Swipe, Scroll, Struggle: 5 Strategies to Prevent a Reading Recession

The latest statistics are alarming. According to the National Literacy Trust in the UK, only one in three children ages 8-18 say they enjoy reading in their free time. And what’s even more shocking is that this number has dropped by 36% since 2005. Making matters worse, only 18% of kids choose to read daily in their free time, down nearly 20% over the past 20 years. The numbers in the US are even worse. According to The Nation’s Report Card, only 14% of students surveyed in the US report reading for fun every day. 

It’s clear we’re facing a reading recession. And if we don’t take action soon, children will fail to build the strong foundational skills they need to succeed in life. 

In our recent webinar “Swipe, Scroll, Struggle: Is the UK Sliding Into a Reading Recession?” we explored this topic along with CEO and co-founder of LoveReading Deborah Maclaren and U.S.-based literacy expert Neena Saha. 

The Erosion of a Reading Culture

Blame the smartphone, the advent of social media, or our current era of nonstop “busyness,” but one fact remains: society, as a whole, is reading less than ever before. In the UK, the latest statistics from The Reading Agency show that half of adults don’t read for pleasure. And in the US, daily reading for pleasure has declined a shocking 40%+ in the past 20 years.

Even more concerning than the declines in reading are the impacts this trend could have on society, from lower overall literacy rates and declining well-being to diminishing educational equity. After all, when reading declines, so, too, does economic potential. In fact, numerous studies show that students who read less are less successful in college, careers, and life. 

If a Love of Books is Life Changing, Why Aren’t We Reading More?

“The fiction effect” is a term for the way books transport you—and its impact is real. Not only does reading enhance cognitive and social skills, but it also increases empathy, creativity, and emotional intelligence. Further, children who love to read often score higher on reading comprehension assessments than their peers who read less, giving them the strong reading foundation needed to build skills for the future. 

But despite the fact that students may technically be “reading” more because they see more words through screens at school and at home, they are lacking the continuous, sustained, concentrated reading that leads to better outcomes. Said differently, words on a screen simply can’t replace a good old-fashioned book. 

5 Strategies to Stop a Reading Recession

Preventing a reading recession is a critical initiative, in the UK, the US, and worldwide, and the time to take action is now. Here are five strategies to revitalize the love of reading for students. 

• Model the behavior we wish to promote
  If we want our children to read, then we must read, too! When parents stare at their phones instead of picking up a book, their children do the same. After all, actions speak louder than words. 

• Avoid an overreliance on screens
  While technology has its place in a classroom, the question of how much is too much is a good one. Exposing children to continuous, sustained, and concentrated reading via books provides a different experience that increases engagement and boosts comprehension, leading to higher reading scores. 
• Give the right book to the right child at the right time
  For many children, especially those who struggle with reading, finding a book that captures their interest and attention while aligning with their reading ability can be difficult. But when we put the right book in a child’s hands, magic happens. That’s why it’s important to not only measure a child’s reading ability, but also to measure the complexity of text in a book. Once we place them on the same scale, matching students to texts becomes easy. 

  This is where MetaMetrics can help. Not only do we provide students with a measure of their reading ability, but we also break down the text in books, passages, and other texts to determine characteristics such as sentence length and word frequency. Then, we calculate the complexity of the text and produce the appropriate, certified Lexile® measure. Using our Find a Book tool, educators, parents, and students can explore books that not only match their Lexile measure but also align with their personal interests as well. 

• Create a dialogue about books
  Book chats are an engaging and interactive way for educators and parents to foster a love of reading in children. By creating a space where parents and children can read together or where kids can share their thoughts and opinions about the books they are reading, we encourage dialogue and curiosity. And by asking them questions about the book, we encourage them to think critically and dig deeper into comprehension, both skills that will serve them well throughout life. 

• Visit bookstores and libraries
  Taking children to a bookstore or a library opens their eyes to a world beyond their imagination. By letting children browse through books, they can discover stories that transport them to another world, one that fills their imagination and unlocks the door to creativity.
  

Avoiding a reading recession isn’t just about improving literacy rates—it’s about reigniting curiosity, well-being, and connection through words. The path forward depends on all of us—families, educators, and communities—working together to spark a love of reading in every child. After all, our future depends on it. 

To hear more from Neena Saha and Deborah Maclaren, watch the recording of our webinar “Swipe, Scroll, Struggle: Is the UK Sliding Into a Reading Recession.” And if you’re short on time, watch our three minute highlight video.