One in Three Children Don’t Own a Book. Really?

I was watching the news this morning with my boys in bed, when a story came on about the fact that only one in three children own a book. Apparently a whopping 4 million children do not own a book. How can that be true? I know quite a few children all owning books. I am a huge reader as you all know and I could not imagine a world without books, it horrifies me. 

My children have hundreds of books, some from my childhood, some as gifts but many we have bought and they have bought with their own money when the save up enough as a reward. We read to my boys every night before bed and they are read to many times a day. 

Books don’t cost much. We have been given books second hand and I have purchased some cheaply through ebay. Plus there are the free books they are given from the Book Start. Not forgetting the library. My boys have been going there since they were babies, to borrow books and for Rhyme Time. How is it possible so many children do not have a book?

I really do not understand why as parents, you wouldn’t make books a big part of your children’s lives. It is a great bonding opportunity and such a wonderful experience as a parent to read to a child. It doesn’t take long and it’s one of my favourite things to do. 

Reading is a wonderful thing to do and I for one will keep encouraging others to keep reading. This news really upset me. 

Do you read to your children regularly?

The report was from the National Literacy Trust and reported by BBC. 

This post is protected under copyright. SusankMann 2009 – 2014