Most of us can recall the enjoyment of being read to when we were children.
But parents are now spending almost four times as long staring at screens as they do reading to their little ones, research has revealed.
Adults spend more than 90 minutes on computers, phones or other types of technology, as opposed to just 25 minutes reading with their children, according to a survey by the reading charity BookTrust.
It also found parents were skipping pages when reading with their children, finishing the story before the end or refusing to read a second story.
Adults spend more than 90 minutes on computers, phones or other types of technology, as opposed to just 25 minutes reading with their children, according to a survey (file photo)
Almost half of the parents who admitted to doing this said they did so because they were ‘too tired’.
The survey comprised of 2,000 parents of four to 11-year-olds.
Ginny Lunn, head of children’s reading charity Beanstalk, said the findings ‘reinforced the importance of spending regular one-to-one time with children to inspire them to love reading’.
She added: ‘With busy family routines and long working hours it can be hard for parents to make reading a daily focused activity, but even just ten minutes a day reading a book, playing word games or helping read out the shopping list can make all the difference.’
Almost half of the parents who admitted to skipping pages while reading to their children said they did so because they were ‘too tired’ (file photo)
The troubling figures come as celebrities including Dermot O’Leary, Alex Jones and Mel Giedroyc have helped to launch BookTrust’s National Time to Read challenge, encouraging parents to read to their children for ten minutes a day during September 18-22.
BookTrust chief executive officer Diana Gerald said: ‘Regular reading helps imaginations to grow in the most fun and exciting way.
‘Our survey reveals 43 per cent of children enjoy comics and magazines, proving that it’s not just books that get them turning pages, you really can read anything, anytime, anywhere. We hope families across the country will join us in finding ten minutes to read together.’