Do Children Read More Than We Think? | Series 1, Episode 29

Episode 29 transcript

Do Children Read More Than We Think?

It’s a familiar complaint – kids today don’t read enough. Parents and teachers worry that young people are glued to screens, spending more time scrolling than flipping through pages. But maybe the real question isn’t whether they’re reading, but what counts as reading in the first place.

Some argue that social media, gaming, and online content are distractions that pull kids away from books. But let’s be honest – these platforms involve a lot of reading. Whether it’s text messages, captions, game narratives, or news updates, young people are constantly processing words. Research from the National Literacy Trust even suggests that digital reading plays a crucial role in developing literacy, especially for those who aren’t naturally drawn to books. TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, for example, are packed with text – comments, descriptions, subtitles – all of which require quick interpretation and engagement. Sure, it’s not the same as getting lost in a novel, but it’s still reading.

Of course, not everyone is convinced. Traditionalists argue that books offer deeper engagement, better comprehension, and a richer experience overall. There’s also concern that online content – full of short-form text, clickbait, and misinformation – might not encourage critical thinking in the same way as long-form reading. But studies suggest that digital reading sharpens other skills, like scanning for key information, evaluating sources, and adapting to different writing styles. A report from the OECD even found that students who engage with a mix of digital and traditional texts tend to perform better in literacy assessments.

The bigger issue might be how we frame reading for young people. If we treat books as the only “real” form of literacy and dismiss everything else, we risk alienating kids who primarily engage with digital content. It also ignores formats like graphic novels, e-books, comics, poetry, zines and non-fiction – things that can spark a lifelong love of reading. And let’s not forget BookTok, where social media is actively driving young people to discover new books, proving that digital engagement and traditional reading aren’t mutually exclusive.

A more effective approach would be to embrace multiple forms of reading. Encouraging kids to explore magazines, blogs, interactive stories, and even well-written social media content can help them develop a broader appreciation for reading. Instead of banning screens, teachers could use them strategically – introducing book-related social media, online discussion forums, and interactive storytelling platforms to make reading feel more relevant.

Rather than focusing on what kids shouldn’t read, educators could highlight the benefits of different reading materials. A mix of fiction, non-fiction, digital texts, and multimedia content allows kids to explore their interests and build confidence in their reading abilities. Schools can also create inclusive environments where all reading is valued – whether it’s a novel, a blog post, or a well-crafted Instagram thread.

Shifting how we think about children’s reading habits might be the key. Instead of seeing digital engagement as a problem, we could recognise it as an opportunity to expand literacy. Research from the Education Endowment Foundation suggests that exposure to a variety of texts improves comprehension and fosters reading habits. By integrating digital and traditional reading into literacy instruction, we can help kids develop the critical reading skills they’ll need in a world dominated by online content.

Parents have a role to play too. Encouraging an environment where all reading is appreciated – books, articles, online discussions – can reinforce positive attitudes towards literacy. Talking to kids about what they’re reading, whether it’s in a book or on a website, helps them develop analytical skills and learn to distinguish reliable sources from misleading ones. And when parents model diverse reading habits themselves, they show kids that reading isn’t just a school task – it’s part of everyday life.

Libraries and schools can support this by offering diverse collections that go beyond traditional books. E-books, audiobooks, interactive stories, and digital literacy workshops can help young readers engage with texts in different ways. Giving kids more choices makes reading feel less like a chore and more like something they genuinely want to do.

Ultimately, promoting reading shouldn’t be about restricting certain formats but encouraging engagement with text in all its forms. Whether kids are reading novels, blogs, or social media, the goal is the same: to help them see reading as interesting, useful, and accessible. If we meet them where they are, rather than where we think they should be, they might just surprise us with how much they’re actually reading.