Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report™ Releases New Data to Support Making Books Part of Growing Up for Every Child

Rhea-AI Summary

Scholastic (NASDAQ: SCHL) has released a Family Guide with new data from the Kids & Family Reading Report™: 8th Edition. The guide aims to support families in making books part of every child's upbringing. Key findings include:

- 90% of parents agree books create opportunities for conversation
- 79% of parents with 0-5-year-olds use children's books for parenting
- 51% of preschoolers are read aloud to 5-7 days a week
- 80% of parents with 6-11-year-olds want resources to support reading
- 63% of parents with teens believe it's important for children to read books with relatable characters

The report also highlights the mental health benefits of frequent reading among children. This free resource is particularly relevant amid the current youth mental health crisis.

Positive

• Release of a new Family Guide with data from the Kids & Family Reading Report™: 8th Edition
• 90% of parents agree books create opportunities for conversation with children
• 79% of parents with 0-5-year-olds use children's books for parenting support
• 80% of parents with 6-11-year-olds want resources to support their child's reading
• Frequent readers report better mental health compared to infrequent readers

Negative

• Decline in read-aloud frequency as children age: 51% for 0-5 years, 37% for 6-8 years, and 16% for 9-11 years
• Youth mental health crisis mentioned, indicating potential challenges for the target market

Insights

Education Policy Analyst

This report highlights a critical connection between reading habits and mental health in youth. The finding that frequent readers report better mental health than infrequent readers is particularly noteworthy. This correlation could have significant implications for education policy and public health initiatives.

The data showing that 51% of preschoolers are read to 5-7 days a week, compared to only 16% of 9-11-year-olds, suggests a concerning drop-off in reading engagement as children age. This trend could be addressed through targeted programs to maintain reading habits throughout childhood.

Moreover, the report's emphasis on books as tools for parenting and communication presents an opportunity for schools and community organizations to develop programs that support family literacy and parent-child bonding through reading.

Child Development Specialist

The Family Guide's insights on using books to support child development are invaluable. The finding that 79% of parents with 0-5-year-olds use books in parenting underscores the importance of early literacy exposure. Books' role in helping children understand emotions (54%) and explore interests (47%) highlights their potential as tools for social-emotional learning.

For older children, the guide's emphasis on using books to navigate complex issues like bullying (20%) and difficult topics (32%) demonstrates literature's power in addressing real-world challenges. The data showing 63% of parents value diverse representation in books for teens aligns with the growing recognition of the importance of inclusive literature in child development.

Market Research Analyst

From a market perspective, this report reveals significant opportunities in the children's book industry. The high percentage of parents seeking resources to support their child's reading (80% for 6-11-year-olds) indicates a strong demand for supplementary materials like discussion guides and book summaries.

The data showing parents' use of books to address specific issues (e.g., 20% for bullying, 32% for difficult topics) suggests a market for targeted, issue-specific children's literature. Additionally, the finding that 86% of parents of teens believe books create conversation opportunities points to a potential market for young adult literature marketed as family discussion tools.

For Scholastic, this data supports their position in the market and could drive product development in areas like parenting resources and diverse representation in children's literature.

The Family Guide offers a wealth of insights focusing on how books are critical in fostering communication between parent and child across all ages

NEW YORK, Aug. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Scholastic (NASDAQ: SCHL), the global children's publishing, education and media company, released a Family Guide filled with new data from the Kids & Family Reading Report™: 8th Edition, designed to support families and make books part of growing up for every child. The Family Guide addresses a variety of developmental milestones and common conversations during each age range. In addition to a wealth of new data, this free resource includes tips, expert guidance, continued reading, and recommended book titles to ensure families feel well-equipped to put these findings into practice at home.

To learn more about the Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report and to access the Family Guide, visit www.scholastic.com/readingreport.

