Statistics on Reading to Your Child 2024- Read to Him or Her at Home If You Want it to Become Successful (Facts and Trends)

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Is parents reading to their children helpful for children? Will being read to help them in later life or will it hinder them?

Should you read to your child at your home?

My updated statistics guide on reading to children for 2024 has everything you need to know.

Use this jump link to quickly jump to the KEY STATS section.

Also, all the references and resources I used in crafting my guide are listed at the bottom of the page.

Jump here: Key Reading to Children Statistics Facts and Trends for This Year (Detailed Info)|  Reading to Children Statistics Facts and Trends for This Year (Detailed Info)

Statistics on Reading to Your Child 2024- Read to Him or Her at Home If You Want it to Become Successful (Facts and Trends)
Statistics on Reading to Your Child 2024- Read to Him or Her at Home If You Want it to Become Successful (Facts and Trends)

Table of Contents

Key Reading to Children Statistics Facts and Trends for This Year (Detailed Info)


Key Reading to Children Statistics, Facts and Trends for 2024

  • Children who are read to at least three times a week by a family member are almost twice as likely to score in the top 25% in reading compared to children who are read to less frequently.
  • Reading aloud to young children is reported to be the single most important activity for building the knowledge and skills they will eventually require for learning to read.
  • Only 48% of young children in the United States are read to daily by a family member.
  • Children who are read to frequently are 1.4 times as likely to display literacy skills well above those of their age group.
  • By age 3, children from low-income families have heard 30 million fewer words than children from higher-income families.
  • 75% of children who are poor readers in third grade will remain poor readers in high school.
  • Reading to children 3-5 days per week (compared to 2 or fewer) has been found to make them almost three times as likely to have high levels of phonemic awareness.
  • Children who are read to frequently are 1.6 times as likely to be rated by their teachers as having high levels of self-control.
  • Two-thirds of children who cannot read proficiently by the end of 4th grade will end up in jail or on welfare.
  • The number of words in picture books is often greater than the number of words children hear when parents talk to them.
  • Reading to children exposes them to 50% more words than average conversation.
  • 90% of a child’s brain development happens before the age of five.
  • Children who are read to regularly by their parents are more likely to recognize letters of the alphabet by the time they enter kindergarten.
  • 80% of preschool and after-school programs serving low-income populations have no age-appropriate books for their children.
  • Children who are read to at least once a day have substantially stronger reading skills than those who are read to less frequently.
  • By the age of 2, children who are read to regularly display greater language comprehension, larger vocabularies, and higher cognitive skills than their peers.
  • Reading to children for 20 minutes a day exposes them to 1.8 million words per year.
  • Children who have books read to them get a head start in language and literacy skills and go to school better prepared.
  • Fewer than half (48%) of young children in the United States are read to daily by a family member.
  • Reading aloud to children helps them acquire early language skills, develop positive associations with books and reading, and build a stronger foundation for school success.
  • Children who are read to at home have a higher success rate in school.
  • 61% of low-income families have no children’s books at home.
    The more types of reading materials there are in the home, the higher students are in reading proficiency, according to the Educational Testing Service.
  • Students who choose what they read and have an informal environment in which to read tend to be more motivated, read more and show greater language and literacy development.
  • There is a 90% probability that a child will remain a poor reader at the end of the fourth grade if the child is a poor reader at the end of first grade.
  • Reading to children in an interactive style raises their IQ by over 6 points.
  • Children who are read to at least three times a week by a family member are almost twice as likely to score in the top
  • 25% in reading compared to children who are read to less than three times a week.
  • The number of books in the home correlates significantly with higher reading scores for children.
  • Children who were read to frequently as toddlers and preschoolers are more likely to recognize all letters of the alphabet, count to 20 or higher, write their own names, and read or pretend to read.
  • 15 minutes per day of independent reading can expose students to more than a million words of text in a year.
  • Approximately 68% of people aged 40 and above use some form of vision correction for reading.
  • The average age when people start needing reading glasses is between 40 and 45 years old.
  • The global reading glasses market was valued at approximately $3.1 billion in 2020. The global reading glasses market has hit the $38.95 billion valuation in 2024. The market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8% from 2024 to 2032, reaching $61.04 billion by then. 
  • The most commonly purchased magnification strength for over-the-counter reading glasses is +2.00 diopters.
  • On average, people replace their reading glasses every 1 to 2 years, either due to wear and tear or changes in vision.

Reading to Children Statistics Facts and Trends for This Year (Detailed Info)


How Does Reading Frequency Affect a Child’s Reading Performance?

Children who are read to at least three times a week by a family member are almost twice as likely to score in the top 25% in reading compared to children who are read to less frequently. Children who are read to frequently are also 1.4 times as likely to display literacy skills well above those of their age group.

In fact, reading aloud to young children is reported to be the single most important activity for building the knowledge and skills they will eventually require for learning to read.

Here are some more interesting stats related to frequency of being read to in early age and overall success in life:

Reading to children 3-5 days per week (compared to 2 days or fewer) has been found to make them almost three times as likely to have high levels of phonemic awareness.

