What are the benefits of reading?

Reading for pleasure can help grow empathy

Enjoying books and discovering new perspectives within the pages of a story can be a great way to introduce children to a range of experiences and viewpoints. The more a child reads, the more likely they are to be exposed to new narratives which can help them develop empathy.

A love of reading can build a child’s confidence

In fact, our recent reading for pleasure research showed that 26.0% of children and young people who read in their free time at least once a month said it helps them to be confident.

Reading for enjoyment can spark imagination...

...and provide escape as well as inspire creativity. Even fantasy can still speak truth to a child about their place in this world.

Reading can expand horizons

A book can provide children with a way to discover new worlds, meet new people and learn about the past. Whether that’s through non-fiction books and autobiographies, or books and magazines exploring historical events or figures.

Reading for pleasure can support your child’s learning

Our recent research also revealed that twice as many children and young people who enjoy reading in their free time have above average reading skills than children who don’t enjoy it (34.2% vs 15.7%) - reading skills which will support them in their school journeys and beyond.

How much should my child read a day?

It can feel daunting to factor in more time for activities such as reading with your child each day or encourage your child to find time to read on their own in their free time. We know that life is busy for many reasons, with competing priorities on your time. As children get older, they are also more likely to have higher demands on their own time from homework and sports to other activities including simply spending time with friends. We want to encourage you that it is not about the specific length of time a child reads that is significant, although we love the idea of even finding time to take 10 minutes a day to read. Finding ways to make reading fun, fit it into your day-to-day routine and not becoming stressed or overly caught up with the length of time your child spends reading will help build a manageable habit and grow a love of reading, rather than it feeling like a chore.

Encourage reading in all its forms

Comic books, cereal packets, magazines or even audiobooks and podcasts can be brilliant ways to encourage even the more reluctant readers to get into a habit of reading and enjoy what they are discovering. Audiobooks and podcasts can be a great way to immerse children in the joy of books while they are on the go, which alleviates the pressure to carve out more time.