Leisure reading study

A new study finds that 45 percent of 17-year-olds say they read by choice only once or twice a year. In 1984, 8 percent of 13-year-olds and 9 percent of 17-year-olds said they “never” or “hardly ever” read for pleasure. In 2014, that number had almost tripled to 22 percent and 27 percent. Parents are also reading to their kids less than ever. In 1999, children ages 2 to 7 were read to for an average of 45 minutes per day. In 2013, that number had dropped to an average of just over 30 minutes per day. The decline in reading for fun is most easily explained by technological advances (i.e., kids would rather text than read), but education could have something to do with it as well. It’s no surprise that 53% of 9-year-olds read for fun every day, but only 19% of 17-year-olds do. Yes, the teenagers have more Instagrams to post, but they also have more homework to do.
Common Sense Media. (2014).  Children, teens, and reading. San Francisco: Common Sense Media.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/children-teens-and-reading