Parents should turn on TV subtitles on shows such as Peppa Pig and Paw Patrol ... trends now
Letting your child watch hours of TV might not seem like the best thing for their education.
But scientists say that it could actually improve their reading skills - as long as you turn on the subtitles.
Researchers found that children aged four to seven are twice as likely to become proficient readers if they watch TV with subtitles turned on.
And popular cartoons like Peppa Pig and Bluey even contain a high number of 'high frequency words' that can help your child get ahead with their reading.
Henry Warren, co-founder of the Turn on the Subtitles campagin, said: 'I like to think of it a bit like sneaking vegetables into dinner — the children don't notice, but you know you're doing them the world of good.'
Researchers say that watching cartoons like Peppa Pig might be good for your children, as long as you turn on the subtitles
Peppa Pig is the best show for you kids to watch since it uses the most 'high frequency words' which children can learn to recognise (file photo)
It is estimated that UK children spend an average of 3 hours and 16 minutes watching TV each day.
However, scientists say that this is not wasted time, so long as parents remember to turn on the subtitles.
Mr Warren told The Times: 'Turning on the subtitles can give children an opportunity to increase their vocabulary and help turn them into proficient readers.
'If you turn on the subtitles, then in just a year kids would "read" the same number of words that are in all the Harry Potter, Narnia and Lord of the Rings books as well as everything Roald Dahl wrote.'
The science behind this unexpected benefit relies on the fact that subtitles cannot easily be ignored while they are on the screen.
One landmark study conducted in 1997 by researchers from the University of Leuven found that both children
