> The paper also noted that although reading with children is rare, it has not changed much over time.
This part really got to me, reading to one's children is rare? That's so sad. My toddler loves reading with me.
This part really got to me, reading to one's children is rare? That's so sad. My toddler loves reading with me.
Spending as much time as it takes to read to your children every night is WAY more than these parents are willing to do. Children are lucky if they can eat more than one meal a day, sleep in a clean bed and have clean clothes to wear. Usually there are abused and neglected animals that will foul the household and bite the children. Money is spent on nicotine products, alcohol, fast food, and gambling. Any money spent on children is done so hesitantly.
This is why social services like daycare and public schools are so important. It is often the only chance many children will have to get the care and attention they need to survive until adulthood without huge mental and physical health issues.
But solo reading I think I've only gotten through Exhalation, Silmarillion and Rendezvous with Rama in the last year.
When reading progression is ready for more depth, The Dark Is Rising https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Is_Rising_Sequence or Earthsea https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthsea are both excellent too.
All are series with approachable first books that can be enjoyed on their own (if they don't hit).
We started with Detective Dinosaur and ended with either One Hundred Years of Solitude or Ender's Game. Don't remember which.
So of people with young children, it looks like the rate is about 9.5%.
I've been maintaining my own collection in the hope that I could give my own children (if I have any, which is looking increasingly less likely) the same experience.