- New research reveals 31 per cent of four to 18-year-olds never pick up a book
- Boys are far less likely to read than girls, preferring to play football and games
- By contrast, girls of all ages named reading as their favourite hobby
A third of children never read outside school, a study found.
Research published on World Book Day revealed that 31 per cent of four to 18-year-olds never pick up a book and 80 per cent spend ‘little or nothing’ on them.
Boys are far less likely to read than girls, coming far down the list of their favourite hobbies, behind football and gaming.
By contrast, girls of all ages named reading as their favourite hobby. Just over one in ten – 11 per cent – named reading, beating drawing, dancing and listening to music.
Research published on World Book Day revealed that 31 per cent of four to 18-year-olds never pick up a book and 80 per cent spend ‘little or nothing’ on them
It found that of the 7 per cent who cited reading as their favourite hobby, almost half did not attend any activity clubs, compared to 37 per cent of all children, and just nine per cent are members of a sports club
The Kids Insights report, which surveyed the views of 20,000 children suggests young people struggle to combine an active lifestyle with a love of reading.
It found that of the 7 per cent who cited reading as their favourite hobby, almost half did not attend any activity clubs, compared to 37 per cent of all children, and just nine per cent are members of a sports club.
Jonathan Watson, of Kids Insights, said: ‘Reading is such an important part of children’s lives and there’s a significant number who aren’t getting the … benefits it brings.’