New study reveals the biggest obstacles to kids’ reading habits and how parents can help

July 24, 2025 at 12:01 PM EDT

(BPT) - The benefits of developing an early love of reading are well known, but recent reports have shown that literacy rates continue to decline globally. With unprecedented competition for children's attention, almost half (42%) of parents say distractions from phones, gaming, and TV prevent their child from reading more - according to new research from Amazon Kindle.

The survey, which polled parents with kids between the ages of 7 and 12, reveals that over three quarters (77%) of parents want their kids to read more, but almost half (44%) say that their kids read less frequently than they did as a child. The vast majority (95%) of parents frequently attempt to motivate their child to read more, but 46% say their child gets distracted easily while reading.

"What we're finding today is that, in addition to the common challenges kids may face while reading, we're also up against a myriad of other factors that are competing for their time and attention," says literacy expert Dr. Molly Ness.

Parents aren't giving up, instead they're actively working to foster a love of reading and maintain their child's interest by letting the child pick the books they read (36%) and the format they read in (25%), whether that's physical books, eBooks or audiobooks.

And with two in five (40%) parents citing visual elements, such as illustrated books, comics or graphic novels, as key motivators for their child to read, now is the time for parents to consider the recently launched Kindle Colorsoft Kids. Built to be distraction-free, with no apps, browsers or messaging capabilities, it immerses children in a world of stories with the added benefit of an easy-on-the-eyes color display.

Kindle device closed and open to show options for a variety of books to read.

Kindle Colorsoft Kids

"We know parents and caregivers are interested in encouraging consistent reading habits for their children," says Ness. "They understand the benefits and they're invested in helping them. But many of them struggle to find ways to help their child overcome common barriers to reading more, like a lack of confidence or lack of interest. While every child is unique, there are several tools parents can use to help."

Ness shares her top tips to help parents encourage reading habits:

Prioritize ARC (Access, Relevancy & Choice) for increased reading time: Kindle Kids provides instant Access to thousands of highly popular books through the included 6-12-month subscription to Amazon Kids+, giving children access to books Relevant to their interests, curiosities and passions. Finally, Kindle Kids offers unparalleled Choice with its customizable reading experience. When children see their reading choices and identities reflected in what and how they read, they are more likely to dive deeper into reading.
Consider e-readers built specifically for kids: When selecting an e-reader for your child, it's important to consider one that is made specifically for kids. Ness recommends a Kindle Kids device, such as the new Kindle Colorsoft Kids. It has an easy-on-the-eyes color display, and it gives kids the ability to customize their experience. That includes choosing between two cover designs or the book they'd like to read, or adjusting the text font, spacing or screen brightness that works best for them. When children can customize their device to match preferences and enjoy artwork in full color, it's easier to see themselves as readers.
Build reading confidence through accessibility features: Over half (64%) of survey respondents said their child uses a reading tool, including text-to-speech technology (22%), adjustable font size (22%), and adjustable lighting (20%). Finding a device with features that work best for your child is crucial, especially for individuals needing personalized accessibility options. Features like adjustable brightness, font size and spacing reduce the visual burden of reading and allow children to focus more on enjoyment and understanding while reading.
Let your child be in the driver's seat of their reading choices: First, provide a menu of options: picture book or graphic novel, chapter book or short story? Next, give them a choice of where they would like to read. Devote a special place in your home to reading, like a cozy chair, a blanket fort underneath a table or even the bathtub! Finally, let them choose how they would like to read, so they can pick the format - physical book, eBook or audiobook - that works best for them.

*The research was conducted by Censuswide, an independent market research company, with 2,000 parents of kids 7-12 in the U.S. between July 8 and July 16, 2025.

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New study reveals the biggest obstacles to kids’ reading habits and how parents can help

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