A recent survey reveals that children now favor listening to audiobooks and podcasts over traditional reading habits, marking the first such finding.
According to the National Literacy Trust, the percentage of people who enjoyed audio content exceeded those who enjoyed reading physical books last year.
This unequaled decline can be attributed to a decrease in reading pleasure hitting an all-time low, alongside the growing appeal of audiobooks.
The charity is currently advocating for the government to incorporate audio reading materials into school curriculums as part of its major curriculum review initiative.
It was proposed that audiobooks might serve as an introduction for children to texts prior to their reading.
The survey report stated: 'The findings suggest that the levels of enjoyment in reading and writing among children and young people have reached a critical point.'
'Nonetheless, the pleasure derived from listening has stayed fairly constant, leading to an outcome where, in 2024, a greater number of children and youngsters stated they enjoyed listening to audio content over reading during their leisure time.'
'This marks the first instance where listening pleasure has surpassed reading pleasure.'
The survey, which included over 37,000 young people between the ages of eight and eighteen, revealed that 42 percent appreciated listening to audio during their leisure time in 2024, up from 39 percent in 2023.
This contrasts with only 35 percent who found pleasure in reading during their leisure time—a decline from 43.4 percent the prior year and the smallest percentage since records began.
For the first time since the charity started analyzing listening behaviors in 2020, more people opted for audio over reading.
This trend is primarily fueled by boys, as 43 percent of them reported enjoying audio formats, whereas 40 percent of girls expressed the same preference.
This represents a flip in the gender gap for reading enjoyment, as just 28 percent of boys indicated they liked it versus 41 percent of girls.
The Trust found 37 per cent of those surveyed agreed that listening to an audiobook had got them interested in reading books.
Nearly half—48 percent—reported that engaging with audiobooks or podcasts helped them gain a deeper understanding of stories or subjects.
The charity appealed to the government during their Curriculum and Assessment Review to 'expand the range of reading materials, such as incorporating audio formats, to better assist with the literacy development of children and young adults'.
The Labour party asked Professor Becky Francis to conduct the review, with findings expected later this year.
Jonathan Douglas, CEO of the Trust, stated: "Over the past few years, we've observed a consistent increase in children's pleasure derived from listening to audio content and have discovered numerous advantages it offers—from fostering a passion for reading and enhancing literacy skills, to enriching education and improving overall well-being."
'By collaborating to harness children and young people's passion for audio content, we can significantly contribute to cultivating a generation of avid readers and addressing the national crisis of lackluster reading enjoyment.'
Julie McCulloch from the ASCL headteachers' union stated, "Utilizing audio formats to foster a passion for reading definitely holds promise. This can complement all the efforts schools make to instruct children in reading and writing as well as provide them access to excellent literature."
'Audiobooks and podcasts could be especially beneficial for hesitant readers.'
Chris McGovern from the Campaign for Real Education remarked, "This is intriguing yet disheartening."
'There is a space for auditory content, however, books primarily are intended to be read.'
'A inclination towards listening rather than reading actually reflects a preference for convenience. If young individuals fail to acknowledge the crucial significance of reading, they risk losing essential skills.'
Read more
Post a Comment