The enjoyment of reading among children in the UK has seen a worrying decline, prompting a call to action from Frank Cottrell-Boyce, the current Children’s Laureate. During a recent testimony to the Education Committee, Cottrell-Boyce urged policymakers to prioritise the pleasure of reading over mere academic attainment, highlighting a significant drop in the number of children engaging with books for enjoyment.
A Distressing Trend in Reading Habits
Recent statistics from the National Literacy Trust reveal that only one in three children aged eight to 18 now read for pleasure in their free time—a staggering 36% decrease since 2005. This alarming trend has raised concerns among educators and policymakers alike about the factors contributing to this decline.
Cottrell-Boyce attributed this shift to several societal issues, including the pervasive influence of screens, the impact of austerity measures, and the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. He pointed out that many children face “furniture poverty,” a situation where inadequate living conditions hinder their ability to participate in simple family activities like bedtime stories. “No child is going to have a bedtime story if they have not got a bed,” he remarked, underscoring the importance of a stable home environment.
Emphasising Early Years and Parental Support
In his testimony, Cottrell-Boyce made a compelling case for focusing on early years education as a crucial period for fostering a love of reading. He urged the government to provide more resources and support for parents and nursery workers, many of whom may lack confidence in reading aloud due to their own negative experiences with education.
“The drive of government policy for children is always freeing up parents to do more work and putting more childcare in place. If that’s your driver for children, then this is literally the least you can do,” he stated, advocating for a shift in priorities that would allow children to experience the joy of reading in nurturing environments.
Cottrell-Boyce also highlighted the challenges faced by early-years workers, who are often underpaid and relatively inexperienced. “In nurseries there are people working who have only just stopped being children themselves,” he explained, emphasising the need for investment in this sector to cultivate a positive reading culture.
The Joy of Shared Reading
The Children’s Laureate expressed his belief that the key to reversing this trend lies in instilling confidence in parents and promoting the joy of shared reading experiences within communities. He illustrated this point by comparing early reading to baking a cake. “I think the early years are everything. Early years is when the cake is baked. Everything after that is icing or ganache, maybe, and candles and helium balloons. It’s all fun, but the cake is what matters.”
Cottrell-Boyce’s optimism about the future of children’s reading stems from the belief that prioritising enjoyment is essential. He argued that the approach to reading should mirror how we engage with other activities. “No parent says to a child, ‘When you’ve learned the offside rule then I will play football with you’. We always put the pleasure first,” he remarked, advocating for a similar approach to reading.
A Cultural Shift Needed in Education
Rebecca Sinclair, President of the Publishers Association, echoed Cottrell-Boyce’s sentiments, emphasising that reading should not be seen solely as an academic skill. She pointed out that many parents approach reading as a means to improve skills rather than as a shared enjoyment. Sinclair called for a cultural shift in schools to create a more joyful atmosphere around reading, arguing that the current educational framework often lacks the time and space necessary to foster this joy.
In response to these challenges, the UK is currently celebrating a national year of reading, an initiative supported by the National Literacy Trust. This programme aims to combat the decline in reading for pleasure and rekindle a love for books among young readers.
Why it Matters
The decline in children’s reading for enjoyment not only affects their literacy skills but also has broader implications for their emotional and social development. Cultivating a love for reading at an early age can foster creativity, empathy, and critical thinking—essential skills for navigating an increasingly complex world. By prioritising pleasure in reading, we can inspire a generation of children to embrace books, ultimately enriching both their lives and society as a whole.
