With the education of teens being at the forefront of the media – it’s important now more than ever that teenagers across the UK participate in constructive downtime.

A survey conducted by the National Literacy Trust showed that children’s enjoyment of reading increased during lockdown – before lockdown reading enjoyment was at 47.8 per cent and has since increased to 55.9 per cent. A third of children who took part in the survey also said they read more during lockdown.

So, what are the benefits of reading? Research suggests that children who read regularly are 2.5 times less likely to develop Alzheimer’s Disease. Reading is also a great way of keeping children away from their screens while increasing their vocabulary and psychologists say that reading can increase how empathetic people are.

Stress has also become a growing problem for everyone during these uncertain times. Dr Lewis, a cognitive neuropsychologist, told The Telegraph: “Losing yourself in a book is the ultimate relaxation. This is particularly poignant in uncertain economic times when we are all craving a certain amount of escapism.”

The key to reading is having a wide range of books accessible. Children at Court Fields School have access to the school library which has many popular titles.

Jasmine Smith-Kerr

Court Fields School