READING for just ten minutes a day can massively improve children’s literacy —
and The Sun is campaigning to help achieve it.
A Save the Children-led report reveals that Britain faces a future in which
one in six adults cannot read at standards set for 11-year-olds.
It costs the economy up to £18billion a year. By 2025 that could rise to
£43billion.
We’re asking parents and carers to encourage their child to read for ten
minutes a day — books, websites, almost anything.
To help, we are giving away ebooks every week and on Saturdays we are
publishing stories from top authors and celebrities for your child to read.
Britain’s Got Talent and Little Britain star David Walliams, a supporter of
Save the Children, is one of the writers joining forces with The Sun.
He said: “This country is falling behind in literacy levels so it’s so
important for children to get help. Reading shouldn’t be a chore. It’s a
lovely connection you can have with your children, both painting the picture
in your heads.”
Our campaign comes as the Save the Children-backed Read On. Get On. coalition
launches a mission to make sure 1.5million kids are not left behind. They
want every child born this year reading well by the time they are 11 in
2025.
Save The Children boss Justin Forsyth said: “We want every child to be given a
chance to learn to read well. We applaud The Sun for getting behind this
campaign and look forward to working with its readers to restore literacy to
its rightful levels in the UK.”
What you need to do
HERE’S how to encourage your kids to read for ten minutes a day. Read to them,
read with them or let them read on their own.
— A LITTLE reading every day is better than less frequent, longer reading.
Kids who read for a few minutes daily improve more.
— BOOKS and stories are important, but reading anything counts.
— LET your child choose their own reading — it is more likely they will
enjoy it.
— TRY to integrate reading into everyday life, on the bus or watching TV.
There are many organisations you can go to that have schemes to help children
read.
Start with
and
HELP A CHILD TO READ
YOU can help a child learn to read through Save the Children. The charity has
schemes all over Britain to help kids with their literacy. If you would like
to donate, just text to the number below.
Text READ to 70008 to give £5
and help a child to read
TERMS & CONDITIONS: You will be billed £5 and your standard text message
rate. We receive 100% of your donation. Money raised will help Save the
Children’s UK work. By sending this text you agree that we may contact you
to tell you about our work and how you can help. We will always give you the
chance to opt out of further communications. If you would rather not receive
such information, please email us at [email protected]
or phone 020 7012 6400 or include NO INFO in your text message. Registered
charity England and Wales (213890) Scotland (SC039570).