Why every child needs a daily dose of stories, and how we can make it happen.

Only one in three children now say they enjoy reading in their free time it is the lowest figure in nearly two decades (UK, National Literacy Trust, 2024). Yet the evidence is crystal clear: reading regularly equips young minds with the cognitive, emotional, and social skills they’ll need to out‑think, out‑create, and out‑care the toughest challenges of tomorrow.

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1. Reading literally rewires the brain

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FMRI studies show that literary reading lights up networks involved in vision, language, and default‑mode imagination simultaneously, strengthening neural connectivity (Word Frequency & Reading Demands study, 2023; Stanford “This Is Your Brain on Jane Austen”, 2012).

A March 2025 review of more than 40 neuro‑cognitive studies concluded that habitual reading boosts memory, attention, and processing speed at every life stage (Liblime, 2025).

That makes reading one of the most effective forms of mental workout and as any form of workout for most people it does not come naturally, it takes long to have a clear impact but it also builds on the principle of compounding interest. The sooner you get into the habit of it, the sooner you’ll see the results. And it never is too late to start.

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2. The academic edge that compounds for life

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Children who read for pleasure daily at age 7 scored significantly higher in vocabulary and mathematics at 16—even after controlling for parental education and socio‑economic status (Sullivan & Brown, 2015).

Across the 690 000 students in PISA 2022, the biggest single predictor of high reading scores was not parental income but time spent reading for pleasure outside school (OECD, 2023).

There has been a significant decline in literacy in OECD countries over the last few decades in large thanks to the effects social media has had on younger generations. And it is bad news for many. On the bright side we know what to do getting into the habit of reading is a proven way of bypass these issues in future.

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3. Emotional intelligence & empathy on demand

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Five experiments published in Science showed that reading literary fiction for as little as 15 minutes boosts theory‑of‑mind scores, sharpening our ability to understand other people’s emotions (Kidd & Castano, 2013).

Story immersion builds what psychologists call narrative transportation, a fast‑track to perspective‑taking that textbooks rarely match.

This is why great stories are not just an exercise for the brain but also for the heart. It gives us the ability to be emphatic to understand each other and bond a social skill that is learned in family and strenghtened through reading fiction.

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4. Built‑in stress‑relief & mental‑health armour

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Six minutes of silent reading can cut stress levels by 68 %, outperforming music, walking, or video games (MindLab International, University of Sussex, 2009).

School‑based “creative bibliotherapy” programs show promising effects in reducing anxiety and improving wellbeing among adolescents (Redman et al., 2024 systematic review protocol).

Practice what you preach they say - this is one of my small rituals. Almost every night before falling asleep I read at least a few pages of a good old fashioned printed book. And the calming effect clearly reflects on the quality of sleep I get. Reading is a form of anxeity relief I could not advocate enough.

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5. Future‑ready creativity & problem‑solving

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Reading stretches imagination—the raw material for innovation. As AI automates routine tasks, uniquely human skills like divergent thinking, ethical reasoning, and storytelling become priceless. Books are still the most scalable way to nurture them.

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How to grow life‑long readers

1. Start early & out loud. Daily read‑alouds build vocabulary before children can decode words themselves.
2. Model the habit. Kids who see adults reading at home are up to six times more likely to read voluntarily (OECD, 2023).
3. Build a culture, not a chore. Launch family “Drop Everything And Read” moments, swap recommendations, visit libraries, host book‑based movie nights.
4. Celebrate every chapter. Micro‑acknowledgements keep motivation high stickers for pages, selfies with finished books.

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by Ritvars Vulis, Co-Founder & CMO of Blossom Reads.

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References

1. National Literacy Trust. Children and Young People’s Reading in 2024 (2024).
2. MindLab International, University of Sussex. “Reading reduces stress by 68 %” (2009).
3. Liblime. “10 Ways Reading Improves Cognitive Function” (2025).
4. Sullivan, A. & Brown, M. Reading for pleasure and progress in vocabulary and mathematics. British Educational Research Journal 41(6), 971‑991 (2015).
5. OECD. PISA 2022 Results. Volume I (2023).
6. Kidd, D. C. & Castano, E. “Reading Literary Fiction Improves Theory of Mind.” Science 342, 377‑380 (2013).
7. Redman, H. et al. “The impact of school‑based creative bibliotherapy interventions on child and adolescent mental health: A systematic review protocol.” Systematic Reviews 13, 86 (2024).
8. Nature Publishing Group. “Word frequency and reading demands modulate brain activation in semantic reading” (2023).
9. Edutopia. “The Benefits of Reading for Pleasure” (2017).
10. The Guardian. “‘Shocking and dispiriting’ fall in children reading for pleasure” (2024).

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