Harper Collins Publishers 04.30.25 “New research reveals that parents are losing the love of reading aloud”
New research reveals that parents are losing the love of reading aloud, with fewer than half saying reading to children is “fun for me” and Gen Z parents thinking of reading as a “more a subject to learn than a fun thing to do”
- Fewer than half of parents of children up to 13 years old say reading aloud to children is “fun for me”. Gen Z parents, who grew up with technology themselves, are significantly more likely than Millennials or Gen X to view reading as “more a subject to learn” rather than a fun or enriching activity.
- Almost one in three (29%) children aged 5–13 think reading is “more a subject to learn than a fun thing to do”, up from 25% in 2022. This growing association of reading with pressure rather than pleasure is contributing to disengagement.
- More than one in five boys (22%) aged 0-2 are rarely or never read to. Only 29% of boys in this age group are read to daily, compared to 44% of girls, underscoring early disparities in exposure to books.
- The crisis in boys reading for pleasure continues from infancy to adolescence, as only 12% of 12–13-year-old boys read for fun. A compelling new study shows social book groups can give boys space to express emotions.
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