Children are not enjoying reading or reading as much in their free time as they used to, according the National Literacy Trust’s (NLT) annual survey.
More than 76,000 children and young people, aged 5 to 18-years-old, from 405 schools across the UK completed the survey. Worryingly, those surveyed reported the lowest levels of enjoyment of reading and reading daily since 2005. Only 34.6% of respondents aged 8 to 18-years-old reported reading in their free time; with boys and secondary school aged young people reporting the highest levels of decline.
This is a concern as there are a lot of benefits of reading. Books are mirrors of ourselves, windows to other worlds and sliding doors to enable us to be part of those worlds. Reading can help with assessments and exams, but more importantly it informs our worldview. It can help children and young people relax, learn about new things, consider something from a different perspective and allow their imagination to run wild.
