Until about a year ago, I just ASSUMED that every parent did this. I have recently discovered that it is not so, and I don’t get it. My parents read to me, I read to my daughter, etc. It must be another one of those family traditions that some families have and others don’t. You would think that after all the research recently that points to how this affects a child’s love of books/reading/learning that most parent’s would FIND THE TIME to do this. It only takes maybe 15 mins-half an hour a night to do it, and it adds so much! It’s more than worth the investment… – Danielle Closs

The sad thing is that I don’t think my brother in law and sister in law do this with my nephew, and he would love it, I’m sure! – Danielle Closs

Yup. Every night for at least a half hour. She loves it. And my folks read to me too. My Dad read me books in a series like Swallows and Amazons so that I’d be excited about the next chapter and then the next book… – Abby Martin

both :) – silpol

I download podcasts that I play for my daughter every evening. Sometimes I read to her, but she likes it more when I play puppet theatre for her. – Baard Overgaard Hansen

I’m with Danielle – I assumed that everyone does this, though I guess sadly there are plenty of kids who don’t get enough reading. My kids are 5 and 2, and have been read to all the time since they were old enough to focus their eyes on a board book. I read to my 5 year old from my Kindle – we’ve gone through several Beverly Cleary books, and we’re starting on the Chronicles of Narnia, now that they’re available on Kindle. She LOVES it, and it’s really fun, special time we get to share. READ TO YOUR KIDS! – Josh Bancroft

And for background, my mom read to me all the time. I remember "reading" books on my own when I was about 3, and by the time I was 8 or 9, I was reading her hand-me-down Stephen King novels and the like. :-) She turned me into a voracious reader, and that was a HUGE shaping influence in my life. I want to do the same for my kids, more than anything. – Josh Bancroft

Yes to both. Like my parents, I also read to my kids in English and Spanish. My husband reads to the kids everyday too. I don’t stick to kid book though. For example, I’m reading Foundation to my children right now. I also read to them whatever book I’m reading atm. – Anika Malone

Yes, my parents read to me. Then I read books on my own at an early age. – Morton Fox

Yep, my mom read to me constantly, for years after I could read on my own. We both enjoyed it. And I grew up to get graduate degrees in English lit. :) I don’t have kids yet, but I definitely plan to read to them when I do. And @Abby, we LOVED the Swallows and Amazons series. – Jandy Stone

I’m very glad my parents read to me. – l0ckergn0me

Nope. My parents never read to me, but I loved it when my teachers did. I also called the library a lot for dial-a-story. I don’t read much at all these days. I’d have to say the main activities that jump started my reading/writing ability was computer magazines and BBS’s. I was very proactive in those areas. – Rodfather