Printed word losing its appeal

London: Children are now far more likely to read emails and websites than comics, according to a survey of more than 18,000 eight to 17-year-olds.

The research also found that while one in 10 children claimed to have read 10 books in the last month, 13 per cent had not read any at all. And boys were nearly twice as likely to say they never read than girls. Some 29 per cent of all children read every day.

The survey was carried out by the National Literacy Trust, who quizzed the children about their out of school reading habits.

Just under a fifth 19 per cent had never been given a book as a present and 12 per cent had never been to a bookshop. 7 per cent had never been to a library.

The research also found that the older the children are, the less likely they are to read. The 14- to 16-year-olds were 11 times more likely than the seven- to 11-year-olds to say they had not read a book in the last month.

Half said they read emails and websites at least once a month.

Only just over a quarter 27 per cent flick through comics. Magazines have overtaken fiction and non-fiction books. Just 46 per cent and 35 per cent curl up with a fiction or non-fiction book, while 58 per cent read magazines.

Girls are more likely to read emails and websites than boys, but boys prefer newspapers, the poll shows.

Some 56 per cent of girls read emails at least once a month, compared to 44 per cent of boys. Some 38 per cent of boys read a newspaper once a month, compared to 30 per cent of girls.

Just under half 49 per cent of those surveyed said they enjoyed reading very much or quite a lot, while 12 per cent said they did not enjoy reading at all.

In March, Michael Gove, the education secretary, said children aged 11 should be reading 50 books a year. He said schools in the UK should follow America's independently-run, state-funded charter schools, at least one of which sets pupils a "50-book challenge" over the course of a year.

The National Literacy Trust said "fresh approaches" were urgently needed to encourage young people to read more.

— Guardian News & Media Ltd