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A new survey commissioned by the Publishers Association (PA) has shown that children’s reading for pleasure remains a priority for adults across the country, despite a decline in reading.
Last month, the annual "What Kids Are Reading Report" — which has tracked the reading habits of children over the past 16 years — showed a 4.4% drop in the number of books being read by young people, and showed that this is particularly a problem among secondary school pupils. This year and the first year of the pandemic were the only times that the results have shown a decline since 2008.
The PA’s c.e.o Dan Conway said the body is "ready to work with the new government" to address the barriers that prevent children from reading books for enjoyment, which the research suggests remains a priority for parents and caregivers across the country.
The researchers from the consultancy Savanta interviewed 2,867 adults across the UK from 29th June to 1st July 2024, asking them how they feel about children’s access to books and the significance of this issue. According to the PA, 92% thought that it is important for children to have access to books to read for fun, while 68% said this is "very important" to them.
Most respondents agreed on the importance of reading for enjoyment, and while 91% thought that it is important for children to be able to access books at school in order to do this, fewer (68%) saw this as a highly pressing issue. Similarly, the majority of respondents (90%) said that having the option to take books home from school would help children read for fun in their spare time, and 89% were supportive of the idea of children being read to at school.
Moreover, respondents largely agreed on the importance of books in helping promote creativity and boost mental health in young people, and expressed their support for local and school libraries.
“It has been alarming to see the decline in children’s reading for enjoyment over recent years, as highlighted by a number of organisations," Conway commented. "This new polling shows that people in the UK feel strongly about children’s access to books and the importance of nurturing a love of reading."