Reading to children

This was the question posed by People's Friend this morning:

A new survey has named "Snow White" as the nation's favourite fairytale, and the Evil Queen as the scariest fairytale character. Just as scary, in our opinion, is the finding that two thirds of parents don't read to their children every night! Do you think it's important to read stories to children? And what's your favourite fairytale?

And of course I answered. I mean, I feel really strongly about the reading to children thing.
And I can't believe that so many parents don't read to their children. 

 My answer:

The importance of reading to children can't be emphasised enough for me. It is so much more than reading children stories. The time spent in a comfortable embrace with a parent, the tone of voice, the language repeated and then learned, the issues discussed afterwards. Reading to children is an invaluable part of their development. My own children, adults and parents now themselves still love me reading to them, especially poetry. We have some family favourites, one of which is the May Queen, by Tennyson. Yes, I would say to mums, one of the best things you can do is to read stories to your children. My boys still love all Michael Morpurgo's books, especially Kensuki's Kingdom.

I do have some happy memories of enjoying books together when all my children were growing up. I used to look forward to it immensely. I never just kept it for night time. I could be persuaded to read to them at any time of day. Some days when there was no school and we were into a story we would spend the whole day, with limited refreshment breaks, living in another world together.  

Answering this question has made me realise how much I miss that time. It was such fun and so therapeutic. 

I do have the grandchildren to read to now, but it's not quite the same. 

It is a parent and child bonding thing I think. 

Right, saying goodbye . Going to try and write a poem. Let you know how that goes next time.