Cuddled up in bed, flicking through the pages of whatever story has taken your little one’s fancy may seem like a childhood right of passage but a new survey has revealed that only one third of parents read to their children in 2012.

According to Disney, who conducted the survey in conjunction with the launch of their Winnie the Pooh Storytelling Academy, revealed that parents find that modern technology is distracting them from storytelling and 35 per cent of parents feel that they are too tired to tell tales after a stressful day in the office.

The company surveyed 1,000 parents and grandparents of children under the age of six and found that mothers are twice as likely to read their child an exciting story.

TV Presenter Zoe Ball is having a great time with Winnie

Although storytelling doesn’t usually take Oscar Award worthy acting talent, many parents and grandparents revealed that they wished they were better storytellers. Dads are the people who struggle with storytelling the most with 50 per cent revealing their lack of confidence.

Storytelling talent must get better with age as 81 per cent of those over the age of 55 said that they thought of themselves as good storytellers.

Meanwhile, only 44 per cent of 18 to 24 year olds believe they are good storytellers.

Disney’s Winnie the Pooh Storytelling Academy is a panel of storytelling experts who will help modern parents get back on board with reading.

TV presenter Zoe Ball who is fronting the initative said: “I am a great believer in the magic of bedtime stories and hope that the Winnie the Pooh Storytelling Academy will inspire other parents.

“When I was young my dad would enthusiastically read tales of Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Tigger and friends to me, and put on daft voices to really bring the story to life.

“These are memories which I treasure and now I can share those special bedtime stories with my own children."

Zoe enjoyed the tales of Winnie the Pooh when she was a child

Justine Finch, Winnie the Pooh expert at Disney said: “Disney has a rich heritage in bringing to life the tales of Winnie the Pooh and his friends from the Hundred Acre Wood, and bringing stories to life is something we want to encourage parents to do.

“We set up the Winnie the Pooh Storytelling Academy as a valuable online resource where parents and grandparents who face storytelling challenges such as a lack of confidence or distractions can go to pick up tips and tricks from our panel of experts.”

Her.ie loves storytelling in all capacities and we think it’s a family tradition that should definitely be protected!

We’ll definitely be checking out Winnie’s Academy at www.disney.co.uk/winniethepooh/storytelling