Nearly half of parents don’t know how to tell kids where babies come from

Parents in Scotland struggle to answer the questions asked by their kids, new research has found.

Posers such as where do babies come from, what happens when you die and why can only grown ups do that are continuing to stump almost half of the country.

The research, a survey by Read On. Get On. – a coalition of charities, teachers, parents and businesses campaigning to get all children reading well – did however find that one in five Scots parents say they don’t find any questions difficult that their children pose – the highest figure in the UK.

The coalition is urging parents to engage in conversation with their children at an early age and to read to them to build up their knowledge and literacy skills.

In partnership with Ladybird, it is launching a free nationwide giveaway of activity sheets aimed at helping families chat with their children to develop their language skills.

The Ladybird Story Starters feature much loved children’s characters Peppa Pig, Ben and Holly and Topsy and Tim in every day fun situations and are available free from the Read On. Get On. website.

Professor Sue Ellis, Read On. Get On. spokesperson in Scotland said: “A child who asks questions is actively knowledge-gathering and displaying an interest in learning about the world around them. How parents respond is vital.

“We need to show a child that being curious is a good thing, it sets a mind set of curiosity and when we explain our answers, it develops the child's vocabulary and knowledge of the world.”

Speech and language therapist Kate Freeman added: “Studies find that if children don’t have strong language skills at age five they can get left behind when they start school and struggle with learning to read.

“That’s why it’s so important for adults to chat with children to help them develop the essential language skills needed to be ready to read when they enter the classroom.”