Fathers' Story Week

Fathers’ Story Week is set to return for its third year, taking place on 10–16 June 2013. Run by The Fatherhood Institute, its aim is to encourage dads to get into the habit of reading with their children. Research has shown that children whose fathers read regularly with them, and support their children’s education, perform better at school and have better life chances overall.

The Fatherhood Institute is also launching a new initiative to run alongside Father’s Story Week this year. Fathers Reading Every Day (FRED) is a 4-week reading programme that encourages dads and children to develop good reading habits. The programme aims to get dads reading to their children for 15 minutes a day for 2 weeks, then 30 minutes a day for a following 2 weeks. This project can be found at a number of primary schools, nurseries, children’s centres and libraries across the country, and upon completion, the FRED provider will hold an event to celebrate the achievements of the participating fathers and their children.

Fathers’ Story Week is endorsed by authors such as Julia Donaldson and Michael Rosen, as well as key expert organisations such as Family and Childcare Trust, 4 Children, PTA-UK and the National Literacy Trust.

www.fathersstoryweek.org provides a number of free resources available to download, such as template letters, activity plans and a research summary for professionals. It also offers reading tips for fathers, as well as offering advice on how to encourage children to read.

Adrienne Burgess, Joint Chief Executive of the Fatherhood Institute, says that Fathers’ Story Week is especially important as it provides an opportunity to improve relationships between a child’s school and their father, particularly if the parents have separated. She says, ‘Fathers’ Story Week is a great opportunity to start reaching out and getting more dads through the door’.