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Mobile phones 'more popular than books' among pupils
26 May 2010
School-age children are more likely to own a mobile phone than a book, according to new research.
A study by the National Literacy Trust found that nine out of 10 school pupils own their own mobile phone, compared to less than three-quarters who have their own books at home.
Jonathan Douglas, National Literacy Trust director, told the Telegraph: "By ensuring children have access to reading materials in the home and by encouraging children to love reading, families can help them to do well at school."
Researchers also uncovered a link between the reading abilities of children and the amount of books in their household.
The study found 80 per cent of children with advanced reading abilities owned their own books, compared to 58 per cent of pupils with below average literacy skills.
The National Literacy Trust aims to improve the reading and writing abilities of the one in six people in the UK thought to have problems with literacy.