Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

RobynLou8 via Flickr/Creative Commons
Books

Half of Irish parents feel guilty for skipping bedtime stories

One in five Irish parents never read to their children.

A SURVEY COMMISSIONED by Easons has revealed that half of parents of children under eight in Ireland feel guilty for not having time to read with their children.

One in five parents never read to their children according to research carried out by Amárach Research in advance of the launch of Easons’ ‘Get into Reading’ campaign.

One third of parents say time pressure is the main reason they don’t sit down with a book with their child more often, while almost half say they pass the responsibility onto their partners.

Child psychotherapist Dr. John Sharry said that the findings of the research highlight the importance of building a bedtime story into the daily routine.

Eighty-four per cent of Irish people say they were encouraged to read by their parents, while almost 70 per cent were read to as a child.

A quarter of Irish people say they read five or more hours a week, with those who were read to as a child 30 per cent more likely to commit to this amount of time with the books.

Easons are planning to  hold weekly in-store reading events for children and parents throughout the year every Saturday.

No Irish need apply: Man Booker long list revealed>

Column: Why I want to give a book to every child born in Ireland>

Your Voice
Readers Comments
33
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.