Media centre
Getting the blokes on board
13 Jun 2007
When fathers take part in their children’s learning, it can boost attainment and motivation and contribute to improved life chances, which is why the National Literacy Trust has produced a new magazine to support practitioners in reaching out to fathers.
Getting the Blokes on Board: Involving fathers and male carers in reading with their children is a free magazine that contains research, case studies, top tips and celebrity interviews to help people working with families get dads involved with reading.
The magazine has been produced in line with the aims of the Family Reading Campaign, a partnership project promoting reading in the home, which was launched earlier this year.
Key facts and figures from the magazine:
- In a National Literacy Trust survey from 2005, only a quarter of 8000 children questioned reported seeing their father reading
- In a UK study, 40% of fathers said that their partners read more with their children than they did; 37% claimed that they and their partners read to their children about the same amount
- A US study found the majority of fathers engaged in school-related literacy practices with their children, while two-thirds read with their children for enjoyment
- Benefits to fathers include: greater skill acquisition, greater confidence and self-esteem, better father-child relationship and increased engagement with learning
Julia Strong, deputy director of the National Literacy Trust and coordinator of the Family Reading Campaign comments,
“Having a dad or a male family member involved with reading activity can make a huge difference to children’s motivation and enjoyment – especially for the boys. We want to encourage practitioners to reach out to dads and, through the Family Reading Campaign, we can offer support and advice to help get the blokes on board.”
For more information and to order see www.literacytrust.org.uk
ENDS
1. About Getting the Blokes on Board: Involving fathers and male carers in reading with their children
This new National Literacy Trust magazine, aimed at professionals who work with parents, contains lots of ideas for getting fathers and male carers reading with their children. If you've never successfully engaged with dads before, or would just like a few extra ideas, Getting the Blokes on Board is for you. For more information and to order visit www.literacytrust.org.uk\familyreading\Blokes.html
2. About the National Literacy Trust
The National Literacy Trust is an independent charity that changes lives through literacy. It links home, school and the wider community to inspire learners and create opportunities for everyone. www.literacytrust.org.uk
The National Literacy Trust runs the Reading Champions initiative on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills, which promotes reading to men and boys in schools, prisons and at home. www.readingchampions.org.uk
3. About the Family Reading Campaign
Launched at the beginning of 2007, The Family Reading Campaign is a partnership campaign that brings together organisations from education, library, early years, health and parenting sectors to promote reading in the home. It is delivered by the National Literacy Trust on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills. www.familyreading.org.uk
