Bedtime stories ''may not have educational benefits''
08/12/2010
Parents who read to their offspring in their children's beds may not be having the positive impact on their future that they think, researchers from the University of London have found.
Scientists at the Institute of Education discovered that social class is the main factor influencing a child's development once they attend school.
Alice Sullivan, who lead the study, commented: "While parenting is important, a policy focus on parenting alone is insufficient to tackle the impacts of social inequalities on children."
She highlighted that the government should focus on welfare reforms in order to improve educational standards among youngsters from deprived backgrounds.
This would be the most effective means of addressing the under-performance of younger pupils, Dr Sullivan added.
A recent survey from the RNIB found that Stephen Fry is the celebrity most people would like to read them a bedtime story, followed by Joanna Lumley in second place.
Posted by Elizabeth Mewes
