'No one is reading bedtime stories to their kids anymore and I know exactly why.'

Life is busy and feels like it's only getting busier. When I think back to the days of being on mat leave, I think I could safely say I spent hours a day reading to my babies. Time is a luxury and busyness is its thief.

New research from HarperCollins UK has found the number of parents reading aloud to children is at an all-time low. And I get it.

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My kids are teen and tween-aged now, and they can easily read to themselves (although I wouldn't say it's exactly easy to get them to read). As I co-parent, I still prioritise getting into bed and reading out loud to them.

It's not the magical books they used to be — in fact, our current book is "The History of Basketball Through Shoes" (you need to read the room and cater to your audience). And it's definitely not as often as I'd like.

Take Thursday nights, for example: two different fields with two different AFL training schedules, and by the time everyone is fed and showered it's 8:30pm. As much as I would love to profess I am booming with reading prowess, I am not.

I am knackered. It's lights out, and after getting washing done and everything ready for the day ahead, I am also more likely to pick up my phone and doom scroll than the current book (that is taking me months to finish).

The statistics are sobering.

The research reveals fewer than half of kids up to age four are read to frequently. And less than half of parents of children under 13 said reading aloud to children was "fun for me".

ABC Reading Eggs data also found 30 per cent of NSW parents and 22 per cent of Victorian parents say they're too busy to fit reading into their daily routine with their child, whilst more than half of parents say the greatest challenge when helping their kids learn to read is that they get distracted.

Parent educator, Gen Muir, told Mamamia: "We are absolutely overstretched and overwhelmed as a generation. We are working harder than ever. We're under financial strain. We are parenting harder than any previous generation," she said.

"We are naming feelings and setting boundaries with connection. And then on top of this, we've got to read. And sometimes something has to give".

The reality check.

We asked the Mamamia community if they relate to the stats. Most parents said they still read to their children daily, often as part of a bedtime routine, whilst others read a few times a week and some said they no longer did.

"I don't read to them. They are 13, eleven and nine, and we all have kindles. I spend about 20 minutes in each of their beds every night reading next to them." - *Priya.

"No. I would love to, but my kids become extremely hyperactive whenever I try to read to them. It always ends up in a huge argument and we all get upset. I read to them every night when they were small. But it doesn't happen anymore and it makes me sad." - *Sarah.

"I love it because amongst the busyness of life, as a working single mum, it is a few minutes of snuggles, slow bonding time." - *Fatima.

"I don't read before bed, as my kids would love it too much and want more books and it would hype them up. One has ASD and Dyslexic — I've tried, and it definitely is in the too hard basket." - *Dana.

"I read to them when they were little, but stopped when they were capable of reading by themselves." - *Jessica.

"Yes, but not consistently. Sometimes (often) do audiobooks instead. I don't love it but try to do it." - *Anna.

Finding connection through stories.

Despite the challenges, Muir emphasises the importance of viewing story time as connection rather than obligation.

"I have a ten-year-old, and we've started a little pattern of me reading a new book with him, and I read a chapter every night, because it's this incredible way to connect. It has been the most beautiful journey of sitting with this kid that can actually read and enjoy that book. And it's really brought this nice connection that we maybe wouldn't otherwise have got".

For overwhelmed parents, Muir offers practical advice and, importantly, permission to adapt.

"For parents with younger kids, you're allowed to cut corners. You're allowed to hide the book that's sending you crazy. You're allowed to pick the short books and hide the really long ones that you don't have time for. You're allowed to say, tonight, we're just reading one page and skip some words. You're allowed to read your book to your kids whilst they're in the bath or whilst they're eating dinner. So do two birds with one stone."

Her biggest tip?

"If you have grandparents, neighbours, friends, your brother-in-law coming to visit, offer to the kids: 'Would you like grandma or Uncle Nick to read your story tonight?' And often, everybody will be delighted with that suggestion, and you get a night off".

The bottom line.

"If you're tired, pick a short book or limit it to one chapter — it's not about how much, it's about connection," Muir advises. "Kids LOVE the same book because it's how they learn and feel safe for bed, but if it's driving you bonkers, switch it up and hide the book for a while".

The death of the bedtime story might be overstated. Perhaps what we're witnessing is its evolution — from a rigid nightly ritual to a flexible tool for connection that fits into our increasingly complex lives. And maybe that's exactly what our families need.

I know that I will personally be diving into "The History of Basketball Through Shoes" tonight as a priority, albeit through tired fuzzy eyes, because soon will come the day they don't want me to read to them at all.

Gen Muir is a Parent Educator, mum of four, and host of Mamamia's How To Build a Universe podcast.

You can get Gen Muir's step-by-step training program on how to respond to sibling conflict here. Or find her on Instagram @connectedparentingau

Feature Image: Supplied.