A recent survey “shows a steep decline in the number of parents reading aloud to young children, with 41% of 0- to four-year-olds now being read to frequently, down from 64% in 2012.” https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/apr/30/most-parents-dont-enjoy-reading-to-their-children-survey-suggests
Comments
I had a mother who read to me
My daughter (now in HS) went to a school in Kinder and 1st grade where most parents NEVER read to their own kids and said that was the "teacher's job". Guess what? The teachers didn't have enough time, so I was asked by the school to read with these kids 3×/week (which I did).
https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/
I did it, regularly, because it was good for him. Not because I enjoyed it.
A lot of parenting is boring and thankless let's be honest.
Although, tbf, now that I had a teenager (16-going-on-35), it's a little more intellectually stimulating.
It doesn't matter if you "enjoy" it parents. This isn't about you!
Feels weird saying that to parents who aren't Boomers.
My daughter, well she yanked a book out of my hand and went off to read it by herself when she was 6!
(Now at uni this term studying Shakespeare)
Very true
Also, thanks to relentless standardized testing, benchmarking & ever changing methodology, many students never learn the joy of reading ~ especially the freedom & availability to read what they love
Many are repulsed by reading/education, and that is passed down to their kids