The number of young people who enjoy reading in London decreased by 20% since 2021, data from the National Literacy Trust (NLT) revealed.
Statistics showed just 38.8% of children and young people in London aged eight to 18 enjoy reading, a near-20% decrease from three years ago when the figure was 58.6%.
The study, which took place from 3 January to 14 March this year, saw 76,131 children across the UK participate and declared 2024 stood out for all the wrong reasons when it came to young people’s reading.
Head of local areas at the National Literacy Trust Jason Vit said: “Amongst children in London, we have seen one of the steepest declines in the UK of reading enjoyment in the last 12 months.
“It is concerning that so many children and young people in London do not currently enjoy reading in their free time, as we know that it can benefit their wellbeing, confidence and the development of the literacy skills needed to shape their futures.
“There are many possible factors contributing to this national crisis, and multiple solutions are needed to tackle the issue.”
Vit added every region in the UK has seen a similar trend to London, and that this is a nationwide problem.
National reader enjoyment for children and young people across the UK is lower than in the capital at an average of 34.6%, reported by the NTL to be at its lowest level since 2005.
Chief executive of the NLT Jonathan Douglas CBE said: “The futures of a generation are being put at risk.
“Our dedication to the cause will be unrelenting.”
Children’s writer Jacqueline Wilson recently spoke on Channel Five News about the new statistics.
She said: “It’s so difficult and so upsetting.
“It is easy to blame modern technology and I suppose I do in a way.”
“I think it is very important. I look back and some of my happiest memories are the reading sessions with my daughter.”
"Some of my happiest memories were the reading sessions with my daughter!"
— Channel 5 News (@5_News) November 8, 2024
Author @JackyWilsonHQ tells @DaniTVNews about how we can get kids reading and what to expect from her new book, The Star of the Show. pic.twitter.com/HffmjInukj
Researchers estimate 25% of young people in the UK are addicted to their smartphones and between 2020 and 2022, screen time for children in the UK rose by 52%.
This follows a report this year by the Centre for Young Lives and Child of the North which found children who spent early years in lockdown lack development skills because of screen time and social isolation.
It revealed reception-aged students were often starting school still in buggies and wearing nappies and nearly a third of four-year-olds were not ready for the classroom due to screen time.
Another report found children had been trying to swipe the pages of books as if they were electronic.
Vit said: “We know that there are deeply entrenched links between poverty and low literacy in communities throughout the UK and working together with local people and schools to improve reading enjoyment levels can help to change children’s educational outcomes.
“Over the next three years, we will work with at least 1.5 million children and young people through schools, early years settings, via our community programmes and with prisons and other key partners in London and across the UK, doing our part to ensure more young people read for pleasure and so develop the skills they need to success in life.”
Featured image courtesy of Josh Applegate on Unsplash