Often, when teachers and other people involved with education talk about "parental involvement", it is assumed that they mean mothers.

But research* shows that children’s literacy levels improve substantially when their Dads gets involved with reading. Dads and other male carers are just as important as Mums in encouraging children to enjoy reading - perhaps even more so, since reading is often thought of by boys as a "girly" thing to do. Dads can be role models and seeing them enjoying reading will help boys to realise that they too - they might just need help in finding the right thing to read. 

Children who have favourite books when they are young tend to do better in school. Regular reading for pleasure and enjoyment of a wide range of materials can be the foundation for educational achievement and a lifelong reading habit. 

What dad can do

Schools will have their own approaches to teaching children to read - your most important role should be in teaching them that reading is fun and will support their other interests, and is not just a "skill" that must be learned in order to do well at school or get a good job. 

Read love2read’s top 10 practical tips  for ideas of things you can do with young children to encourage them to enjoy reading. You don't have to only think of reading in terms of "proper" children's story books. Many boys (and their dads) prefer to read non-fiction, including books, magazines and websites. Match day programmes, sports reports, 'how to' manuals and comic books are often great places to start. Your children can benefit just as much if you talk to them about this type of reading and what they enjoy. Start with interests you share with your child, and use these as the basis of your shared reading. Dads are sometimes good at bringing stories alive either by using different voices or humour. 

One great way to encouarge Dad to read the bedtime story is to make him the star of the book! Have a look at our great range of books about Dad.

• talking to them about the world around them
• encouraging them to chat and to listen to other points of view
• setting aside a specific time each day for shared reading (e.g. bedtime)
• singing songs they are familiar with
• taking them to the library
• reading with them and talking about the story and pictures
• discussing how their heroes might use reading
• showing them how reading can help them find out about their hobbies and interests
• playing word games
• involving them with your reading interests