Gen Z Parents Don't Want to Read to Their Kids, New Study Shows
New research by HarperCollins Publishers in the U.K. reveals that parents, specifically Gen Z parents, no longer enjoy reading aloud to their children. In fact, many reported that they don't even find reading to kids fun, instead they see reading as a "subject to learn."
In the study, researchers found that fewer than half (or 41%) of 0–4-year-olds are frequently read to. These findings represent a steep decline from 64% in 2012. They also discovered that boys and girls have different experiences when it comes to reading—only 29% of 0–2-year-old boys are read to every day or nearly every day compared to 44% of girls in the same age group.
'This study highlights the downfall of literacy in young children, which is such an important part of language development,' says Jocelyn M Wood, SLP, PLLC, a child development expert and bilingual speech language pathologist.
'Although we are just starting to see that less parents are taking the time to read with their children, the downwind effects will be tenfold,' says Wood. '[We will] begin to see children who lack language skills, critical thinking skills, and early literacy skills that come from book reading—not to mention the loss of bonding time with caregivers.'
Despite the fact that reading aloud to babies and kids is a proven way to build a love of reading, improve vocabulary, enhance cognitive development, and more, researchers in the 2024 Understanding the Children's Book Consumer survey discovered that the amount of parents reading aloud to children is at an all-time low.
Part of this could be attributed to unfavorable views on reading since many of the parents surveyed do not consider it an enjoyable pastime. In fact, researchers found that only 40% considered reading fun. And, about one in three Gen Z parents view reading as a subject to learn compared to one in five Gen X parents. That said, 34% of parents of kids 0-13 years old wish they had more time to read to their kids.
'The act of reading to children typically falls at the end of a very long, busy day in the life of a parent, where, honestly, more than anything, you just want to get your kid to bed so that you yourself can also take a breath,' says Jessica Sliwerksi, MS, co-founder and CEO of Ignite Reading, a reading intervention company.
This is unfortunate given that reading with your child can actually be an extremely relaxing and pleasurable experience, says Sliwerski. Plus, it helps build a love of reading in them as well.
According to Allison David, consumer insight director at Farshore and HarperCollins Children's Books, kids who are read to every day are three times more likely to choose to read on their own compared to kids who are only read to on a weekly basis.
Literacy experts indicate there are a number of factors at play when it comes to the lack of desire and the loss of interest in reading to kids. From busy schedules to an overabundance of homework to get through first, it seems like reading for enjoyment is getting squeezed out.
'[Parents also] may not understand the potential value of reading to their children; or how fun and engaging it can be,' says Stephanie Al Otaiba, PhD, a professor and the Patsy and Ray Caldwell Centennial Chair in Teaching and Learning at SMU.
For this reason, some experts, like Matthew Danbrook, MA, a clinician with expertise in school and child psychology, believe that while reading to kids is undoubtedly important, society needs to put less pressure on parents.
Instead, Danbrook feels the focus should be on helping parents learn how to instill a love of reading, especially since so many kids struggle with reading comprehension. The truth is, it can be mentally taxing for parents to try to teach a struggling reader to find reading fun.
'[The HarperCollins study found] that parents are seeing reading as more of a schoolwork thing to do rather than it being a fun or enjoyable thing,' he says. 'This perception also could be influenced by the challenges that children face in learning to read. Approximately 5% to 10% of elementary-aged children are estimated to have a specific learning disability in reading, with many more being at risk.'
While it may be obvious that reading to kids is important, some parents may not realize just how important that simple task is. One study found that young kids whose parents read to them will hear nearly 1.5 million more words by the time they turn 5 years old than kids who were not read to at all. Some literacy experts refer to this as the 'million word gap.'
Reading aloud to your child also helps develop language and literacy skills, says Al Otaiba. 'It can foster communication, connection, and curiosity. It can build background knowledge. It can foster motivation to read, attention, and self-regulation. Reading can also help children learn about how letters and sounds relate to each other.'
Kids are introduced to a range of concepts and ideas they may not experience in daily life when they are regularly read to, adds Wood. 'For example, we live in Brooklyn, so reading books about characters in other countries or in a more rural setting helps my son to empathize with other ways of life.'
Moreover, reading together is a time to engage in joint attention, for kids to observe lip movements for new words, and develop socio-emotional learning such as empathy and co-regulation, she adds.
'When parents don't read to young children, those children do not develop language skills in the same way because they are hearing less language overall,' says Wood. 'Numerous studies have pointed to the difference in the number of words heard by children who are read to and not read to, and it would be impossible to make up that number in conversational speech alone. These children are also more likely to experience a learning disability later on, due to lack of exposure to language and print.'
According to Wood, the best way to incorporate reading into your day is to make it part of your routine. She suggests reframing reading aloud to your kids—it doesn't have to take up a large chunk of time. Read when it's convenient for you and for as long as you are able to. Just spending 10 to 15 minutes reading a book together makes a huge difference, she says.
Also, make sure you pick books that are fun to read, says Sliwerski. 'I think, oftentimes as parents, when we think about reading aloud, we think that we have to be reading really educational things, and those things, more often than not, can be less fun and exciting to read than maybe just a short, silly story.'
Look for books that are exciting or will make you laugh, she says. 'In that moment, you are building this love of reading and this joy around reading together not just for your child but also for yourself.'
Try not to overthink your book selections and focus on books that you both enjoy, she says. And, pick a time of day to read when it is convenient for both of you. 'Rather than doing it at the end of the day when you are just burnt out, what if it was books and breakfast?'Try reading during breakfast while you're both fresh and awake. While your child is eating, Sliwerski says pick a five-minute read, or even just a few pages of a book, and read together. It not only creates a new tradition, but it also relieves the pressure you may feel at the end of a long day.Sliwerski also recommends taking your child to the library or the bookstore and letting them select whatever book they want to read without judging them or telling them no. These books, she says, are gateway books that help them see reading as an enjoyable activity and can eventually lead them to fall in love with reading.
'The biggest piece of advice I can give as a parent and an educator is letting them read the silly, ridiculous books that they want to read like Dog Man and Captain Underpants, and all of the books with bathroom humor, that as a parent you might find absolutely mortifying,' says Sliwerski. 'Letting them load up on the comics and graphic novels and just anything they are excited to read is the way that you're going to unlock that love of reading.'
Other tips for building a love for reading include:
Find Relevant Books: Incorporate books that speak to your child's interests and reflect their community.
Keep Reading Engaging: Select books with engaging elements such as pictures or textured pages and make sure to discuss them while reading.
Integrate Multi-Media: Keep your child invested in the story by expanding their knowledge on the topic with multiple types of media. For example, if you just finished reading a book about the zoo, show them a movie about a trip to the zoo.
Let Them Take Charge: Allow your kid to browse or look at books on their own.
Use Different Languages: If your family is multi-lingual, try reading to your kids in a language other than the one you primarily speak.
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