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Making every home a reading home
15 Jan 2007
This new year, parents are being urged to give their children a gift that money can't buy - time to read together. The Family Reading Campaign, launched on 15 January, is the first campaign of its kind, bringing together key organisations from the education, library, parenting sectors and beyond to promote the importance of reading in the home. The campaign is delivered by the National Literacy Trust's National Reading Campaign on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.
According to the latest National Literacy Trust report on research into reading for pleasure, most parents are aware of the importance of sharing books with their children. The report, Reading for Pleasure: an overview, also states that:
- Schools should not be held solely responsible for promoting reading to children. Taking part in reading activity at home helps children become strong and motivated readers.
- Children need the people around them to set a reading example so that they think of reading as something enjoyable.
- Children who enjoy reading see themselves as part of a "reading community", in which they talk about and share a love of books.
The Family Reading Campaign aims to ensure that more children experience the benefits of reading with their family. It is a strategic campaign working to integrate the importance of reading in the home into the planning and activity of all its partner organisations.
Families Minister Parmjit Dhanda who will be attending the launch comments,
"We all share a duty to do everything we can to help children make the most of life's opportunities. Parents have an essential role to play in supporting and encouraging reading - and I think new fathers like myself need to be a part of this too. Research shows that parental involvement can have a big impact on their children's achievement. I'm delighted to welcome the Family Reading Campaign, which is doing important work to help ensure that every child has the chance to fulfil their potential."
Julia Strong, Director of the National Reading Campaign, coordinates the Family Reading Campaign. She explains,
"Helping your child to love reading is one of the greatest gifts parents can give to their children. Parental involvement in reading has more of an influence on children's achievement than any other factor - including how well educated or rich their parents are. And parents are a child's first educator. This campaign aims to encourage organisations to work together more effectively to support reading in the home. Together we can make every home a reading home and every child a reader."
ENDS
1. About the Family Reading Campaign
The Family Reading Campaign is launching on 15 January 2007.
It aims to ensure that:
- All families see reading as an important part of their daily lives and part of the culture of their home.
- Parents and carers find time to read regularly with their younger children.
- Reading for pleasure is recognised as an important part of the process of learning to read.
- Young people feel comfortable about being seen to enjoy reading.
- Reading in the home is encouraged and supported by schools, the local community, the business community, the media and wider society.
- The Family Reading Campaign is a partnership campaign delivered by the National Literacy Trust's National Reading Campaign on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills. www.familyreading.org.uk
2. About the report Reading for pleasure: a research overview
This paper explores reading for pleasure, its importance, and its impact on literacy attainment and other outcomes. It collects evidence that furthers our understanding of the value of reading for pleasure and provides information that will enable parents, teachers and policymakers to promote reading motivation and wider reading.
Other findings:
- Almost half the children who took part in the National Literacy Trust Reading Connects survey in 2005 reported rarely discussing reading at home. When they do discuss reading, the person children reported talking to most frequently was their mother: 57.4% reported talking to their mother about reading compared with 42.1% who said they talk with their father.
- 84% of pupils indicated in the same survey that their mother had taught them to read, while a quarter of pupils from the same survey said that they never see their father reading.
- 82% of adults surveyed by the BBC in 2006 reported that they enjoyed reading.
The report can be downloaded from www.literacytrust.org.uk\research\readpleasure.html
3. About the National Reading Campaign
The National Reading Campaign aims to ensure that as many people as possible enjoy the pleasures and benefits that reading can bring. The Campaign is delivered by the National Literacy Trust on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills. www.readon.org.uk
4. About the National Literacy Trust
The National Literacy Trust is an independent charity dedicated to building a nation in which everyone enjoys the skills, self-esteem and pleasures that literacy can bring. It is the only organisation concerned with raising literacy standards for all age groups throughout the UK. www.literacytrust.org.uk
