Reading for pleasure shouldn’t be left out of the educational journey
Older children reading less than younger children
We all remember the mountains of mandatory reading we did in school, which often put us off reading for fun at home. But it’s been shown that children today read less frequently than any previous generation[1], with our latest Gift of Words[2] research revealing that 19% of teenagers aged 16-18 in the UK read to themselves once a month or less. And 11% of which never read to themselves. These are startling figures, which get worse as children get older. Nearly 9 in 10 (88%) 10-12 year olds read outside school at least once a week, but that drops to three quarters (76%) for 16-18 year olds. Going into further education is a stressful time for teenagers, many of whom have just emerged from two years of disrupted school learning, but we need to find ways to encourage and maintain a love of reading at all ages.
Reading is a way to understand the world and the issues we all face
Perhaps unsurprisingly, a third (35%) of parents said that their 16-18 year olds are put off reading for pleasure because they have to read at school. But, as we know, reading at home, either individually or with parents, plays a critical role in children and teenagers’ development and is central for helping young people understand the world around them. Stories allow children of all ages to learn about society and navigate life’s challenges, as well as build their love of learning, improve their literacy and vocabulary, and develop their communication skills. For teenagers especially, who are increasingly engaged in conversations on issues like climate change and racism, we need to show them that books play a vital role in teaching teenagers about wider society and equipping them with the skills to think critically and tackle adulthood.
Reading is also a way of bonding with loved ones
It’s not just about being curled up with a good book at home. Our research revealed that teenagers love reading whilst staying with family and friends away from home and the pressures of school, showing that even as children grow into teenagers reading is a shared experience and a way of bonding. In fact, almost two thirds (64%) of parents of 16-18 year olds agreed that reading to their teenagers helps them to bond and connect with them, showing that reading together is an important part of family time that prompts conversations.
As our young people face exams, university, and job applications, we must not let them lose sight of the value of stories
One thing we can be grateful for is that our data revealed teenagers are reading more now than before the pandemic, so perhaps slowing down and finding time for other hobbies has had a positive effect on our reading habits. In fact, book sales continued to climb last year despite lockdowns, with more than 212 million print books sold in 2021 in the UK – the highest figure of the last decade[3]. Perhaps it is no surprise that ‘anxiety’ was OUP’s children’s word of the year in 2021[4]. And we need to show children that reading for pleasure is a key way of alleviating stress and looking after their wellbeing as they go on to further education. If we want to tackle some of the mental health issues teenagers have faced since lockdown why don’t we start with helping each other rediscover the joy of reading and the gift of words – and that’s relevant at all ages.
Lou John, Head of Reading for Oxford University Press
Lou John has worked in publishing for over 25 years. After brief experience in academic publishing, she realised that children’s books were her passion and has since gained experience in children’s educational, library, and trade publishing. She moved through many editorial roles at both HarperCollins and Hachette before settling at Oxford University Press in 2015. In her current role as the Head of Reading, she leads a team of creative editors who share a love of reading for pleasure. She’s also very excited to have recently authored a picture book of her own.
[1] Young people today read less frequently than any previous generation (2020)
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