糖心VLOG

The findings of a new report from 糖心VLOG Press, More than words: the real-life impact of reading, reveal how the majority of children believe that reading shapes how they treat others and helps them to navigate real-life situations.

The new research shows that three in five children (59%) believe what they have read in a book has helped them in a certain situation鈥攕uch as being bullied, losing a family member, overcoming social anxiety, or starting a new school鈥攈ighlighting that the benefits of reading go further than just understanding and comprehension. Other findings include:

• Seven in ten children (70%)听said听that听reading helps them understand why people act the way they do
• More than two-thirds (68%)听said it helps them听think about how they treat other people
• While more than half (57%) of 12-14-year-olds continue to see the value of reading, both enjoyment and frequency of reading declines; 27% of 12-14-year-olds question its value in day-to-day life, with 17% undecided.

The report is based on a survey of 3,000 children aged 7-14 years old and 200 teachers across the UK, and with insights from the Oxford Children鈥檚 Corpus鈥攖he听largest living database of children’s reading and writing in English in the world, containing over 500 million words.

Reading has an impact in real-life situations

82%听of听children听agreed that听stories remind them of things that happen in real life, showing the strong connection children make between what they read and their own experiences.听

Our research also highlights the important role reading plays听in helping children to understand and talk about their emotions. More than four听in five children (84%) said reading helps them learn new words for feelings.听听

Teachers are seeing these benefits first-hand. Almost all teachers surveyed (95%) agreed that reading helps children develop their vocabulary, while three in five听said they听had witnessed a pupil gain a better understanding of an emotion through reading. More than nine in ten teachers (91%) identified empathy and perspective-taking as key benefits of reading.听

Emotional听themes are not confined to听particular genres听

Our research suggests that children do not necessarily seek out books about emotions directly听but听instead gravitate towards more entertaining books听which听can听present real-life issues and emotions in accessible ways through humour or action.听听

When asked what genres they prefer to read, children said they were most drawn to funny stories (49%), adventure stories (40%), and fantasy stories (30%).听However, many of the books cited alongside these genres鈥攆or example,听Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Lottie Brooks, and听Harry Potter鈥攅xplored serious topics like conflict听with friends, bullying, or bereavement.听

A challenge with older readers听

While children of all ages can gain emotional insights from a wide range of books and genres, the findings suggest that, as they get older, many need help听maintaining听their听connection with reading.

Nearly three-quarters听(72%) of children听aged 7-10 said they liked reading,听however,听this fell听to 59%听among听11-14-year-olds.听Reading frequency also dropped, with 79%听of 7-10yr olds who said they read at least once a week, compared听with just听61% of those aged 11-14.听听

One听possible reason for听this decline听is that听some听older children do not see books as relevant to their daily lives.听While听57% of听12-14-year-olds听recognize听the听value听of reading, one in four听(27% of 12-year-olds;听25% of听13-year-olds; and 29% of 14-year-olds)听disagreed听that听books听had听helped them navigate situations听they听have听faced. A听further鈥�17%听are听neutral听on the topic.听

This presents an听opportunity听to听provide听more听support to help听older readers听discover听books听that听reflect听their听experiences听and听interests听so that they feel reading is more meaningful and engaging.听

Elizabeth Munn,听Managing Director of OUP鈥檚 Education division,听said:听鈥淭his research shows how deeply children are engaging with the books they听read听and using them to make sense of the world around them.听It鈥檚 incredible听to see听how听children are actively applying what they read听on a page听to听real听life鈥攚hether that’s understanding听the听perspective听of听somebody else,听navigating a situation in their own life,听or reflecting on听their own听behaviour听towards others.听听

鈥淐hildren are growing up in an increasingly complex world. Our听research reaffirms听that reading remains one of the most powerful ways to help them develop empathy, confidence, and emotional understanding鈥攕kills that are just as important as academic success in equipping听them for the future.鈥澨�听

The report听also includes contributions听from leading听literacy and education听organizations,听including听, , and the .听

Read the full report here.