Children who are read to frequently are 1.6 times as likely to be rated by their teachers as having high levels of self-control.

What Percentage of Young Children in the United States Are Read to Daily?

You’ve seen from the stats above how crucial early reading is for cognitive development of children and toddlers. So it’s discouraging to know that only 48% of young children in the United States are read to daily by a family member. This means 52% of US children are missing out on potential benefits.

What Is the Word Gap Between Low-Income and Higher-Income Families by Age 3?

By age 3, children from low-income families have heard 30 million fewer words than children from higher-income families. This is because parents who’re struggling to make enough money are often working 2-3 jobs and don’t have time to interact with their children.

Whereas richer parents can afford to hire nannies and tutors to interact with their children as much as possible.

Education for low-income-families is the matter of least concern. 61% of low-income families have no children’s books at home and this negatively affect their children’s future.

And even if these poorer families somehow manage to send their children to daycare programs, things are still looking bleak for their children’s life outcomes due to lack of quality in chosen daycare center.

80% of preschool and after-school programs serving low-income populations have no age-appropriate books for their children.

What Percentage of Poor Readers in Early Grades Remain Poor Readers Throughout High School?

75% of children who are poor readers in third grade will remain poor readers in high school. Two-thirds of children who cannot read proficiently by the end of 4th grade will end up in jail or on welfare.

There is a 90% probability that a child will remain a poor reader at the end of the fourth grade if the child is a poor reader at the end of first grade.

By What Percentage Does Reading to Children Increase Their Word Exposure?

Reading to children brings forth an entire new world of words into theri livevs and vocabularies.

Here are some interesting stats:

reading to children exposes them to 50% more words than average conversation. Children who were read to frequently as toddlers and preschoolers are more likely to recognize all letters of the alphabet, count to 20 or higher, write their own names, and read or pretend to read by the time they enter kindergarten.

The number of words in picture books is often greater than the number of words children hear when parents talk to them but pales in comparison to a parent reading from a book to their child.

What Percentage of a Child’s Brain Development Occurs Before Age Five?

90% of a child’s brain development happens before the age of five.

By the age of 2, children who are read to regularly display greater language comprehension, larger vocabularies, and higher cognitive skills than their peers.

Reading to children in an interactive style raises their IQ by over 6 points.

How Does Reading to Children Affect Their School Preparedness?

Reading to children for 20 minutes a day exposes them to 1.8 million words per year.

Children who have books read to them get a head start in language and literacy skills and go to school better prepared.

In other words, children who’re read to at least once a day have substantially stronger reading skills than those who are read to less frequently.

Reading aloud seems to be extra helpful. A recent survey of the parents in the US and Canada showed that reading aloud to children helps them acquire early language skills, develop positive associations with books and reading, and build a stronger foundation for school success. That’s what the happy and proud parents reported.

How Does the Variety of Reading Materials at Home Affect Reading Proficiency?

The more types of reading materials there are in the home, the higher students are in reading proficiency.

Children who choose what they read and have an informal environment in which to read (like a small home library) tend to be more motivated, read more and show greater language and literacy development.

Reading to Your Child at Your Home Statistics, Facts and Trends for 2024 (FAQ)


Statistics on Reading to Your Child 2024 (FAQ)
Statistics on Reading to Your Child 2024 (FAQ)

How Does Reading to Children Help Them Develop Socially? Why is it Important?

Reading to children helps them develop socially by exposing them to different perspectives, emotions, and situations through stories.

This allows them to learn empathy, understand social cues, and practice navigating relationships by identifying with characters and their interactions, ultimately building better social skills and emotional intelligence.

How Does Reading to Children Help Them Develop Physically? Why is it Important?

Reading to children help with their physical development in many ways, including:

  • Developing fine motor skills: activities like turning pages, grabbing pages, and lifting flaps help develop your child’s fine motor skills. Interactive books with buttons, flaps, or keyboards can also help.
  • Developing hand-to-eye coordination: reading involves the eyes, hands, and arms working together to make precise movements.
  • Sensory development: books with unique textures, like touch-and-feel books or board books, help children become more accustomed to new textures.
  • Gross motor skills: reading games like Sight Word Twister can help children move their body while practicing reading skills.
  • Visualizing: reading helps children create miniature movies in their mind. This also bulks up their imagination.
  • Stress reduction: reading helps children reduce and manage their stress. And yes, even children, especially very small toddlers can have stress, usually from constantly encountering something new in this new world they found themselves in. When they can’t run to their mom for help, they can turn to their picture book for comfort.
  • Sleep improvements: Reading to your child every night can help them relax and improve their sleep.

How Does Reading to Children Help Them Develop Emotionally? Why is it Important?

