Survey: Kids reading less; can e-books help?

Survey: Kids reading less; can e-books help?

In the 2010 Kids and Family Reading Report™, a national survey released today, children age 6 – 17 and their parents share their views on a wide range of topics regarding reading in the 21st Century.

The study, conducted by Scholastic and Harrison Group, found that from age 6 - 17, the time kids spend reading books for fun declines while the time kids spend going online for fun and using a cell phone to text or talk increases. Parents express concern that the use of electronic and digital devices negatively affects the time kids spend reading books (41%), doing physical activities (40%), and engaging with family (33%).

The study also found indications that technology could be a positive motivator to get kids reading -- 57 percent of kids (age 9-17) say they are interested in reading an eBook, and a third of children age 9-17 say they would read more books for fun if they had access to eBooks on an electronic device.

The full report is available online at http://mediaroom.scholastic.com/kfrr