Survey Finds ‘One in 20 Youngsters Have Never Read a Book’

By Maryann Yin 

Approximately 700 children participated in a Reader’s Digest literacy poll. The survey found that “one in 20 youngsters have never read a book.” Another third admitted that they occasionally read books.

According to the Telegraph, 2,000 parents were also polled. The article explained: “It found 76% of adults had encountered bad literacy amongst youngsters, with one in 10 having been ‘shocked’ by their own child’s poor spelling and reading skills. More than half of the adults polled said they had difficulty getting their children to read books outside school.”

Psychology professor Dr. Robert Weis studied how to get boys to read. He encouraged parents to restrict access to video games and the Internet while providing reading material and quiet space. Share your suggestions in the comments section.