Are We Reading to Our Kids Less? New Research Says Yes—Here’s How to Bring It Back

There’s a little family ritual that may be quietly disappearing.

A child climbs beside you. You open a book. They interrupt before you finish the first page. They point at something completely unrelated to the story. You do a ridiculous bear voice. Five minutes later, somehow, you’re talking about whether bears wear pajamas.

That wonderfully imperfect ritual is shared reading—and new research suggests American families may be doing less of it than they once did.

What the new research found

A 2026 study published in JAMA Network Open examined parent-reported reading habits among nearly 7,000 U.S. families with preschool-age children.

Before the pandemic, a national estimate found that 84.6% of preschool children were read to at least three times during the previous week. In spring 2020, the figure was 82.5%. Reading frequency subsequently declined, with the largest drop appearing in spring 2021, and remained below the earlier level through 2024.

That doesn't mean the pandemic alone caused families to read less. The researchers point to several possibilities—including disrupted routines, changes in preschool participation, parental stress, work schedules and greater screen use—but the study wasn't designed to establish cause and effect.

One particularly interesting finding: physical books mattered

For every additional 10 physical books in the home, researchers found 8% higher odds of frequent shared reading.

Access to eBooks, meanwhile, wasn't significantly associated with how frequently families read together.

That doesn't prove paper books are inherently better than digital books. Families who own more books may differ in many other ways. But it does suggest something wonderfully practical: making books easy to see and easy to grab may help reading become part of everyday family life.

And this isn't really about hitting a number

Parents already have enough things they're told they "should" be doing.

So instead of turning reading into another nightly assignment, try making it easier—and more playful.

Put books where life happens. Keep a small basket beside the couch, a few books near the breakfast table or one in the car. A book that's visible has a better chance of being opened.

Let your child choose. Yes, even if they choose the same dinosaur book for the 47th time.

Don't feel obligated to finish. Three enjoyable pages together can be more inviting than battling through twenty.

Talk about the pictures. Ask, “What do you think happens next?” or “Why do you think she looks worried?” Shared reading doesn't have to mean an adult talks while a child silently listens.

Add music and silliness. If a story contains animals, make their sounds. If there's a rhyme, sing it. Clap a rhythm. Give characters ridiculous voices. The goal is to make books something children want to come back to.

Try the Storybooksong 10-Minute Swap

Tonight, try something simple: replace just 10 minutes of your family's usual routine with a book.

Let your child pick it. Put the phone away. Sit together. Read, talk, laugh, wonder and wander completely off-topic if that's where the conversation goes.

Because reading together isn't only about teaching a child how to read.

Sometimes the most important part is simply this:

For a few minutes, a child has a story—and you—completely to themselves.

Sources & Further Reading

Jung K, Barnett WS. Parent-Child Shared Book Reading With Preschoolers During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Network Open. 2026.

National Institute for Early Education Research (Rutgers): Study summary and key findings.