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Kate Boyle on technology and children

19th November 2019
Posted by Aston Avery

Less children are reading and writing compared with last year. Research revealed that in 2019 only 52% of children aged 8 -18-years old read for pleasure outside the classroom, a 6% decrease since 2016. As well as this further 57% of children surveyed are also choosing not to write outside of class time and a shocking 30.0% say that they will only read if they must.

An increase in technology and social media are said to be the root cause of this increasing disinterest. Previous studies unveiled that majority of boys (76%) and over half of girls (58%) in every age group preferred to use technology over reading a book.

Less children are reading and writing compared with last year. Research revealed that in 2019 only 52% of children aged 8 -18-years old read for pleasure outside the classroom, a 6% decrease since 2016. As well as this further 57% of children surveyed are also choosing not to write outside of class time and a shocking 30.0% say that they will only read if they must.

An increase in technology and social media are said to be the root cause of this increasing disinterest. Previous studies unveiled that majority of boys (76%) and over half of girls (58%) in every age group preferred to use technology over reading a book.

This trend is having an adverse effect on the age-old tradition of taking pen to paper. There has even been reports in recent years of letters to Santa increasing being sent by email and last year children were allegedly having trouble gripping pencils during their first year at school due to excessive use of technology.

As well as influencing our children’s reading and writing, technology exposure and the introduction of social media is also affecting how we interact with our children, with some studies showing parents could be spending only 44 minutes a day talking to their children.

Aston spoke to Kate Boyle, writer, storyteller and creator of Banjo Robinson to discuss the research: