Reading to young children ‘helps prevent social problems’
Reading to three to five-year-olds each day may help them avoid social and emotional difficulties in later life, experts have stated.
According to the Institute for Social & Economic Research (ISER), this activity could bring the number of youngsters with socio-emotional problems down by up to one-fifth.
However, a study showed that a family's income remains a key contributor to a child's state of mind, as those from less affluent backgrounds are more likely to have difficulties.
Professor Yvonne Kelly, one of the researchers at the ISER, said poorer parents are often not "in the best position to create the optimal environment in which our children can flourish".
This, she stated, is because they often live in poor quality accommodation and work long and unsociable hours for fairly small wages.
The findings come after schools minister Nick Gibb admitted the fact many boys are failing to meet the required standard in English is a concern.
