Parents 'too tired to read bedtime stories'

A new survey has found that almost two thirds of Irish parents say they are too tired to read to their children before they fall asleep.

Just more than half of those surveyed by Direction Research for Nestle Munch Bunch said there was "too much to do at home" to find time for bedtime stories.

Literacy levels in Irish teenagers have fallen in recent years, dropping from fifth to 17th in a survey of developed countries.

Child psychologist Dr Mark Harrold said: "Bedtime reading should be part of every child’s nighttime routine.

"Aside from the obvious benefits of encouraging reading at an earlier age, it helps children drift off into a restful night’s sleep.

"It provides a very natural bridge from the chaos of the day to the serenity of night. And it affords parents one of the few the opportunities during the day to enjoy such a level of intimacy with the child.

"By reading to their children, parents are feeding their minds and at the same time they are assisting the children to have a more restful night’s sleep. And a good night’s sleep means a happier child the next day. So the importance of bedtime reading cannot be overstated."