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Encouraging Children to Read: Insights from HarperCollins’ Alison David at the Schoolreaders Volunteer Forum


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At Schoolreaders, our volunteers know the profound impact reading can have on a child’s life.


On October 15th we were thrilled to host a special online volunteer forum with Alison David, Consumer Insight Director at HarperCollins Children’s Books and Farshore, and author of Help Your Child Love Reading. HarperCollins have been researching children’s reading habits since 2012, and Alison has been exploring both the barriers to reading for pleasure and practical solutions to inspire lifelong readers.


Reading for Pleasure vs. Literacy: Understanding the Difference

Alison opened the forum by explaining a common misconception: many parents and schools confuse reading for pleasure with literacy. Literacy is the skill of decoding and comprehending text - a measurable ability that can be taught. Reading for pleasure, by contrast, is a choice: reading in your free time for enjoyment, imagination, and intrinsic reward.


“These two are deeply connected,” Alison explained, “but they are not the same. Children need literacy skills to access books, but enjoyment and motivation are what make them choose to read.”


The benefits of reading for pleasure are vast, cutting across social backgrounds: improved vocabulary, comprehension, empathy, well-being, academic attainment, and even social mobility. Yet, despite these benefits, recent research shows a decline in children’s reading enjoyment, particularly in secondary school, where reading can feel like a chore.


Barriers to Reading for Pleasure

Alison highlighted some of the main reasons children may avoid reading:

  • Reading as a task: Children often associate reading with schoolwork, homework, or assessments, rather than fun.

  • Limited exposure at home: Many children are read to less frequently than in the past, and some not at all.

  • Competition from screens: Digital entertainment dominates children’s leisure time, leaving little space for reading.


Solutions That Work

Drawing on her years of research, Alison shared effective ways to reignite children’s love of books:

  1. Reading aloud and taking the pressure off – Whether in schools or at home, reading aloud makes stories accessible and fun. The goal is enjoyment, not assessment.

  2. Choice and autonomy – Children are more motivated when they can choose what to read, whether it’s comics, fantasy, or contemporary fiction. Giving children agency builds confidence and engagement.

  3. Creating inviting reading spaces – Social reading spaces, like relaxed book clubs with cushions, snacks, and fairy lights, signal that reading is a pleasurable activity, not a lesson.


Alison shared the success of a secondary school book club trial with disengaged Year 8 students. After weekly sessions designed as fun, social, and non-compulsory, 60% of students reported greater interest in reading, over half were reading more, and 82% wanted the club to continue. One student even discovered manga and novels he hadn’t considered before, showing how choice and a relaxed environment can transform attitudes toward reading.


Practical Tips for Volunteers

Alison encouraged volunteers to make reading positive and interactive:

  • Share stories aloud with energy and humour.

  • Allow children to select their books whenever possible.

  • Encourage discussion, book recommendations, and shared excitement about stories.

Even small steps, like offering books for free choice, reading aloud with enthusiasm, or creating a welcoming reading corner, can make a huge difference in helping children choose to read for pleasure.


Bringing Research into Practice

The forum highlighted how Schoolreaders volunteers are already making an enormous impact. Alison’s research reinforces the importance of nurturing a low-pressure environment of enjoyment and choice in every reading session. By taking the pressure off, offering engaging books, and showing children that reading is fun, volunteers help children not only improve their literacy skills but also develop a lifelong love of reading.


  • Click here to watch the recorded forum on our YouTube channel.

  • Click here for a copy of the slides to download.

    Some of the strategies that are in the presentation relate to regularly reading aloud to children at home; we know that this is not always practical for many families, and we need to be mindful of this when speaking to the children about their reading outside of the sessions with volunteers.


    As always, please check any materials or ideas with the class teacher/Schoolreaders contact before applying them to your volunteering role.

  • For more information about HarperCollins research visit their website here.

 
 

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