A parenting community has teamed up with Children’s Books Ireland to launch a new initiative to help families read together, while staying apart.

#Shareastory is being used to help family members, especially grandparents, who are finding it tough staying away from loved ones.

A video from parenting community Family Friendly HQ has been launched to help explain how it works.

CEO of Children's Books Ireland, Elaina Ryan explains how grandparents can still read a bedtime story to their grandchildren by following a few simple tips.

The partnership also includes a new reading hub on Family Friendly HQ.

This has recommended reads and themed reading lists from Children's Books Ireland - alongside reviews.

Speaking about the partnership, Ms Ryan explained: "While we are all staying at home, we’re aware that children’s routines now look very different and they may be missing their friends, families and especially their grandparents.

"We in Children’s Books Ireland believe that reading can be a real comfort during tough times like this.

"We also know that reading is linked with a myriad of positive outcomes for children, including improved mental well-being which is vitally important at this time.

"While we must stay apart, we would encourage families to share a story together."

Richie Kelly, CEO of Packed.House, added: "We are passionate about creating content that helps readers navigate through parenthood and providing meaningful solutions and guides to achieving quality family time.

"By partnering with Children’s Books Ireland, we can now showcase reading together as a solution to this problem.

"We are delighted to partner with them to launch #shareastory and will continue to work with them throughout the year to encourage and promote children reading in Irish homes."

In a survey of over 300 respondents by Family Friendly HQ in February, it was discovered that while 100% of parents believed reading to children outside of school was important, 92% said they would like to read more to them.

Just over half of respondents said a lack of time was one of the main barriers that stopped them and nearly all respondents (90%) said that their favourite reading format was a print book.

Family Friendly HQ is owned and operated by Irish media publishing and production company Packed.House.