The U.S. Department of Education has found that children's reading success depends upon how much time they spend reading each day. That's where your role as a parent is so important: More than half of all 5th graders say they spend only four minutes a day reading at home. Those same kids, however, spend more than two hours watching TV.

Research shows that kids who spend as little as 30 minutes a day reading books, magazines, and newspapers are more likely to become good readers. They're more likely to read faster, score higher, and do better in high school and college.

How does your family rate? Try keeping a chart of your and your children's reading and TV time for one week. Afterward, talk about what you've learned. Are you watching more television than you should? Are your kids reading less than they should?

You might try a regular family reading time every day. And remember, children love to have you read to them. Let your children read to you, too. The important thing is to spend time reading.

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