A new study by HarperCollins Publishers in the U.K. reveals that many Gen Z parents no longer enjoy reading aloud to their children. Instead of viewing it as a fun or bonding activity, they see reading as more of an academic task or “a subject to learn.”
“This study highlights the downfall of literacy in young children, which is such an important part of language development,” Jocelyn M Wood, SLP, PLLC, a child development expert and bilingual speech language pathologist commented in a recent interview with Parents.com.
“Although we are just starting to see that less parents are taking the time to read with their children, the downwind effects will be tenfold,” Wood continued. “[We will] begin to see children who lack language skills, critical thinking skills, and early literacy skills that come from book reading—not to mention the loss of bonding time with caregivers.”
According to Parents, the study researchers found that fewer than half (or 41%) of 0–4-year-olds are frequently read to. These findings represent a very steep decline from 64% in 2012.
Researchers also discovered that boys and girls have different experiences when it comes to reading—only 29% of 0–2-year-old boys are read to every day or nearly every day compared to 44% of girls in the same age group.
Just why do Gen Z parents see reading to their kids as a chore instead of a long-term benefit?
Per the research, many of the parents surveyed did not see reading as an enjoyable pastime. Researchers noted that only 40% of their control group considered reading to be a fun activity. Also noted, about one in three Gen Z parents view reading as a subject to learn compared to one in five Gen X parents. However, there is a glimmer of hope as 34% of the parents in the control group, who have children 0-13 years-old, actually wish they had more time to read to their kids.
“The act of reading to children typically falls at the end of a very long, busy day in the life of a parent, where, honestly, more than anything, you just want to get your kid to bed so that you yourself can also take a breath,” Jessica Sliwerksi, MS, co-founder and CEO of Ignite Reading, a reading intervention company told Parents.
Sliwerksi continued nothing that, this is setting an unfortunate prescient as reading with your child can a relaxing and pleasurable experience which helps to build a lifelong love of reading.
Don’t fret, all hope is not lost! Reading to children can be easy and fun. Here are some recommendations from the experts on how Gen Z parents can get started:
- Take your kids to the bookstore and let them pick out what they want to read without judgement or “no’s”.
- Find relevant books that peek their interests.
- Keep reading engaging: ask questions, talk about the pictures, make it an entire learning experience.
- Integrate multi-media, bring reading to life. This generation is truly technologically advanced. For example, if you are reading a book about space, the next day, you can continue with a topic-related move or even a trip to the museum!
- Let them take control of the wheel. Have them read aloud to you!
As we all know, reading is fundamental. There needs to be a shift in this alarming research so that children of Gen Z parents can continue to develop literacy skills just like generations before.
