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Literacy campaign puts spotlight on parents
29 Feb 2012
New National Literacy Trust research published on the launch of the charity’s Words for Life campaign reveals a third of parents don’t realise they are the most important influence on their child’s language and literacy development.
Learning at home has the biggest influence on the achievement of children and is a far more accurate predictor of a child’s success than the family’s income. However, the new research with UK parents found that:
- Nearly a third (29%) feel the most important influence on their children’s communication and language skills lays with someone other than themselves
- 15% cite teachers as having the biggest influence on these skills
- One parent in seven (14%) does not spend any time on a daily basis supporting their children’s literacy development, for example by singing nursery rhymes or reading with them
- Yet, the good news is that nine out of ten (91%) parents would like to spend more time helping their child develop their literacy skills
Launching today, the Words for Life campaign and website which will show parents how their daily routine supports children’s language and literacy from birth to eleven. www.wordsforlife.org.uk has developmental milestones, tips and fun activities for parents to do with their children to help them develop vital communication skills.
Natalie Cassidy, actress and presenter, mum of Eliza, age 18 months, and supporter of the Words for Life campaign said:
From a very young age, I remember reading as an integral part of my life. I would get home from school and sit and read with my family and friends, discovering new stories and enjoying them. Dad and I would play Scrabble on a regular basis - a fabulous way to enjoy words and mum and I would chat each day about different subjects, be it what I had for lunch, or who was coming to visit at the weekend.
Having my own daughter enjoy reading, writing and sharing her experiences with me and her dad is extremely important to me. Every night I read with her and we sing all the time! Reading has to be made fun, books are fabulous for the imagination and to help little personalities grow. Every parent should join the library, or buy just one book and share the joy of literature with their children. Happy reading!
Parents are also being urged by the National Literacy Trust to commit to spending more time helping their children develop these skills by going online at www.wordsforlife.org.uk to make a pledge. Everyone pledging will have the chance to win one of twenty fantastic bags of children’s books from Walker Books.
Jonathan Douglas, Director of the National Literacy Trust, the charity behind Words for Life, said:
We are launching the Words for Life campaign to encourage parents to build communication and story times into their daily routine. www.wordsforlife.org.uk gives parents the tools they need to support early language and to encourage their children to become keen readers. Just a few minutes every day will help children gain the skills they need for a successful and happy life. We hope many parents will visit the website and pledge to spend more time helping their children develop these skills.
Bestselling author and literacy campaigner James Patterson who is supporting Words for Life said:
Let's face it: Most of us don't realise it, but we are failing our kids as reading role models. The best role models are in the home: brothers, fathers, grandfathers, mothers, sisters, grandmothers. Mums and dads, it's important that your kids see you reading. Not just books – reading the newspaper is good too.
The research also asked parents what advice or ‘words for life’ they would want to pass on to their children and the most popular phrase was ‘when one door closes, another door opens’. When asked about the advice she would pass down to her children, Author of How to Train your Dragon, Cressida Cowell said:
The advice that my parents felt was important and that I would want to pass on to my own children is in fact Atticus's advice to Scout from 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. 'You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.'
Go to www.wordsforlife.org.uk for ideas and inspiration today and join the debate about parental advice at (www.facebook.com/wordsforlifeuk)
Notes to editors
The nation’s favourite ‘words for life’
The National Literacy Trust reveals that the UK’s top 10 ‘words for life’ are:
- When one door closes, another door opens
- Do as you would be done by
- Laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and you cry alone
- Never go to sleep on an argument
- If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again
- A little of what you fancy does you good
- Time heals all wounds
- Whatever you are, be a good one
- A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
- Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth
