Grandads reading to grandchildren

Why do you ask, Geoff56? Anyone can read to children, it's not a granny thing at all. I remember my grandpa reading to me and I'm sure my dad read to my children. It really doesn't matter who reads to them as long as they are read to and develop a love of books and stories. However, grandparents are somehow extra special and it really enhances our relationship with the GC if we read to or (later) with them.

Ditto from me!

ABSOLUTELY!

Thank you for the feedback; I know that anyone reading to children is good, my wonder is do enough grandfathers do it?

It's very sad if grandfathers (and fathers) don't read to their GC. It is important for boys to have male role models who read to them. Reading is too often seen as a 'girl thing' which it isn't, though I think Harry Potter books have helped to redress the balance.

Can remember reading an article not that long ago that its important for Dads (and no doubt Grandads) to read to children. Its particularly important for boys to be read to by their Dads also. Its a subject we returned to regularly when I was training in Pre-school education. We had a couple of regular Dad helpers instead of the more usual Mum helpers and they always proved a great hit. Many young boys go through their first few years of education seeing mainly women as educators and carers. Thankfully more men are getting involved. My own Grandson's pre-school is managed by man. He has his own young family and has a wonderful empathy with all his charges.

I can't think of any grandads I know who don't read to their grandchildren. My husband loves to read to our grandson, 5, and we both now listen to him read. However, I can't ever remember my father reading to his grandchildren, although he always read to me when I was small. It was usually Brothers Grimm, and then when I was older, things like King Solomon's Mines and Sanders of the River! I could by that time have read them myself, probably, but he knew which bits to leave out!

My OH reads to our GC more frequently than I do. They frequently choose to have a "Grandad story" as he puts on all sorts of funny voices and actions and really makes it fun

Some of my earliest memories are of my father reading Beatrix Potter books to me. I don't remember my mother ever reading to me, though she must have. The book I remember best is by Eric Linklater, The Wind on the Moon. I bought a copy a few years ago, but didn't give it to my GC because of its references to the children being smacked.

Of course grandads should read to their grandchildren. I spent much of Sunday afternoon with Gruffalow - think that's right - and various Peppa pig and Bob the builder stories for my nearly three-year-old. You can let yourself go adding bits in and doing various scary voices. The hard part is persuading him your tongue is too short to read any more. Enjoy it, it will not last long.

I once fell asleep reading Jack and the Beanstalk. My criterion for a good children's book is one that doesn't make an adult drop off!

My three year old grandson loves to sit with his Poppa and be read to. Always has. Poppa puts on funny voices. He isn't good at the crafts so it's what he does when they want quiet time.

Mr WebCrone does it. Why wouldn't he, or any other Grandad for that matter?

We both read to the grandchildren - and they love it.

Absolutely, my DH agrees that a good book is one that the adults enjoy reading as much as the children enjoy hearing. Funny books are the best.