10 January 2025, 07:13 | Updated: 10 January 2025, 07:38

By Jonathan Douglas CBE

Reading lets children discover new worlds, meet new people and learn about the past.

It sparks imagination, gets children thinking differently and helps them develop empathy.

When children enjoy reading and have books of their own at home, it can benefit all areas of their lives, from boosting their confidence and wellbeing to improving their academic performance and life chances – setting them up for a brighter future.

What’s more, the potential benefits for the economy are significant. If all school-aged children in the UK read for pleasure every day, it could add £4.6 billion to the UK’s GDP each year.

That’s why it matters that children’s enjoyment of reading has plummeted to an all-time low, with only a third (34.6%) saying they enjoy reading in their free time. Meanwhile, 1 in 10 (9.8%) children say they........

© LBC