Parents are very busy .. What have our children lost the absence of a story before bed?

Laila Ali

Despite research on the importance of reading with children at an early age, few parents still keep reading bedtime stories for their children every day. A survey found that nearly two-thirds of parents do not read their children's bedtime story because of their long working hours.

"Although many working hours are beyond the control of many parents, this can be replaced by reading for children during weekends," says Mark Kelly, who conducted the research. The research found that only a tenth of parents read a story before bedtime each night.

Technology alternative stories
The study, published by the Children's Trust, found that 65 percent of parents in Britain hand over their children to phones, tablets or television instead of reading a story with them, while half said they wanted to share a book with their children in the evening. Only they can find time to do it already.

One fifth of the parents reported that they were "too busy". “Parents have a lot of time devoting time to reading their children's bedtime stories, but only ten minutes of reading a book together a day makes a big difference,” says Gemma Mali, director of the foundation. “It helps build children's language, flexibility and confidence. And imagination, a great way for family bonding. "

Reading is absent from priorities
Experts at a survey of 3,000 parents commissioned by Alton Towers Resort, one of Britain's largest theme parks, say some parents were afraid to read to their children because they lacked confidence in their abilities. The research found that about 15% of women read to their children once every two months, while 11% of men said they had never done so.

Of those who read to their children, 75% said this is the most stressful activity of their day, because it comes after performing a long list of other priorities including work, housework, shopping and social networking. 65% said they wish to have more time to read their children's sleep stories, while 40% of mothers feel guilty when they don't have time to read to their children.

All previous research and studies recommend that parents review themselves with regard to the need and importance of reading for children. The American Academy of Pediatrics emphasizes the importance of reading for the development of children's brains, because "reading regularly with young children stimulates optimal patterns of brain development and strengthens parent-child relationships at a critical time. Its growth, which in turn builds language, eradicates illiteracy and develops social and emotional skills that last a lifetime. "

Children's psychologist Tanya Brayon warned that reading is crucial for child development and that its lack can impair children's future abilities.

The benefits of reading stories for young people
Reading a child's story as part of a bedtime routine calms his mind at the end of a busy day, making him sleep better according to the Book Trust.

- Reading a bedtime story makes the child happy.A survey conducted in 2015 found that 83% of children enjoyed reading the story aloud, and 68% of them said they enjoy spending special time with their parents while reading stories.

- Reading books allows children to engage in a conversation with parents, express their opinions and ask questions, making children able to learn the meanings of things and deepen them more, increase vocabulary and improve spelling and spelling, because they see how things are spelled as they speak them in the daily stories they read.

- Reading the child every night is a beautiful way for parents to spend time and communicate with him without any distractions.

- When children are read at an early age and encouraged by parents, they love books and are more likely to continue reading as they age.

- Reading for children promotes imagination and creativity, they are creative by nature, but when they are introduced to all these strange characters and stories contained in the books, their imagination and creativity increase. Reading also improves their narrative skills, helping them in school through essay writing or comprehension skills.

- Because reading is a mentally stimulating exercise, it improves your child's cognitive skills, leading to better performance in school afterwards.

- Reading diverse and different stories makes children able to know life better, helping to increase empathy and understanding in this world. Books also open up new worlds, countries, cultures, lifestyles and adventures that a child may never know.