1 in 10 people don’t own a single book
A damning new report by UK insurance company Aviva has found one in ten people don’t own a single book – that’s around 6.5 million people. And, when you narrow the age range to 18 – 24 years, the number rises to one in five.
The research suggests people are becoming addicted to technology faster and much more earlier in life than ever before. In fact, 45 per cent of families with children reported texting one another even while everyone was under the same roof.
Sadly, old-fashioned pastimes like board games and card games have fallen by the wayside, with 27 per cent of households admitting they didn’t even own a pack of playing cards. 34 per cent haven’t got a single board game and a staggering 54 per cent don’t own a pack of dominoes.
On the other hand, each home in the UK has an average of 8.2 internet-connected devices, and 10.9 in households with children. Now that TVs, thermostats, security cameras and other systems are linked to the internet, this number is only predicted to rise.
“Our possessions are changing as the world advances, with traditional pastimes often making way for modern alternatives,” said Aviva spokeswoman Lindsey Rix.
Another recent study by the National Literacy Trust found that a third of young people do not have a single book of their own.
With all this in mind, what can be done to encourage children and teenagers to fall in love with reading again? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
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