I’ve just returned from the Australian Bookpeople conference, and one of the most pressing conversations was about the steady decline in children’s reading rates. It’s an issue that extends far beyond books.
We’re living in an attention deficit economy, where our children’s focus is constantly being pulled by tech platforms and corporations that care little for their wellbeing. And we’re seeing the consequences: skyrocketing screen time, shrinking attention spans, and a troubling rise in anxiety and depression.
Robbie Egan, CEO of BookPeople Australia, shared a slide that hit hard:
Something went suddenly and horribly wrong for adolescents in the early 2010's. By now you've likely seen the statistics: rates of depression and anxiety in the United States - fairly stable in the 2000's - rose by more than 50 percent in many studies from 2010 to 2019. The suicide rate rose 48 percent for adolescents ages 10 to 19. For girls ages 10 to 14, it rose 131 percent.
These statistics are heartbreaking - and they should serve as a wake-up call. In this environment, reading isn’t just a hobby. It’s a lifeline.
Why Reading Matters
– It fosters empathy. Books help children understand their own emotions and those of others by giving them a safe, meaningful way to explore different experiences.
– It strengthens attention. Unlike the dopamine loops of social media, books ask for - and reward - sustained attention.
– It offers a powerful alternative to screens. Books provide a calming, offline space for imagination to flourish.
- It supports lifelong mental health. Studies have linked reading with improved wellbeing at every stage of life - from boosting self-esteem in children to lowering the risk of depression and dementia in older adults.
We know that lifelong readers are made in childhood. In Aotearoa, only 39% of parents read to their children daily. In the UK, just 41% of children aged 0–4 are read to regularly - a steep drop from 64% in 2012. In the US, the figure sits at 37%. In Australia, daily reading habits are mixed - only around 37% of toddlers are read to each day, and 1 in 4 families read just once a week or less. While 68% of preschoolers are read to daily. Across all these countries, one trend persists: girls are 9–15% more likely to be read to than boys, starting from the very early years. And crucially, we know these numbers begin to decline sharply once children start school - precisely the time
The benefits of early reading are profound. By the time they’re five, children who are read to daily will have heard over 1.4 million more words than those who aren’t. Brain research shows that reading aloud to young children stimulates the areas involved in visual processing, storytelling, and language understanding, creating strong cognitive foundations for literacy. Children who experience regular reading with a caregiver are significantly more likely to grow into independent readers as their skills progress, reinforcing the value of early reading as a shared, nurturing activity.
I want to be clear: I’m not here to pass judgement on anyone’s household, time constraints, or personal circumstances - there are many valid reasons why daily reading isn’t always possible. My goal is simply to raise awareness about just how impactful these small moments with books can be. That includes recognising that for children with disabilities or who are neurodivergent, there can be additional hurdles to overcome. Around one in five children are neurodivergent and for anyone interested in learning more about this, I highly recommend Wild Things by Sally Rippin.
Crucially, we can’t rely on schools alone to raise readers. It’s a shared responsibility. It starts at home, in libraries and bookshops, in the stories we revisit at bedtime and the joy we show when talking about books. Reading is not just a skill - it’s a way of making sense of the world.
I’ll leave you with one of my favourite quotes on the power of reading:
“In an age when we are ever more targeted and profiled and mined for information, reading a book allows you to be, for so long as the covers hold you, truly quiet and undisturbed.”
— Laura Freeman
With deep care for our future readers,
Mandy
Bookety Book Books
Reading Statistics & Citations
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New Zealand Reading Rates
“In Aotearoa, only 39% of parents with children under 10 report reading to them daily.”
— Source: Read NZ Te Pou Muramura, National Reading Survey 2023
https://www.read-nz.org/assets/Resources/Reading-Survey-Report-2023.pdf
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UK Reading Trends (Decline Over Time)
“Only 41% of children aged 0–4 in the UK are read to daily or nearly every day—a significant drop from 64% in 2012.”
— Source: BookTrust, Time to Read Report 2020
https://www.booktrust.org.uk/globalassets/resources/research/booktrust-time-to-read-report.pdf
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US Reading Rates
“In the United States, 37% of children under five are read to every day by a family member.”
— Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Condition of Education 2023
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Australia Reading Frequency (Toddlers and Preschoolers)
“Only around 37% of Australian toddlers are read to daily, and 1 in 4 families read just once a week or less. While 68% of preschoolers are read to daily, nearly a quarter still miss out on this critical foundation.”
— Source: Oxford University Press research via The Guardian, 2023
— Source: Victorian Department of Education
https://www.education.vic.gov.au/parents/early-learning/Pages/literacy-early-years.aspx
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Word Gap: 1.4 Million More Words
“By the time they’re five, children who are read to daily will have heard over 1.4 million more words than children who aren’t read to regularly.”
— Source: Logan, J. A., Justice, L. M., Yumuş, M., & Chaparro-Moreno, L. J. (2019). "When Children Are Not Read to at Home: The Million Word Gap." Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
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Reading Aloud & Brain Activation
“Reading aloud to young children activates brain areas tied to visual imagery, narrative understanding, and word meaning—supporting early literacy development.”
— Source: Hutton, J. S., et al. (2015). “Home Reading Environment and Brain Activation in Preschool Children Listening to Stories.” Pediatrics
https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/136/3/466/74036
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Neurodiversity Prevalence
“Around 1 in 5 children are considered neurodivergent, including those with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and other cognitive differences.”
— Source: CDC, Data and Statistics on Children's Mental Health
