When Fathers Read To Their Children, They Thrive – The Science Behind Story Time and Why It Matters

For Little People casts a spotlight on the powerful, research-backed role of fathers and male figures in building a generation of readers. Often when conversations about children’s literacy take place, that responsibility falls squarely on mothers, teachers and primary caregivers. While their role is invaluable, there’s an important part of the literacy equation that is frequently overlooked – fathers, grandfathers, uncles and male role models.

 “When fathers and father figures read with children, they send a powerful message that books, learning and imagination belong to everyone. Children learn not only from the stories they hear, but from the behaviour they observe. Seeing a father or father figure make time for reading reinforces the value of literacy and connection.”  – Thabisile Sambo, founder and author, For Little People 

The evidence is clear and compelling. A 2023 research report involving Professors Mark Elliot and Colette Fagan from The University of Manchester, and led by Dr Helen Norman from the University of Leeds, found that fathers can give children an educational advantage when they regularly spend time engaging in interactive activities with them – such as reading, playing, telling stories, drawing and singing. The study analysed primary school test scores for five- and seven-year-olds, using a representative sample of nearly 5 000 mother-father households.

The findings suggest that when fathers regularly read, draw and play with their children from age three, those children perform better at school by age five. The study also notes that mothers’ and fathers’ involvement can have different effects. While fathers’ engagement was linked to stronger educational outcomes, mothers’ involvement had a greater impact on young children’s emotional and social behaviours. The researchers recommend that fathers make time for interactive engagement, even if it is only around 10 minutes a day.

Beyond academic outcomes, the benefits extend into the emotional fabric of family life. Another body of research confirms that  a fathers’ active participation in child-related activities, including reading, has significant positive effects on children’s socioemotional development – independent of the mothers’ involvement or a household’s financial resources. Several other studies further suggest that shared book reading is associated with parent-child bonding and secure attachment, strengthening the relationship between a child and the adult reading alongside them.

In many households, reading is still perceived as an activity primarily driven by women, a pattern confirmed by research showing that mothers engage more frequently in home literacy activities than fathers. In South Africa specifically, research indicates that gender-based differences in reading literacy tend to favour girls, with evidence suggesting girls emerge as stronger readers from a very early age. This gap makes the intentional involvement of fathers and male role models both meaningful and necessary.

Evidence from structured father-reading programmes reinforces this opportunity. An evaluation of Fatherhood Institute’s ‘Fathers Reading Every Day (FRED)’ programme found that fathers who completed the four-week reading initiative became more involved in their children’s education overall and reported feeling like more capable, confident parents. The act of reading together, it turns out, is not just good for the child but is transformative for the father too.

For Little People believes that literacy development should be a shared responsibility across families and communities. Encouraging more men to participate in story time can help dismantle stereotypes, improve educational outcomes and foster stronger family relationships. Research supports this view – exposure to gender-atypical role modelling such as a father or grandfather who reads has been shown to broaden the range of activities and pursuits children believe are available to them.

“Sometimes the most powerful thing a child can hear is the voice of someone they admire reading to them. Every page turned together is an investment in a child’s future,” said Sambo.

As part of Father’s Month celebrations, Sambo will be part of the ‘Dads With Strollers’ event in Johannesburg. The event encourages dads, children, and communities to enjoy stories together by highlighting the important role fathers and father figures play in nurturing young readers. The event aims to create a space where dads, grandfathers, uncles and mentors can experience the joy of spending time with children, while contributing to a culture that values literacy as a family activity.

This Father’s Month, For Little People encourages all families to celebrate the men who make time for story time, and to recognise their often-underestimated contribution to building a nation of readers.

About For Little People

For Little People is a South African children’s publishing and literacy advocacy platform dedicated to inspiring a love of reading among young children. Through storytelling, books and community engagement initiatives, the organisation seeks to make literacy accessible, relatable and enjoyable for every child.