Patting parents on the back. The U.S. Census Bureau thinks parents are doing a good job. A comparison of data from 1994 and 2004 shows that parents are playing a more active role in their children’s lives and also setting more restrictions on television. Keep reading for some interesting statistics.
In 2004, 53% of children under 6 ate breakfast with their parents every morning. Even better, 78% ate dinner as a family.
The percentage of children, aged 6-11, who participated in lessons (music, dance, language, computers or religion) was up from 24% in 1994 to 33% in 2004.
More parents are setting limits on television viewing for children – 68% of 3 to 5-year olds and 71% of 6 to 11-year olds – increases of more than 10% since 1994.
More good news – parents are spending more time reading to their children. In an average week, children 1 to 2-years old were read to almost 8 times while 3 to 5-year olds were read to nearly 7 times.
Read the Census Bureau’s press release here or check out the data yourself here.
"More good news – parents are spending more time reading to their children. In an average week, children 1 to 2-years old were read to almost 8 times while 3 to 5-year olds were read to nearly 7 times."
Ack -- one book a day? This doesn't seem like very much at all. I'm afraid to find out what the OLD numbers are.
view TammyE's profile
Doppelganger,
Maybe "one time" doesn't equal "one book". I know that I can NEVER get away with reading just ONE book with my kiddo. I think maybe (hopefully) they are referring to a "reading session".
I like the illustration. It took me awhile to figure out what was going on.... then I read the title. duh!
view Melissa Reed's profile
Doppleganger -- The census' (confusingly written) press release doesn't actually say reading to the kid an average of once a day is more time than in 1994. It's one of the few facts they report with no historic comparison... because the numbers are DOWN slightly since the 1994 study [pdf]. I'm not sure the drop would be statistically significant, but it's not an increase.
Oddly, they also omit the good news that Hispanic parents are reading to their children in much greater numbers in 2004 than in 1994.
view wende in the twin cities's profile