- Children’s reading for pleasure has decreased to 51% in 2025, down from 63% a decade earlier.
- Reading should be a source of joy, imagination, and shared experiences, not just a measure of academic attainment.
- Focusing on phonics scores and reading levels can alienate children from reading before they develop a love for stories.
- Nurturing environments where books are shared can help foster a love of reading in children.
- Policymakers should prioritize fostering a love of stories and literacy in children, rather than solely focusing on test scores.
Should children learn to read for the joy of stories—or for the sake of test scores? This question lies at the heart of a growing debate in education policy, as reading for pleasure among children continues to decline. In 2025, only 51% of children reported enjoying reading “very much,” down from 63% a decade earlier, according to the National Literacy Trust. As policymakers scramble for solutions, children’s laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce has delivered a stark message: the focus on literacy as a measure of academic attainment is undermining the very foundation of reading. Instead, he argues, the goal should be to foster a love of stories, imagination, and shared reading experiences from the earliest years—especially among parents and nursery workers who shape children’s first encounters with books.
What Should Be the Goal of Early Reading?
The primary goal of early reading, according to Cottrell-Boyce, should be pleasure, not performance. Speaking before the House of Commons education committee, he emphasized that when conversations about children’s reading revolve solely around phonics scores or reading levels, they miss the deeper purpose of literacy: connection, curiosity, and joy. He warned that framing reading as a skill to be mastered by age six risks alienating children before they’ve had a chance to fall in love with stories. Instead, he advocated for nurturing environments where books are shared like lullabies—warm, unhurried, and emotionally rich. This approach, he argued, builds not only literacy but also empathy, language development, and a child’s sense of self. Prioritizing pleasure, rather than treating reading as a race, allows children to see books as companions, not chores.
What Does the Evidence Say About Pleasure-Based Reading?
Research supports Cottrell-Boyce’s stance: reading for enjoyment is strongly linked to academic success, emotional well-being, and long-term cognitive development. A longitudinal study published by the journal Scientific Reports found that children who read for pleasure scored higher not only in reading assessments but also in math and vocabulary, even after controlling for socioeconomic status. The UK’s National Literacy Trust has also shown that children who enjoy reading are six times more likely to read above the expected level for their age. Moreover, shared reading between caregivers and young children activates brain regions associated with language and emotional regulation. As Dr. Sarah Davies, a developmental psychologist at Oxford, explained, “When children associate books with warmth and attention, they’re more likely to return to them independently.” This emotional scaffolding, experts say, is more sustainable than early drilling in phonics alone.
What Are the Counterarguments to Prioritizing Pleasure?
Despite the evidence, some educators and policymakers caution against downplaying structured literacy instruction. They argue that while enjoyment matters, foundational skills like phonics are essential—especially for disadvantaged children who may not have access to rich language environments at home. The current government’s reading strategy, for instance, emphasizes systematic synthetic phonics as the primary method for early reading, citing improvements in Year 1 phonics screening results. Critics of the “pleasure-first” model worry it may be interpreted as a rejection of rigor, potentially widening achievement gaps. Additionally, nursery workers and parents often lack training in how to effectively engage children with books beyond simply reading aloud. Without support, well-intentioned emphasis on enjoyment could become inconsistent or superficial, particularly in underfunded early-years settings.
How Is This Approach Changing Classrooms and Homes?
Across the UK, pilot programs are beginning to integrate pleasure-centered reading into early education. In Liverpool, a council-led initiative provides “story sacks” to nurseries and low-income families—bundles containing books, props, and discussion guides designed to make reading interactive and fun. Teachers report increased engagement, especially among reluctant readers. Meanwhile, organizations like BookTrust are training early-years practitioners to use books as tools for play, song, and emotional exploration, rather than instruction. One nursery in Manchester replaced timed reading assessments with “book buddies,” pairing children with older peers for weekly story sessions. Parents, too, are being empowered: workshops teach them how to follow a child’s lead during reading, ask open-ended questions, and celebrate storytelling in any form—even if it means making up new endings or reading the same book for the tenth time.
What This Means For You
For parents, caregivers, and educators, the takeaway is clear: don’t rush to measure a child’s reading ability at the expense of their love for stories. Shared reading should feel like play, not practice. Choose books that spark laughter, wonder, or conversation—even if they’re not “at grade level.” Let children revisit favorites, skip pages, or imagine themselves as characters. These moments build not only literacy but emotional bonds and confidence. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s connection.
Still, challenges remain: how can pleasure-based reading be scaled equitably across diverse communities? And how do we balance joy with the very real need for foundational skills? As the education committee continues its inquiry, one thing is certain—redefining success in early reading may be the key to reversing its decline.
Source: The Guardian