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Children reading daily decreasing

28th February 2020
Posted by Aston Avery

Children’s independent reading is in crisis: less than a third (29%) of under 13s read independently every day, and it’s declining every year. The research, by Nielsen Book, has found that in 2019 only 41% of 5 – 10 year olds read for pleasure every day. This marks a long term decline in childrens’ reading habits: in 2012, more than half of children in the same age group read independently every day.

The most powerful way to encourage a child to choose to read is by reading out loud to them. However, the frequency of how often children are being read to is also reducing. The research has found that less than a third of children (32%) aged 5 – 10 were read to daily in 2019, compared to 37% of the same age group being read to in 2012.

Egmont have created a petition to make daily Storytime a part of the statutory curriculum. As an easy, low cost solution to the crisis, making space for daily storytime with no teaching requirements, would reduce ‘learning’ pressure. This is beneficial for children’s results and their motivation to read independently.

Aston spoke to Alison David, consumer insights director at Egmont and Jenny McLachlan, author to discuss the research in further detail and also about the campaign.