New study shows a decline in reading by the age of 9

SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY – From academic pressure to extracurricular activities, there are several reasons for the decline by nine.

This phenomenon refers to the decline in reading by the age of nine. Researchers discovered 57% of 8-year-olds read for fun. By the age of 9, only 35 percent continue this trend.

Laura Beth Fox-Ezell, executive program manager of Warren County Public Library, shares how we can get kids engaged.

She says, “If we are trying to encourage young readers to pick up a book that they are going to read all the way through and encourage them in their reading journey, we want them to find a book that they truly love.”

Melanie Sheridan, the director of marketing at United Through Reading, tells us, that helping your child gain interest can begin by incorporating it into their day-to-day activities.

Sheridan says, “Embrace technology. So an audiobook is a book. A graphic novel is a book. Something that you would have on a Kindle is a book. So to balance that, screen time, you know, encouraging them to maybe get away from social media building that into their day and making it part of the routine is a great way to combat that decline by nine.”

With school out in summer, finding ways to inspire your child to read might be a little difficult, but if you discover a resource closest to you that will not only help them academically now, it will also help them in their future.

Fox-Ezell also says, “Book deserts, just like food deserts, exist here in this community all over the place. Education. It doesn’t stop there right at that reading about an experience It’s also about getting to experience that in real life and trying to learn something new.”

Experts also tell us when it comes to the book your child chooses, letting them take the reins can also increase your child’s desire to read.

“Letting kids lead, if they love dinosaurs, if they love cars, if they love history, bringing those types of books and those genres to their attention will get them to see that reading, you know, can be a fun activity because it’s coinciding with those interests that they have.” Sheridan also says.