New research shows 7 in 10 say screentime blocking children's reading 3 in 10 say parents don’t have enough time to read to children

Tuesday Sept 22: Ahead of the announcement of the Booker Prize shortlist (Tues 22 Sept 1900), new polling suggests that only one in five adults read every day, one in ten (9%) adults never read for pleasure, and almost one in five (18%) read less than a few times a month.

The polling carried out by More in Common also reveals generational differences. Baby Boomers are the most prolific readers, with almost three-quarters (73%) saying they read for pleasure at least weekly. By contrast, Gen X are the most likely to say they read for pleasure less than monthly or never, at 34%, closely followed by Gen Z at 31%.

Women are also more likely than men to be regular readers, with 65% reading for pleasure at least weekly compared with 57% of men. Some 12% of men never read for pleasure, compared with 8% of women.

Seven in ten people say children’s preference for screens and devices is the biggest barrier to getting young children reading more, while almost three in ten say parents don’t have enough time to read with them, according to new polling from More in Common.

When asked what would best encourage young children to read more, two in five (41%) say limiting screen time and device use. Around a quarter say parents or carers reading aloud regularly (26%) or setting aside regular dedicated reading time for children (25%) would help.

The findings are published as the latest results from the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) show that performance in school tests is collapsing internationally. The striking results show reading recording the steepest drop, with scores falling by 28 points across OECD countries and by 16 points among other countries and economies between 2015 and 2025.

Recent research by the leading early years charity Kindred Squared found that almost a third of children who started reception last year were not able to use books correctly, sometimes even trying to swipe or tap them like a smartphone.

Luke Tryl, Executive Director, More in Common UK, said: “Children’s reading is being hit by a double whammy. Firstly because screens and devices are incredibly powerful competition for their attention, and secondly many parents say they simply don’t have enough time to sit down and read with them.

“In fact, adults could also be setting a much better example; with the polling revealing that one in ten (9%) adults say they never read for pleasure, almost one in five (18%) read less than a few times a month and only one in five reads every day. If we want children to grow up seeing reading as something enjoyable and worthwhile, there’s a challenge here for grown-ups too.

“We could be doing more to encourage reading; two in five think limiting screen time would encourage children to read more, while around a quarter (26%) point to parents reading aloud, with a further 25% suggesting setting aside dedicated time for reading. So the public is very clear about what they think would help: less time on devices and more time with books.”

Geographical differences

Reading habits also vary considerably around the country. People in the South East are the most likely to say they read for pleasure every day, at 25%, followed by the South West and Wales at 23%, and Scotland and the North East at 22%.

At the other end of the table, just 14% of people in the West Midlands say they read for pleasure every day, followed by 16% in the East Midlands and 19% in Yorkshire and the Humber.

The differences are particularly stark among those who say they never read for pleasure.

In the North East, 17% say they never read for pleasure, more than three times the proportion in the South East and East Midlands, where the figure is 5%.

The West Midlands has the second-highest proportion saying they never read for pleasure, at 15%, followed by Yorkshire and the Humber at 13% and Wales at 12%.

At the opposite end of the scale, just 5% of people in both the South East and East Midlands say they never read for pleasure, followed by 7% in London and 8% in Scotland.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Bookshop: [https://tinyurl.com/yaf4ywc2]

Oundle Bookshop available for filming and interviews; Website: By The Oundle Bookshop - Home of The Bookman [https://tinyurl.com/3ykr664w]

Data Tables available on request.

PISA results: PISA 2025 Results (Volume I) | OECD [https://tinyurl.com/9u7ptwen]

Kindred Squared - School Readiness Survey: School Readiness Survey 2025 [https://tinyurl.com/2jxfwwxf]

Media contacts:

Angus Walker - angus.walker@denford-associates.com

Elizabeth Amourdedieu - elizabeth.amourdedieu@denford-associates.com

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