Teach-Reading-and-Writing-Issue-22

26 | www.teachwire.net In fact, 33 per cent of adults shared that they’re multitasking while reading – whether commuting, exercising, or doing chores. For younger adults, this figure spikes. Lack of reading role models Statistics show that only 53 per cent of adults read W e already know that reading for enjoyment is just about the most empowering thing a child can do to enhance their chances in life. Benefits include: • significantly larger vocabulary • enhanced comprehension skills • greater empathy and compassion • stronger imagination and creativity • better performance in school assessments across all subject areas, including maths • better cognitive performance and mental wellbeing in adolescence Research has shown that reading for pleasure is more important for children’s cognitive development than their parents’ level of education, and a more powerful factor in life achievement and life satisfaction than socio-economic background. So why are children (and adults) reading less in their free time? Competing with screens The Reading Agency’s State of the Nation in Adult Reading 2025 report found that 46 per cent of adults in the UK struggle to focus on reading due to the distractions around them Reading for pleasure in crisis: CAN WE STOP THE ROT? Despite all the wonderful work being done by teachers, organisations and charities, the number of children reading out of choice is still in decline... positive male role models as studies show that from ages five to 17, boys enjoy reading significantly less than girls do. Cost of living crisis With many local libraries closing and schools suffering drastic reductions in budgets, children’s books are becoming a ‘luxury’ that many families can no longer afford. Lack of representation Due to this financial pressure, many schools hang onto outdated children’s books that don’t reflect our modern society. If children cannot see themselves in books, they quickly conclude that reading isn’t for ‘someone like me’. Lack of time Lack of time is given in surveys as one of the biggest barriers to reading for pleasure. However, all the surveys suggest children would read more if they were given the time to do so. The Children’s Commissioner reported that while conducting The Big Ambition Survey, they found a clear message that ‘children want more access to books, more encouragement and more time to read’. Children also want more agency to be able to choose what they read and not have their choices judged regularly in their free time, which means fewer adult reading role models for children to emulate. Just 40 per cent of parents say reading aloud to their child is ‘fun for me’, with Gen Z parents the most likely to consider reading as ‘more a subject to learn than a fun thing to do’. Boys may be particularly affected by the lack of “36 per cent of parents from families struggling financially say they buy significantly fewer books for their children”