Vanessa and I have mind mapped a few ideas that we have thought of and could perhaps develop further.
It seemed like a logical first step to first figure out the main reasons why parents aren't reading to their children. The main four reasons we discovered are below:
1. Time Restraints
Parents are busy and don't feel like they have the time to read to their children. In todays technological advanced world it is easy to put your child in-front of the T.V and let them learn that way. However they do not get the one on one bond that helps them develop.
We could combat time restraints by saying 10 minutes isn't that long, and perhaps listing everyday things that only take 10 minutes. It is also important to highlight how much reading every night to your child will benefit them later in life.
2. Not Important
Parents perhaps don't realise all the benefits that come with reading to their child or even the disadvantages when story time is absent.
We could show its importance by hitting them with some cold hard facts!
3. Too Tired
Although after a long day of working and cooking dinner/ looking after children is hard and tiring reading to your children can benefit you as well. Reading before bed acts as a wind down time for the child by taking them away from the T.V and technology. Studies show that children who are read to/read before bed go to bed easier.
4. Lack of Experience
Some parents dislike reading out loud and are afraid it will be boring for their child. They lack the experience and knowledge on how to make it interesting. They may also be self conscious.
We can create a guide with tips on how to make reading more interesting for the child.
Ideas so far
Unreadable message - A range of posters that are really hard to understand and read. This would show it from the child's point of view and could be paired with a caption such as "this is how your child feels, help them understand by reading to them" but obviously something a lot more catchy, shorter and hard hitting.
Stories from people who wished their parents read to them - Just to show how much it has affected them later in life. It could include what they think they would be better at and also go into how they struggle now. Hearing it from an adult and then relating it to their child might motivate them more into reading.
Character - We could create a character who would be featured throughout and give tips and advice.
10 minutes isn't that long - Try to highlight how much it benefits the child even if its only 10 minutes. We can relate it to other things that take 10 minutes e.g. boiling rice, it might help to put it into perspective.
Pack - A pack that could be given to the child to keep them motivated and interested. Its all well and good motivating the parents but if the children aren't interested then it is a painful struggle to get them to read; a struggle which a lot of parents give up on, understandably.
The pack could include a chart and stickers to mark how much they have read so they feel like they are achieving something. A reward at the end could motivate the child more. The pack could also include a 'for the parents' book with tips on how to read in an interesting way, how to tell if the book is appropriate for their age as well as facts and other tips.
So far I like the idea of the pack as it would encompass a lot of the other ideas in it. However the pack is aimed at the child where as this brief is to encourage fathers to read to their children. To aim it at fathers we need to target places that the dad would see it perhaps beer matts at a pub.
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