Primary pupils spend more of their spare time on their own or with friends than with their parents, a survey of more than 1,800 parents has revealed. The survey was commissioned by Booktime, a scheme set up to encourage parents to read aloud to their children. It found that children spent more time reading than playing computer games but twice as much time watching television. The Government is funding the Booktime scheme to send free copies of Funnybones by Janet and Allan Ahlberg to all reception children this term.