I just discovered KidsCount.org (part of the Annie E Casey Foundation) and was intrigued by the data in their 2011 Kids Count Data Book. You can search through a myriad of data by state or nationally and there are quite a few useful graphics and charts. You can also view the whole 88-page report as a PDF. Among the information in this report: children facing foreclosure, children with at least one unemployed parent, and an in-depth look at how poverty affects education and children’s futures. All of these issues can have astounding effects on the psychology and behavior of a child. There are also Family Stories in the later half that are not to be missed.

One set of data available was percentage of children ages 1 – 5 whose family members read to them less than 3 days per week. The first chart shows good progress in that more people are reading to their children more than 3 days per week in 2007 than in 2003 (most recent data).

Children ages 1 to 5 whose family members read to them less than 3 days per week – Data Across States – KIDS COUNT Data Center.

This map shows which states are doing better reading to their children regularly than others (lighter blue states have lowest % of families reading less than 3 days per week to their kids). The phrasing drives me crazy, but I’m sure it’s to accurately describe the data used. In essence, Good job to the light blue states!

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “Every year, 35% of American children start kindergarten without the language skills they need to learn to read. Children who are not able to read at grade level are at risk for school failure when schoolwork becomes increasing dependent on reading ability.” Reading with your children is good bonding time, it encourages language development, critical thinking skills, imagination, and can be an excellent way to open communication about difficult or confusing topics (death, reproduction, cultures you are unfamiliar with, questions you can’t answer, etc.) As most of you know, but I’ll keep repeating it til I’m blue: There is no good reason not to read to/with your children every, single day.