Why Children's Reading for Pleasure Matters Now More Than Ever

There's a quiet crisis unfolding in homes and classrooms across the country. Children are reading less for pleasure than ever before, and the implications reach far beyond just literacy scores.

Recent findings from the National Literacy Trust paint a sobering picture: only one in three children aged eight to eighteen now read in their spare time. That's a dramatic 36% decrease since 2005. Even more concerning, primary school children have shown a particularly sharp decline over just the past year.

Understanding the Shift

As we approach the National Year of Reading, the Education Committee has launched an inquiry to get to the heart of why children are turning away from books. They're exploring crucial questions that affect every family: What role does increased screen time play? How do schools and libraries fit into the solution? And perhaps most importantly, how can we reignite the joy of reading for a generation growing up in a fundamentally different media landscape?

The committee will examine everything from the impact of technology (including e-readers and audiobooks) to the connection between reading habits and children's mental health and wellbeing. They're also looking at how promoting reading could particularly benefit disadvantaged children and those with special educational needs.

The Stakes Are High

Education Committee chair Helen Hayes captures what's at risk beautifully: reading for pleasure has always offered "both stimulation and sanctuary" while teaching "wisdom and wit." It's been a fundamental building block for learning and understanding the world. But we're witnessing what may be a generational shift away from this timeless practice.

Where Little Book Factory Fits In

This is exactly why what we do at Little Book Factory matters so much. When children see their own stories transformed into beautiful hardback books, something magical happens. They don't just become readers—they become authors. They see themselves as creators of the very thing we're trying to encourage them to consume.

There's profound power in holding a physical book that contains your own imagination, printed on real pages you can turn, with a cover you can display proudly on your shelf. In a world of endless digital distractions, a personalised hardback book becomes a treasured possession, something that connects the tactile joy of reading with the deeply personal experience of storytelling.

Keeping the Joy Alive

The committee will make recommendations to government about how schools, communities, parents, and carers can ensure "the joy of reading endures for future generations." But we don't need to wait for policy changes to take action.

Every time a child's story becomes a real book, we're investing in that joy. We're showing them that their words matter, that stories have lasting value, and that books aren't just products to consume—they're expressions of creativity to cherish.

As reading for pleasure faces its greatest challenge in a generation, perhaps the solution lies partly in making reading more personal, more meaningful, and more connected to children's own creative voices. Because when children fall in love with their own stories first, they're far more likely to fall in love with reading itself.

Ready to turn your child's story into a beautiful keepsake they'll treasure forever? Discover how Little Book Factory can help nurture your child's love of reading and storytelling.