Experts said that some parents dreaded reading because they lacked confidence in their own abilities, while others chose not to because of a lack of time. And threequarters of those surveyed complained that when they did read to their child, it was the most stressful activity in their day.
For many, reading with their children was prioritised last on a long list of other activities, including work, household chores, shopping and socialising.
Linne Omissi of the Jersey Library said that reading was crucial for a child’s development and urged parents to find a time that fits in with their daily routines. ‘Books can be shared at any time of day, not just bedtime. See what works for you,’ she said.
She said that the best way to enjoy reading was to start it early with the children and to make it fun.
‘Get very young babies used to looking at books as part of loving, relaxing moments as early as possible, so that they equate books with feelings of being loved,’ she said.
And when children get a little older, encourage them to look at the pictures and talk to you about what they can see, like colours, characters and so on.
‘Experience the book as something you explore together, even before you start reading the text. Small children have a small attention span.
‘They may not be able to listen to a whole story to start with. Be led by them, so that it doesn’t become stressful. They might not want to listen to the story but might be happy to still look at the pictures, or browse over bits of books rather than a whole one.
‘Sometimes bedtimes are stressful. Don’t get into fights if they are resistant, but don’t give up either.
‘Just as teaching children to eat well takes time and exposure to new flavours, so teaching children to love books takes time and variety too.’
And parents should also set a good example for their children to follow.
‘Parents who take time to relax with a book, magazine or Kindle and a cup of coffee show their child that reading is a valuable occupation,’ said Linne. ‘Children like to copy what they see, so they will value reading too.
‘A child who can relax with a book is building skills which last a lifetime. And parents of children who enjoy reading will get plenty of peace in the long run.’
We asked parents on JEP Parenting Facebook if they read bedtime stories to their children. Here’s what they said:
Monique Michelin: I read every night to my nearly five-year-old and nine-month-old. They love it – it’s their bedtime routine. You should never be too busy for your kids.
Viki Lucas: Every night without fail my girls get two stories each. Other things do occasionally get sacrificed, but never bedtime stories.
Paul and Allison Burton: We’re shocked by this. We always read to our two every night, no matter how much else there is to do.
Viv Armstrong: ‘Have done since they were tiny, even when it meant signing the story to my deaf daughter. She is nine now and devours books (I am, sadly, now redundant on that front and she wants reading time alone). The five-year-old still loves it. I love reading time. It’s snuggle time!’
Julie Pirouet: We have five children and we try to ensure they all get their individual stories with one of us every night. It’s a time we all enjoy, and in such a busy house, it’s so good to have that one-to-one time with them, as well as providing a calm end to the day. They all love books of any type, and I’m sure bedtime stories have encouraged this. With five children, aged from four months to nine years, they all get stories at bedtime – it can take quite a bit of effort and organisation, but they love it so it’s worth it.
Jo Coombs: We read to our daughter every night and always have. She loves books now and plays library with her dolls.
Larissa Docherty: No parent is too busy to spend ten minutes or so reading a bedtime story and if they think they are then they shouldn’t have had children. It is one of the most important and rewarding things to do with your child. It can mean the difference between achieving at school or not as the case may be as it stimulates imagination, encourages discussion and questioning and gives a good grounding for the future in all subjects. Most of all it is precious, quiet, cuddly time with your child and that time so quickly goes by.
Jenna Plunkett: Do it every night without fail, we have done since they were little babies
Lian Quenault: Such a shame that parents are too busy to read to their children. I love reading to my little girl!
Adelina dOrleans: I work a lot of evenings a week and hate missing out on the bedtime story. But when Im not there to do it, my husband reads to the children. When I am there, I love reading with them. Its a lovely wind-down time, and we all snuggle together for the story. The children would soon have something to say if we didnt read to them one night!
Philippa Maçon: Too busy, too selfish (but my soap/programme/match is on in 5mins) or too lazy?!
Deb Tasker: My son won’t sit still long enough. Grabs the books tries to turn pages gets up and down from my knee and drives me nuts. He plays in his cot cries to get out and tries to grab the book and we stopped reading to him until he learns to settle and lay down while reading. I hated reading to him as it was a night mare. He has started handing me books during the day for me to read so hoping to get back to reading before bed.
Christina Jandron: Myself and my husband take it in turns to read each night to both our kids.
Modern motherhood to take centre stage
TRUE stories of the trials and tribulations of motherhood are to be performed on stage by 13 women from the Brighter Futures charity.
What Are We Going To Do With All Our Children! was created with the help of Jersey Arts Centre director Daniel Austin, and is described as truthful, poignant and, most of all, real.
Telling stories and experiences of motherhood, the hopes, the fears and the possibilities, relationships and fatherhood, the drama uses music, movement and poetry to explore the world in which we live today.
Tricia Tumelty, of Brighter Futures, a performer in the piece, said she hopes it will portray what it is to be a mother in Jersey in 2015.
‘Telling stories of mothering through poetry and monologues is a way to give a voice to mothers and makes a big contribution to local knowledge and debate around mothering practices in Jersey,’ she said. ‘Our stories reflect the pain, difficulties and pleasure of motherhood, and shows how much of the guilt which mothers are familiar with stems from the difficulties we experience in weathering these complicated and contradictory feelings.’
Brighter Futures is based at The Bridge. It works in partnership with Parenting Support Services to meet the needs of families and young people.
The aim is to provide children, young people and families the chance to be safe, happy and healthy.
Daniel Austin said: ‘It has been an extraordinary experience working with the ladies at Brighter Futures and developing their playwriting skills. It is a privilege to be directing them in their own piece of work.’
What Are We Going To Do With All Our Children! is on at the Arts Centre at 7 pm on Saturday 14 March. It is suitable for 12 years and over.
You can win two tickets to the performance by logging onto JEP Parenting’s Facebook page here
