Audio offers hope amid children’s reading for pleasure crisis 

According to new research published by the National Literacy Trust, listening to audio formats, such as audiobooks and podcasts, could provide a gateway into reading and reading enjoyment for many children and young people.

The findings come just months after the charity revealed that children and young people’s enjoyment of reading has reached its lowest level in 19 years, with just 1 in 3 (34.6 per cent) 8 to 18-year-olds saying they enjoy reading in their free time – the consequences of which could see vast number missing out on associated benefits for their wellbeing, confidence and academic success. 

The National Literacy Trust surveyed more than 37,000 UK 8 to 19-year-olds who said they listened to audio formats in their free time in 2024. 

The research also revealed that children’s enjoyment of listening has risen in the past year (from 39.4 per cent to 42.3 per cent), surpassing children’s enjoyment of reading for the first time since the charity started asking children about their listening enjoyment in 2020. 

The research indicated that listening to audiobooks and podcasts could provide a crucial gateway into reading and reading enjoyment for many children and young people. 

Almost 2 in 5 (37.5 per cent) of those surveyed said that listening to an audiobook had sparked their interest in reading books, while more of those who enjoyed listening to audio also enjoyed reading in their free time, compared to those who didn’t enjoy listening (52.4 per cent vs. 36 per cent). 

The research also found that when children and young people listen to audiobooks and podcasts in their free time, their learning, creativity and wellbeing can benefit. 

Half of the children and young people noted how listening to an audiobook or podcast enabled them to better understand a story or subject. It also allowed them to use their imagination more compared to when watching videos. 

Some groups who are disproportionately impacted by the reading for pleasure crisis, such as boys, particularly stand to benefit from audiobooks and podcasts. 

Interestingly, the research found that the gender gap in boys’ and girls’ reading enjoyment reverses direction when it comes to audio, with slightly more boys than girls saying they enjoy listening to audio. 

Advancing the National Literacy Trust’s previous call for the government to prioritise reading for pleasure in its Curriculum and Assessment review, the charity is advocating for increased access to, and a broadening of, the variety of reading formats available to pupils to include audio; with primary school library provision one way to deliver this, in line with the Libraries for Primaries campaign.

Jonathan Douglas CBE, chief executive of the National Literacy Trust, said: “In recent years, we’ve seen a steady rise in children’s enjoyment of listening to audio and uncovered the myriad of benefits it can bring – from sparking a love of reading and supporting literacy development, to deepening learning and boosting wellbeing.

“So many families, schools, libraries, charities, publishers, businesses, and more, are already inspiring children’s reading in such diverse and innovative ways. By working together to leverage children and young people’s enthusiasm for audio, we can play an important role in growing a generation of readers and turning the page on the nation’s reading for pleasure crisis.”

Over the next three years, the National Literacy Trust has committed to directly supporting and empowering 1.5 million more children and young people from disadvantaged communities to read for pleasure and develop greater confidence in their reading skills.