Children prefer listening to audiobooks rather than reading

Children now prefer listening to audiobooks and podcasts to reading, a new survey shows for the first time.

The National Literacy Trust found the proportion enjoying audio texts surpassed those enjoying traditional books last year.

The unprecedented trend is down to reading enjoyment dropping to a record low, coupled with a rise in the popularity of audio.

The charity is now campaigning for the Government to include audio reading formats in schools as part of its flagship curriculum review.

It suggested audiobooks could be a way to introduce children to texts before they read them.

The survey report said: ‘Findings indicated that children and young people’s levels of reading and writing enjoyment are in crisis.

‘However, listening enjoyment has remained relatively steady and, as a result, in 2024 more children and young people reported enjoying listening to audio than enjoying reading in their free time.

‘This is the first time we have seen listening enjoyment overtaking reading enjoyment.’

The survey, of more than 37,000 youngsters aged eight to 18, found 42 per cent enjoyed listening to audio in their free time in 2024, compared with 39 per cent in 2023.

This compared to just 35 per cent who enjoyed reading in their free time – a drop from 43.4 per cent the previous year, and the lowest proportion on record.

This is the first time more chose audio than reading since the charity began examining listening habits in 2020.

The trend is being driven by boys, with 43 per cent saying they enjoy audio formats, compared with 40 per cent girls.

This is a reversal of the gender gap in reading, with only 28 per cent of boys saying they enjoyed it compared with 41 per cent of girls.

The Trust found 37 per cent of those surveyed agreed that listening to an audiobook had got them interested in reading books.

Almost half – 48 per cent – said listening to an audiobook or podcast enabled them to better understand a story or subject.

The charity called on the government in its Curriculum and Assessment Review to ‘broaden the variety of reading formats, including audio, to further support children and young people’s literacy’.

Labour commissioned Professor Becky Francis to carry out the review, which will report back this year.

Jonathan Douglas, chief executive of the 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.

‘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.’

Julie McCulloch, of heads’ union ASCL, said: ‘There is certainly potential in using audio formats to encourage a love of reading alongside all the things that schools are doing to teach children to read and write, and access great books.

‘Audiobooks and podcasts may be particularly helpful with reluctant readers.’

Chris McGovern, of the Campaign for Real Education, said: ‘This is interesting but depressing.

‘There is a place for audio but books are, in the main, written to be read.

‘A preference for audio over reading is, in reality, a preference for what is easier. Young people are in danger of being de-skilled if they do not recognise the vital importance of reading.’

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