A Trusted Friend in a Complicated World
A new generation of readers is missing out on an essential experience: reading aloud with their parents. Here's how parents can tap into the joy and connection of reading together.
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Some of my favorite early parenting memories are reading children’s books aloud to my babies. From Sandra Boynton’s whimsical rhyming animal board books to Robert Munsch’s beloved I’ll Love You Forever and Mo Willems’s silly band of characters, stories set the stage for a bedtime routine that comforted both my kids and me. They’ve since grown into toddlers, school-aged kids and then full-blown tweens and teens. They have their own bookshelves now, all crammed with beloved literature.
So it’s with a mix of nostalgia and dismay that I report some grim stats on parental reading: A new survey by HarperCollins UK found that fewer parents are reading to their children than ever before—a trend that has kids missing out on key developmental milestones (and a lot of really great books).
For a generation of parents who are busier and more stressed than ever, how can reading with their children become a source of joy rather than another task on the to-do list? To find out, I talked to Nikolai Pizarro, author of Ring the Alarm and an educator with I Am Raising Readers. Read on to learn why reading to your kids is crucial and how you can make it more fun.
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In December 2024, researchers sent out the Understanding the Children’s Book Consumer survey with the intention of gaining insight into parents’ and children’s reading habits and enjoyment. The survey included insight from a total of 2,016 parents throughout the U.K., including:
When they dug into the data, the researchers found that parents aren’t exactly enjoying storytime with their kids. In fact, most said it’s not fun. (As did the kids.) That may explain why so few children in the survey reported being read to.
Here are the key details on what the HarperCollins UK report found:
There’s a clear generational gap between parents here: Compared with their millennial and Gen X counterparts, Gen Z parents are significantly more likely to view reading as a school subject than a pleasurable hobby.
But take that finding with a grain of salt. After all, the oldest members of Gen Z—now in their late 20s—are still relatively early in their parenting journeys, placing them in a different life stage compared with older generations of parents. It’s possible that younger parents, regardless of their generation, are less likely to read to their kids.
One more caveat: While this U.K.-based report offers intriguing insights, it’s important to note that its findings may not be directly transferable to U.S. parents.
Reading aloud to children isn’t just a task to check off your to-do list. It’s a meaningful and powerful routine that supports their growth in a variety of areas. “Few, if any other, activities contribute to children’s overall development like the read-aloud,” Pizarro says.
Here are some key reasons reading to your kids matters.
Research shows that children who are read to regularly are more likely to develop strong literacy skills and a love for reading later in life.
Think about it: When a parent is reading to a child, it’s all about the magic of storytelling. There’s no pressure to succeed—or do anything but get wrapped up in some make-believe.
“Reading to children at home—in a way that is distinct and separate from school—is essential to countering many of the deficits we are seeing, not just in school but in the culture at large,” says Pizarro, adding that there has been a cultural shift at schools that firmly slots reading into the “work” category. Teachers are tracking and measuring reading output, rather than helping kids develop a love and connection with the experience of reading.
Reading together is not an academic exercise; it’s an opportunity for a parent and child to connect. It doesn’t matter what book you read or how well you read it. You’re spending time together, laughing at silly rhymes and reading beloved and memorable stories, all of which help strengthen emotional bonds and create lasting memories.
Pizarro says that reading to your child at home provides a stable, strong connection between the adult and the child. “Setting time to read … can allow children to experience a parent in a centered and regulated state, and create a sense of stability in a home,” says Pizarro.
Think about a book you read as a child that you remember even now. How did that book make you feel? I have warm memories of reading Roald Dahl’s classic book Matilda. It made me fall in love with the world of reading and helped me access parts of my imagination and creativity that I hadn’t tapped into before.
Listening to stories stimulates imagination, encourages problem-solving and inspires creativity.
Studies have linked reading and becoming immersed in a story to greater empathy and patience, both in kids and adults. As Pizarro points out, that’s partly because reading is a form of escapism.
A study published in Psychological Medicine found that children who read for pleasure early in life are more likely to experience stronger cognitive development and better mental well-being into adolescence. The key seems to be finding enjoyment in reading. By turning to books for fun, escapism, play or simply a fulfilling and nurturing way to pass the time, a child unlocks many benefits for their future selves.
So how can you nurture a love and joy of reading in early childhood? You guessed it: by reading aloud to your kids and turning storytime into a magical, fulfilling experience.
If reading doesn’t feel enjoyable, taking a moment to ask why—and exploring what might make it more engaging—can be the first step toward turning it into a shared, rewarding experience.
Pizarro says that parents need to reframe their thinking away from academics and toward connection. Practically, that might mean ditching the reading lists or anything that makes reading feel like a “chore.”
Instead, follow your kids’ interests. If they enjoy reading comics, then find fun comic books or graphic novels that engage them. Go to the library and look up books about their favorite topic, whether it’s astronomy, animals or sports.
You can also connect reading to real-life activities, such as reading a recipe together before cooking or looking up information about a place you’re visiting.
Reading aloud doesn’t need to be limited to bedtime or even the home. “Public libraries can be sources of … very accessible family fun,” Pizarro adds.
Make the whole act of reading an adventure. Take a trip to the library together, let your child wander the shelves and choose their own books, or attend a storytime at a local bookstore. The outing itself can become part of the joy, building positive associations with books and stories that go far beyond the words on the page.
Reading doesn’t have to be a solo activity. Invite friends or family over for a “book swap,” or start a kid-friendly book club complete with snacks, a book discussion and a fun activity.
Some families might prefer listening to audiobooks in the car, a fun alternative for busy parents and children. When reading becomes a shared experience, it can feel more fun and community-oriented.
As a parent, it’s important that your kids see you enjoy the leisure of reading too—especially if you want to encourage them to find pleasure in the experience and view reading as a fun way to spend the time (not as another homework lesson).
One way to do this is to discover what books you like. Whether you get lost in an epic fantasy novel, swept up in a fictional romance or inspired by the latest self-help, your excitement is infectious—even if your go-to reading material is actually a magazine. When kids see the joy and relaxation that reading brings, it encourages them to discover their own books.
Connect reading to a pleasurable experience that your family already enjoys. Are you all baseball fans? Pick up books about baseball, whether it’s a comic about a kid who plays Little League, a board book about America’s pastime or a biography of their favorite player.
If you’re all anticipating a new movie, look up any books that are related to the upcoming film—even better, find a book that has been adapted into a movie. One of my family’s favorite books is Wonder, which I read aloud to my children before we went to see the film. When the kids were even younger, we would read The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom, which were turned into mini movies.
When my kids were toddlers, I would bring out a special blanket and set up their dolls and stuffed animals. We would read together and sing nursery rhymes. As soon as the blanket came out, the kids would squeal and start setting up their toys for storytime. Parents can connect with their kids by reading while also doing something fun. Maybe that’s setting up a picnic for outside storytime, reading underneath a blanket fort or snacking on popcorn while reading together.
At the end of the day, it isn’t about measuring the success of your child’s reading abilities—it’s about how reading together makes you feel. Find ways to infuse joy and fun into reading, and the rest will follow.
About the expert
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