Reading for Pleasure

Part V

This information is taken from the National Library website.

Improves vocabulary, spelling, and maths

  • The Social inequalities in cognitive scores at age 16: the role of reading research from University of London’s Institute of Education (IOE) has found children between the ages of 10-16 who read for pleasure, make significantly more progress in vocabulary, spelling and maths than children who rarely read. Study author Dr Alice Sullivan found:

    "...reading for pleasure was more important for children's cognitive development between ages 10 and 16 than their parents' level of education. The combined effect on children's progress of reading books often, going to the library regularly and reading newspapers at 16 was four times greater than the advantage children gained from having a parent with a degree."

    Social inequalities in cognitive scores at age 16: The role of reading

    Reading for pleasure and progress in vocabulary and mathematics