (76%) are the format of
choice for most parents of children age eight and younger.
·
Twice as many children prefer a
printed book (20 %) over an e-book (9%), say parents who read both types of
books to their children.
·
Less than one in five parents (17%)
use a combination of printed and e-books.
Existing
research on literacy shows the importance of starting early:
·
Children who don’t read well by the
end of third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school than
proficient readers, according to a report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
·
Two-thirds of U.S. fourth graders –
and more than four-fifths of those from low-income families – are not reading
proficiently, according to the 2011 National Assessment of Educational
Progress.
Many
literacy studies also show a direct correlation between income level and the
number of books in the household, creating even more obstacles to developing
children’s literacy. If you know of a
family needing additional books and reading materials in their home, please
notify the school and we will make literacy materials available to them!
-Dr. Paula Sissel
[email protected]
Garden County Schools
Superintendent/Elementary
Principal