Just 41% of Parents Frequently Read Aloud to Their Kids Ages 0-4

For years, storytime has been a beloved ritual between parents and their children—whether winding down at bedtime or passing the time on a trip. But new research from HarperCollins UK reveals this treasured tradition is on the decline.

Fewer than half of parents of kids up to age 13 say reading aloud is “fun for me,” and just 41% of children ages 0–4 are read to frequently. That’s a dramatic drop from 64% in 2012. Boys are hit hardest: only 29% of boys ages 0–2 are read to daily, compared to 44% of girls in the same age group. By the time boys reach ages 12 or 13, just 12% report reading for fun. This gap in early exposure to books is part of what researchers are calling a growing “reading for pleasure crisis.”

Gen Z parents—many of whom grew up in the digital age—are significantly more likely to view reading as academic rather than enjoyable. Nearly 30% say they see reading as “more a subject to learn than a fun thing to do,” compared to just 21% of Gen X parents. And kids are following their lead: 29% of children ages 5–13 now say reading feels like schoolwork, not fun—up from 25% in 2012.

This association of reading with pressure rather than pleasure may help explain why just 32% of children ages 5–10 say they frequently choose to read for enjoyment, down from 55% in 2012. And while many parents wish they had more time—34% say they’d like to read more with their children—barriers like packed schedules and school demands are getting in the way. Nearly half of parents (49%) say their kids have too much homework to read books for fun, nearly double the number from a decade ago.

“Being read to makes reading fun for children. So, it’s very concerning that many children are growing up without a happy reading culture at home,” said Alison David, Consumer Insight Director at Farshore and HarperCollins Children’s Books. “It means they are more likely to associate reading with schoolwork… not something they could enjoy.” She adds: “The good news is when children are read to frequently, they very quickly come to love it. It’s never too late to start, or resume, reading with children.”

Despite renewed focus on reading for pleasure in schools, fewer classrooms are making time for it. Only 24% of kids ages 5–10 are read to daily by a teacher for fun and relaxation, down from 29% in 2023.

But one bright spot comes from a new study by HarperCollins UK and the School Library Association, which trialed a low-pressure book club model in 17 school libraries. With no expectations to finish or analyze books and a focus on conversation instead, the clubs helped reluctant readers—especially boys—reconnect with books. Among the more than 400 children who participated, 84% said the experience was worthwhile, and 60% reported feeling more interested in reading afterward.

Beyond the academic lift, students reported emotional growth and connection. One boy said, “you can – like – express your emotions and your feelings here.” Another added, “it’s just a fun way of communicating and getting to read more books and become friends at the same time.”