Reading to children can help them develop emotionally in several ways, including:

  • Understanding emotions: reading about feelings helps children understand and accept their own emotions, and that others may feel the same way. This helps develop empathy as you’ll see below.
  • Developing empathy: reading about people with different lives and perspectives helps children appreciate other people’s feelings.
  • Learning to manage emotions: reading provides children with the language to name their feelings, and gives them an opportunity to talk about them.
  • Practicing perspective-taking: reading allows children to learn about a wide range of people, places, and events.
  • Building relationships and social skills: reading can help children feel connected, attended, and nourished.

How Does Reading to Children Help Them Develop Intellectually? Why is it Important?

Reading to children helps children develop intellectually. It boosts their brain development, cognitive skills, imagination, attention span, social skills, emotional skills and of course language skills.

Which Approach to Reading Can Give Children the Skills to Decode New Words?

The Phonics Method is the easiest way to teach children to pair sounds with letters and blend them together to master the skill of decoding.

How Can Caregivers Teach Reading to Children?

Here are some ways caregivers can teach children to read:

  • Read together- read to your child every day, and make reading a regular part of your routine.
  • Ask questions- ask your child questions about the story or characters to encourage critical thinking and comprehension. You can ask literal questions to help your child recall information, or inferential questions to help them think about the story and combine it with what they already know.
  • Create a literacy-rich environment- give the child access to a variety of reading materials, such as books, magazines, newspapers, and e-books. You can also stock your home library with age-appropriate books.
  • Model reading– show the child that reading matters by letting it see you read for pleasure as well.
  • Talk a lot- expose your child to a variety of words by talking and singing to them about everything.
  • Practice shared reading- read aloud together and let your child help tell the story.
  • Play word games– play word games to help your child learn.
  • Collaborate with teachers- establish strong communication channels with your child’s teachers to ensure a cohesive approach.

When Should Caregivers Begin Reading to Children?

When it comes to reading to children, the earlier you begin, the better for your child and it’s long term odds for successful life.

Ideally, caregivers should begin reading to children as soon as they are born as it helps with brain development, establishes a foundation for language development and fosters a love of reading from a young age.

How Can Caregivers Engage Especially Young Children in Reading?

Especially young children are notorious for lack of focus.

To help them concentrate on your reading you can try the following:

  • read aloud with expressive voices;
  • ask open-ended questions about the story;
  • allow children to interact with the book by pointing to pictures;
  • pick books based on their interests;
  • make reading a regular routine so the child learns to expect it,
  • incorporate different voices for different characters;

Basically, create a fun and interactive experience around the book rather than have them just passively listen to your words.

How do Reading Levels for Children Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Tend to Compare to Those of Hearing Children?

Children who are deaf or hard of hearing generally tend to have lower reading levels compared to their normal-hearing peers. Many studies show a significant gap in reading comprehension and overall literacy skills, often falling below the average level for their age group.

This gap then usually widens as children progress through school.

Why is it Important to Identify Children Who are At-Risk for Reading Problems as Early as Possible?

If you’re a teacher or children’s educator it’s important to identify children who’re at risk for reading problems so that you can help them get up to speed and not fall behind on their studies.

Falling behind and seeing their peers zoom past them in knowledge and reading abilities will hurt the children’s motivation and self-esteem.

Which Strategy Appears to Be the Best Way to Help Improve the Reading Abilities of Children With Dyslexia?

According to research and expert opinions, the best strategy to improve the reading abilities of children with dyslexia is a structured, systematic, and multisensory phonics-based approach which explicitly teaches the connection between letters and sounds.

This method is often referred to as the Orton-Gillingham method; it involves direct instruction, repetition, and incorporating multiple senses to aid learning.

What are the Best Books for Encouraging a Love of Reading in Young Children?

Some of the best books for children for encouraging a love of reading in young children are:

  • Frog and Toad: A series with relatable characters and approachable text that can hook reluctant readers.
  • A Friend for Dragon: An Acorn Book: A book with humor and surprise that can make readers laugh.
  • Library Girl: A biographical picture book about Nancy Pearl, a shy young girl who discovers the public library and finds. confidence.
  • Read to Your Bunny: A poem that can invite children into the world of reading.
  • We Are in a Book!: A book about Gerald and Piggie, best friends who discover the joy of being read.

Should You Even Read to Babies and Toddlers?

Yes, you should read to babies and toddlers. In fact, as a parent you need to read to your child as soon as you bring it home from the hospitals.

Because study after study shows that roughly 90% of a child’s brain development happens before the age of five. And reading to your child is one of the best way to boos its cognitive performance s much as possible. For example, reading to children in an interactive style raises their IQ by over 6 points.

Reading to Your Child at Your Home Statistics, Facts and Trends for 2024 (Conclusion)


My updated guide for 2024 lists the best and latest statistics, facts and trends about reading to your child at your home and all the benefits your child can get from it.

I hope you enjoyed it because the guide is now over.

References:

Nikola Roza

Nikola Roza is a blogger behind Nikola Roza- SEO for the Poor and Determined. He writes for bloggers who don't have huge marketing budget but still want to succeed. Nikola is passionate about precious metals IRAs and how to invest in gold and silver for a safer financial future. Learn about Nikola here.

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