London - Fathers are being blamed for discouraging their children from reading by watching television or playing with tablet computers.
Research suggests many children are copying their fathers’ bad habits by shunning reading for easier, technology-based activities.
According to the Book Trust, a charity that encourages children to read, mothers set better examples because they are more likely to read with their children.
Among young fathers, the trend is particularly stark, with only a quarter of those aged 16-24 reading to their children, compared with 61 percent of mothers in the same age bracket.
Older fathers are more enthusiastic, with the figure reaching 78 percent among those aged 55 and over. Diana Gerald, chief executive of the Book Trust, said: “Dads are great users of electronic media. Children see this and, when you combine that with the historical fact that dads have never read as much as moms to kids, there is a problem.
“Dads should also be picking up a book and reading aloud to their youngsters.”
She told the Sunday Times parents should use picture books when their children reach nine months, and said if they read to their children every day, they will be almost 12 months ahead of their age group when they start school.
Daily Mail