To commemorate this year’s Be Book Smart campaign, RIF and Macy’s commissioned a survey of parents of young children on topics ranging from summer learning to book access. Key findings from the survey include:

• Three in five parents don’t believe their own children lose reading skills over the summer – however during the summer months, we know that all children are at risk of losing reading ability gained during the school year.
• The majority of parents agree all kids should have access to books – yet 2 out of 3 children living in poverty have no books to call their own.
• Roughly two-thirds of parents with young children (65%) say reading books during the summer is “extremely important.”
• During the school year, on average, parents of young children say their child spends about 5.7 hours a week reading books, on par with time spent using a smartphone or tablet (5.1 hours) or playing video games (4.6 hours).
• More than half of parents with young children (57%) say they will not leave home without a book for their children this summer.

The results of the survey, conducted by Harris Poll in May among 525 U.S. parents ages 22+ of 5-11 year-olds in school, are made public as Macy’s and RIF celebrate the 12th annual Be Book Smart campaign to support children’s literacy.

From now through July 12, Macy’s invites customers nationwide to give $3 at any register in-store to help provide a book for a child in need. As a thank you, Macy’s customers get $10 off a purchase of $30 or more PLUS 20% or 15% off storewide. Macy’s will donate 100% of every $3 to RIF. Since 2004, Macy’s has helped raise more than $32 million for RIF.

Let’s make sure all children have access to as many books as possible to inspire reading this summer!

 

posted by Tracey Beeker

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Tags: Be Book Smart, Book Access, Macy's, Summer Parent Survey, Summer Reading