In this digital age, the decline in children’s reading habits has become a significant conern for parents, educators and researchers alike.  Although reading is essential and fundamental skill critical for academic success and cognitive development, why children today avoid reading books, is it lack of motivation, as it plays a pivotal role in shaping a child’s willingness to engage with texts. When children do not find reading enjoyable, they are less likely to pursue it actively. Not many children find reading literature that resonates with their interests or reading levels, leading to disinterest. Parents should play a pivotal role in shaping their children’s reading habits. The home environment an encourage or discourage reading. When parents prioritise reading and model positive reading habits, children are more likely to view reading as an important activity. But if parents are disengaged from reading themselves, children may adopt similar attitudes. However, reading together can foster a love for literature. Parents who read aloud to their children and engage them in discussions about stories can enhance their appreciation for reading.

 Australia had world’s first social media banned for children under 16s. The UK’s National Literary Trust found that only one third of five to 18-year-olds enjoy reading in their spare time -the lowest level in 20 years. Are we to blame gaming, social media, television, music and Silicon Valley for distractions that deny children the developmental benefits of literature. Since 2022, a downward trend has emerged. It is critical we write for children of today and not those of 50 or 10 years ago.

Now is the ideal time for buying books as Christmas presents for children to inspire and encourage them to read as an extraordinary story never goes out of fashion including books like The Spirit of Hope by Byung -Chul Han, The Goog Soldier by Ford Madox, Italo Calvino’s Invisible Cities, Foster by Claire Keegan, Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy, Where the Heart Should Be by Sarah Crossman, King Fisher by Rosie Kelly, Wise Children by Angela Carter, , When will there be Good News by Kate Atkinson. Amos and Boris by William Steig, The Ask by Sam Lipsyte, Kingishers Catch Fire by Rumer Godden, Ultimate Spider-Man by Marvel, Elizabeth Day’s One Of Us,