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Children want books about gaming this Christmas, according to new polling from children’s reading charity BookTrust
New polling[i] from BookTrust, the UK’s largest children’s reading charity, shows one fifth of parents[ii] say they buy their children books for Christmas, but confess their children don’t always read them. Over a third of parents[iii] state the main obstacle they face when getting their children to read is a preference for digital devices and a quarter[iv] blame their children’s love of gaming.
With the festive period fast approaching, giving children books linked to their passions and hobbies is a great way to give them the bug for reading. Over two thirds[v] of 6-11-year-olds surveyed said they were likely to read if they got a book about their hobbies. Interestingly, boys were most likely to want to read, if they were given books about their hobbies.[vi] Books about hobbies were three times more popular[vii] with children than ‘classic’ books.[viii]
This Christmas, as part of the Time to Read campaign, BookTrust is urging parents to put the fun back into reading by giving books that hold rather than fight for their children’s attention. Nearly a quarter of parents[ix] admit whilst they sometimes buy their children books for Christmas, they often struggle when deciding what books to buy them. When asked what their favourite thing to read about would be, a quarter[x] of children said computer/video games.
BookTrust has produced a carefully chosen list of recommendations to help parents find the books that are likely to really engage their children. Themes on this list include gaming and animals, reflecting the other popular activities chosen by children surveyed: https://www.booktrust.org.uk/whats-happening/blogs/2017/december/here-are-the-best-books-to-match-your-childs-interests-this-christmas
Supporting the campaign, chef, presenter and children’s author Nadiya Hussain said: “I fully back BookTrust’s Time to Read campaign to get families reading together for fun this Christmas. As a mum I understand it can be hard to find books that your kids want to pick up, which is why it’s so important to give them books related to hobbies that they enjoy. Children will eventually find that book they love, and once that love comes, it never goes away.”
Diana Gerald, BookTrust CEO, said: “Our Time to Read campaign is all about putting the fun back into reading and Christmas is the perfect time to do that. Children respond so well to books that reflect their passions so why not try non-fiction to engage reluctant readers. If your child likes LEGO, which was one of the most popular Christmas gifts in our poll[xi], get them a book about LEGO or if your child likes baking, share a recipe book with them over the festive break and help get reading back on the Christmas map!”
Taran Matharu, New York Times bestselling children's author and Wattpad sensation, said: “Video games, just like novels, are a form of storytelling. Some might say that gamers and readers have a lot more in common than they think – they just prefer different mediums. It’s my belief that the passion for the setting of a favourite game can help get gamers into reading. This new polling from BookTrust shows kids want to read books about things they are interested in, and we need to harness that and make sure those books find their way into reluctant readers' hands.”
[i] 1300 6-11- year olds and their parents
[ii] 19.31%
[iii] 37%
[iv] 25.69%
[v] 74.47%
[vi] Boys 24% compared to girls 9%
[vii] 16%
[viii] 4.92%
[ix] 23.23%
[x] 25%
[xi] 39%