Speaking on the eve of World book Day, Fine Gael Dun Laoghaire Deputy and Chair of the FG Committee on Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, said the benefits of reading a bedtime story with a child should be flagged with parents in the interest of encouraging reading for enjoyment by children at an early age.

“The foundations of good literacy are established in childhood but all too often good reading habits are not encouraged at an early stage, to the detriment of our children in later life. World Book Day takes place tomorrow, the main aim of which is to encourage children to explore the pleasures of books by providing children with school packs and book tokens.

“A 2009 report entitled ‘Growing up in Ireland – The Lives of 9 year olds’ found that boys reported a lower incidence of reading for fun than girls, with 25% of boys reporting reading for fun every day compared to 36% of girls. Eight percent of boys reported never reading for fun, compared to just three percent of girls. The responsibility for the education of our children does not lie just with our schools. Parents have a critical role to play in encouraging children to read from an early age. The benefits of reading at home will help children to realise their full potential and will stand to them throughout the course of their lives.

“Reading to children stimulates their development and gives them a head start when they reach school. Sharing a bedtime story with a child also promotes their motor skills, through learning to turn the pages, and enhances memory. It also improves emotional and social development.

“Reading allowed is a period of shared attention and emotion between a parent and a child which reinforces reading as a pleasurable activity. I am lucky enough to have fond memories of my mother reading to me as a child; listening to her read Enid Blyton books allowed and getting lost in the fabulous illustrations.

“At the end of the day knowledge is power and to unlock this power good literacy skills are essential. The foundations of good literacy are established in childhood, a point which should be hammered home to parents while their children enjoy World Book Day tomorrow.”

Taking an interest in child’s reading habits at home can improve literacy levels.

Commenting on the Growing Up in Ireland – ‘Influences on 9-Year-Olds’ Learning: Home, School and Community’ Report launched yesterday, Fine Gael Dun Laoghaire Deputy, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, said parents have a significant role to play in increasing literacy levels in children.

“Over the last 10 years, numeracy and literacy levels in our children have dropped significantly; a fact clearly borne out by successive Pupil International Student Assessment (PISA) Reports.

“While there is a need to closely examine how our children are being taught in classrooms, focusing on goal setting and progressing students’ learning, there is a considerable amount to be gained if parents take the time to encourage reading in the home and to nurture their child’s learning skills.

“This report found that while literacy skills are, by and large, initially developed in school, these skills can be reinforced by reading outside school, either with parents or independently. It found that less than half (47%) of nine year olds had read something with their parents in the last week and that the children who read with their parents reaped the rewards as they reported a higher frequency of reading for pleasure.*

“It was also found that children who read at home, unsurprisingly, do better in school than the children who sit in front of the telly all day.

“In my experience as a primary school teacher, I have found that generally people want what is best for their children but are sometimes constrained in delivering that objective. This Government is funding a new Literacy and Numeracy Programme and this month the first children’s citywide reading project was launched in Dublin by Dublin City Libraries and Dublin UNESCO City of Literature to encourage 4th and 5th class students to read and to have fun doing so.

“Taking an active part in a child’s after school activity and taking the time to read with your child could improve his or her learning capacity, and ultimately their opportunities down the line, dramatically. Every parent in the country should be encouraged to do just that.”
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*76% of those who read with their parents read for fun at least a few times a week compared with 67% of those who did not read with their parents. –