Reading for Fun Boosts Test Success in Children

A recent psychological medicine study found that those who read for pleasure for 12 hours a week likely to be more cognitively capable and to have better mental health. Data from a current initiative concentrating on brain development and child health in the United States was examined by researchers from Cambridge University and Food University. 10,000 adolescents’ brain scans, interviews, cognitive tests, mental and behavioral evaluations, and other data were examined. After that, they made a comparison between children who began reading for enjoyment between the ages of two and nine and those who began later or never.

Reading for Fun Boosts Test Success in Children

Compared to their counterparts who didn’t read for pleasure, children who started reading for pleasure at an earlier age demonstrated superior verbal abilities, memory, speech development, and academic achievements. The study’s findings show that kids who read for enjoyment have better mental health, show fewer signs of stress or despair, and have fewer behavioral problems. Additionally, they had better sleep habits and spent less time in front of screens like phones and TVs.

The researchers found that these kids’ brain scans revealed that those who read for enjoyment had larger brain volumes and surfaces, particularly areas associated to cognitive skills.

More isn’t necessarily better, though. Children who studied for more than 12 hours a week reported less enjoyment, maybe as a result of their prolonged sedentary time.

According to Professor Barbara Sahakian of the Cambridge University Department of Psychiatry, “reading is not just a pleasurable activity; it is widely acknowledged that it stimulates thinking and creativity, improves empathy, and reduces stress.”

We discovered strong evidence that it is fundamentally related to important developmental aspects, children’s experiences, mental health, and brain shape, which lay the groundwork for future learning and wellbeing.

In the words of Professor Barbara Sahakian of the Cambridge University Department of Psychiatry, “reading is not just a pleasurable activity; it is widely acknowledged that it stimulates thinking and creativity, improves empathy, and reduces stress.”