We all know the feeling: snuggling close with your little one as you open a well-worn book. The sound of your voice calming them. The shared laughs and gasps as the characters come to life. Bedtime stories have long been one of parenting’s simplest and sweetest rituals.
But new research reveals that this magical moment is quietly slipping away.
According to a new study by HarperCollins UK and Farshore, just 41% of parents with children under 5 say they read aloud frequently at home—a steep drop from 64% in 2012. Fewer than half of parents with children aged 0–13 say reading aloud is “fun for me.”
The bedtime story is under threat—and Gen Z parents may hold the key
The research, part of the 2024 Understanding the Children’s Book Consumer survey conducted with NielsenIQ BookData, reveals that our cultural relationship with reading is shifting.
Many Gen Z parents, raised in a world of screens, now see reading as “a subject to learn” rather than a source of joy. That mindset seems to be rubbing off: nearly 1 in 3 kids aged 5–13 view reading as schoolwork, not something fun.
Even more troubling? The perception is growing. In 2012, only 25% of children felt this way. In 2024, it’s 29%—and among 11–13-year-olds, it jumps to 35%.
Related: Eye-opening viral video shows difference between effective and ineffective ways to handle bedtime
The gap starts young—and it’s wider for boys
The study found an early—and troubling—disparity. Among toddlers aged 0–2, just 29% of boys are read to daily, compared to 44% of girls. More than 1 in 5 boys (21%) are rarely or never read to at all.
By age 13, only 12% of boys report reading for fun every day.
“Being read to makes reading fun for children,” says Alison David, Consumer Insight Director at Farshore and HarperCollins Children’s Books. “Children who are read to daily are almost three times as likely to choose to read independently compared to children who are only read to weekly at home. It’s never too late to start, or resume, reading with children.”
Related: The scientific benefits of dads reading bedtime stories
A new solution: social book clubs show real promise
There’s hope, and it’s coming from a surprising place: school libraries.
In a pilot study called “Social Reading Spaces,” HarperCollins UK partnered with the School Library Association to reimagine how we help reluctant adolescent readers reconnect with books. Over 10 weeks, 17 school libraries across the UK created pressure-free book clubs focused on connection, conversation, and community over reading assignments.
The results were nothing short of transformational.
More than 400 students aged 12–13 took part. Afterwards, 60% said they enjoyed reading more, and 84% said the experience was worthwhile. In one school, boys in the club improved their reading age by an average of 1 year and 3 months, compared to just 5 months for their peers.
You don’t have to be perfect—you just have to read
Yes, life is busier than ever. Yes, the pressures of modern parenting are real. But even five minutes a day can make a difference.
Your child doesn’t need you to be a perfect reader. They don’t even need you to finish the whole book. They just need your presence, your voice, and that feeling of connection that a shared story brings.
This research offers a gentle but urgent reminder: our kids need stories—not just for literacy, but for joy, connection, and emotional growth.
Let’s bring back the magic of reading aloud. Let’s make story time a space of comfort and laughter, and imagination. And let’s do it not out of guilt, but out of love.
Because the truth is: we don’t have to be perfect parents. But we can be the ones who say, “Let’s read together.”
Sources:
- HarperCollins UK & Farshore (2024). New research reveals that parents are losing the love of reading aloud. “PDF via HarperCollins Press Release“