The Children’s Laureate, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, has made a passionate plea to the UK government to shift its focus from academic achievement to fostering a love of reading among children. In his testimony to the education committee, Cottrell-Boyce highlighted a troubling trend: the number of children reading for enjoyment has plummeted in recent years, a decline he attributes to various societal factors. His comments come as part of an inquiry into the reasons behind this worrying trend and what can be done to reverse it.
A Stark Decline in Reading
Recent statistics from the National Literacy Trust reveal a significant drop in the number of children engaging in reading for pleasure. Only one in three children aged eight to 18 now enjoy reading in their free time, marking a staggering 36% decrease since 2005. According to Cottrell-Boyce, the causes of this decline are multifaceted. He pointed to the prevalence of screens, the impact of austerity measures, the aftershocks of the Covid-19 pandemic, and issues related to poverty, including what he termed “furniture poverty,” which can deprive children of basic comforts like a bed to enjoy bedtime stories.
Prioritising Pleasure in Reading
During his testimony, Cottrell-Boyce urged policymakers to reconsider their approach to children’s reading. He remarked that the current educational focus often centres on achievement, neglecting the joy that reading can bring. “We can teach them all the steps,” he stated, “but the important thing is that they dance.” He advocates for a model where pleasure in reading is prioritised, especially in early childhood.
He emphasised the importance of supporting parents and nursery workers, many of whom may lack confidence in reading aloud due to their own negative experiences with education. “This should not be just about freeing up parents to work more,” he warned. “If that’s your driver for children, then this is literally the least you can do.”
The Role of Early Years Education
Cottrell-Boyce, who is approaching the end of his two-year tenure as Children’s Laureate, also highlighted the need for improved conditions for early years workers, who are often underpaid and inexperienced. “In nurseries, there are people working who have only just stopped being children themselves,” he noted. The pandemic has compounded these issues, leaving many early years educators with a diminished educational experience to draw upon.
He believes that enhancing parental confidence and encouraging shared reading experiences within families and communities could help reignite children’s enthusiasm for books. “The early years are everything,” he remarked, likening early childhood education to the foundational layers of a cake, with everything that follows being mere embellishments.
A Collaborative Effort
The testimony from Cottrell-Boyce was complemented by insights from Rebecca Sinclair, the President of the Publishers Association. She echoed his sentiments, calling for a cultural shift that makes reading feel less burdensome and more enjoyable. Sinclair pointed out that reading is often framed as a skill to be mastered rather than a pleasurable activity. She noted that the school day frequently lacks the time and space necessary to cultivate joy around reading.
In response to the declining rates of reading for pleasure, the UK is currently observing a national year of reading, an initiative led by the government in partnership with the National Literacy Trust, aimed at reversing this trend.
Why it Matters
The decline in children’s reading habits is not merely a statistic; it poses a significant threat to literacy and lifelong learning. Promoting a love of reading during the formative years can have lasting effects on a child’s educational journey and overall development. By prioritising pleasure in reading, we can foster a generation that is both literate and passionate about stories, empowering them to engage with the world around them. The call to action from Cottrell-Boyce is a reminder that the joy of reading should be at the heart of children’s education, shaping their futures in profound ways.
