Listen
Bedtime stories boost for future
16/03/2009
A new report from Growing up in Scotland (GUS) shows toddlers who are regularly read to and involved in lots of activities from an early age develop quicker.
Children's Minister Adam Ingram said that simple bedtime stories or games in the park make a huge difference to young children's development and parents don't have to spend lots of money on expensive toys and hobbies to give their children the best start in life.
Growing Up in Scotland
Mr Ingram said:
"As parents, we all want the best for our children and there's no greater responsibility than bringing them up. Yet children do not come with an instruction manual and I know how daunting it can be.
"There's often a notion that parents need to spend lots of money on expensive toys and activities to stimulate their children but this report shows that's just not the case. It's the simple things like reading bedtime stories, kicking a ball about in the park or having a sing-along that really make a difference.
"We know the uncertainty that the recession is bringing for families across Scotland but this demonstrates parents needn't spend a fortune on young children - it's time and attention that form the building blocks of development.
"Supporting parents to help children like this from the very start is a key priority for this government. The future success of our country depends on our young people which is why we are driving ahead with an early intervention approach, with a particular focus on the first three years of a child's life."
The GUS report on early cognitive development shows children who were often read to at 10-months old and who did lots of activities like painting and singing at almost two-years-old scored better on language development and problem solving skills by the time they were nearly three.
Mr Ingram added:
"Experiences during the early years of a child's life can have a striking impact on future chances and it can be startling how quickly disadvantaged children fall behind.
"That's why our Early Years Framework forms part of the most comprehensive and co-ordinated attack ever on inequality in Scotland which we have launched to tackle the deep-seated social-ills like health, poverty and disadvantage that hold us back as individuals and as a nation.
"By breaking these cycles of disadvantage we can help our all of our young people play their part in a more successful Scotland."
The GUS report found that children from less advantaged homes were least likely to have been to events or on trips and were more likely to be inactive.
The GUS survey was commissioned in 2003 and the research is being undertaken by the Scottish Centre for Social Research in collaboration with the Centre for Research on Families and Relationships at the University of Edinburgh.
GUS is tracking 5,000 babies (born between June 2004 and May 2005) and 3,000 toddlers (born between June 2002 and May 2003) through childhood and into their teens. A nationally representative ample of families was carefully selected to ensure the survey represents Scotland's urban/rural and economic backgrounds.
Growing up in Scotland