"Here at Scholastic, we know that children's books have superpowers, and this new research demonstrates just how invaluable books are for supporting communication with children from birth through adolescence to graduation and beyond," said Deimosa Webber-Bey, Director, Information Services and Cultural Insight, Scholastic. "Books can provide comfort, a portal to faraway places, an introduction to new concepts and a helping hand when broaching tough topics. With this new compilation of research, our hope is that families will feel empowered to incorporate books into all aspects of their parenting efforts, and that books can serve parents in building an everlasting bond with their child."

This free resource holds significant relevancy as our nation's families are grappling with a youth mental health crisis. According to Scholastic research, more frequent readers report having better mental health than infrequent readers, with infrequent readers reporting higher levels of nervousness and anxiety (50% vs. 39%), sadness and depression (37% vs. 25%), and loneliness (30% vs. 19%). Additionally, data from the National Center for Health Statistics shows a significant gap between the level of social and emotional support young adults feel and the amount that parents think they have.

Key findings from the Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report™ Family Guide:

• At every age (0–17)
  • An overwhelming majority of parents (90%) agree that books can create opportunities for conversation.
• The early years (ages 0–5)
  • The majority of parents with infants, toddlers and preschoolers 0–5-year-olds (79%) have used children's books to support their parenting efforts.
  • Top ways books have proved to be useful tools include: helping children understand feelings and emotions (54%) and helping children explore their interests (47%).
  • 51% of preschoolers (ages 0–5) are read aloud to at home 5–7 days a week, compared to only 37% of 6–8-year-olds and 16% of 9–11-year-olds.
• Elementary school years (ages 6–11)
  • Many parents of elementary-aged children have sought specific books that can help broach discussions about different or new experiences that their child may be facing, including navigating bullying (20%) and discussing difficult topics (32%).
  • Eighty percent of parents with 6–11-year-olds say it would be helpful to have resources to support their child's reading, such as questions or conversation-starters about what they are reading (40%) or a summary of the book or story (38%).
• Middle and high school years (ages 12–17)
  • Two-thirds of parents with teens (63%) believe it is important for their child to read books with characters who are similar to them and their experiences.
  • The majority of parents of teens (86%) believe that books can create opportunities for them to have conversations with their child.
  • Most parents of teens (69%) have used a book to help their child with something they are experiencing.
  • Teens see books as offering opportunities for introspection, with half of teens (54%) saying a book has helped them with their feelings, including confidence (28%), happiness (24%), and feeling thankful (21%).

The Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report is a nationally representative survey sharing the views of both kids and their parents on reading books for fun and the influences that impact kids' reading frequency and attitudes toward reading. This 8th Edition survey was conducted by Fluent Research between December 13, 2022 and January 6, 2023, with a total sample size of 1,724 parents and children including 637 parents with children ages 0–5, 1,087 parents with children ages 6–17, plus one child ages 6–17 from the same household. Parents of children ages 6–17 completed their survey questions first before passing the survey on to one randomly selected child in the target age range. The survey sample was sourced and recruited by Ipsos using their nationally representative KnowledgePanel®.

For more information about Scholastic (NASDAQ: SCHL), visit the Company's media room: http://mediaroom.scholastic.com. 

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SOURCE Scholastic Inc

FAQ

What are the key findings of the Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report for 2024?

Key findings include: 90% of parents agree books create conversation opportunities, 79% of parents with 0-5-year-olds use children's books for parenting, 51% of preschoolers are read aloud to 5-7 days a week, 80% of parents with 6-11-year-olds want reading support resources, and 63% of parents with teens believe it's important for children to read books with relatable characters.

How does reading frequency affect mental health in children according to the Scholastic report?

According to the report, more frequent readers report better mental health than infrequent readers. Infrequent readers report higher levels of nervousness and anxiety (50% vs. 39%), sadness and depression (37% vs. 25%), and loneliness (30% vs. 19%).

What percentage of parents use children's books to support their parenting efforts for 0-5 year olds?

The report states that 79% of parents with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers (0-5 year olds) have used children's books to support their parenting efforts.

How many parents of teens believe books can create opportunities for conversations with their child?

According to the Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report, 86% of parents with teens believe that books can create opportunities for them to have conversations with their child.