New research from Oxford University Press shows how children take life lessons from books

The findings of a new report from Oxford University Press, More than words: the real-life impact of reading, reveal how the majority of children believe that reading shapes how they treat others and helps them to navigate real-life situations.

The new research shows that three in five children (59%) believe what they have read in a book has helped them in a certain situation—such as being bullied, losing a family member, overcoming social anxiety, or starting a new school—highlighting that the benefits of reading go further than just understanding and comprehension. Other findings include:

• Seven in ten children (70%) said that reading helps them understand why people act the way they do
• More than two-thirds (68%) said it helps them think about how they treat other people
• While more than half (57%) of 12-14-year-olds continue to see the value of reading, both enjoyment and frequency of reading declines; 27% of 12-14-year-olds question its value in day-to-day life, with 17% undecided.

The report is based on a survey of 3,000 children aged 7-14 years old and 200 teachers across the UK, and with insights from the Oxford Children’s Corpus—the largest living database of children’s reading and writing in English in the world, containing over 500 million words.

Reading has an impact in real-life situations

82% of children agreed that stories remind them of things that happen in real life, showing the strong connection children make between what they read and their own experiences. 

Our research also highlights the important role reading plays in helping children to understand and talk about their emotions. More than four in five children (84%) said reading helps them learn new words for feelings.  

Teachers are seeing these benefits first-hand. Almost all teachers surveyed (95%) agreed that reading helps children develop their vocabulary, while three in five said they had witnessed a pupil gain a better understanding of an emotion through reading. More than nine in ten teachers (91%) identified empathy and perspective-taking as key benefits of reading. 

Emotional themes are not confined to particular genres 

Our research suggests that children do not necessarily seek out books about emotions directly but instead gravitate towards more entertaining books which can present real-life issues and emotions in accessible ways through humour or action.  

When asked what genres they prefer to read, children said they were most drawn to funny stories (49%), adventure stories (40%), and fantasy stories (30%). However, many of the books cited alongside these genres—for example, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Lottie Brooks, and Harry Potter—explored serious topics like conflict with friends, bullying, or bereavement. 

A challenge with older readers 

While children of all ages can gain emotional insights from a wide range of books and genres, the findings suggest that, as they get older, many need help maintaining their connection with reading.

Nearly three-quarters (72%) of children aged 7-10 said they liked reading, however, this fell to 59% among 11-14-year-olds. Reading frequency also dropped, with 79% of 7-10yr olds who said they read at least once a week, compared with just 61% of those aged 11-14.  

One possible reason for this decline is that some older children do not see books as relevant to their daily lives. While 57% of 12-14-year-olds recognize the value of reading, one in four (27% of 12-year-olds; 25% of 13-year-olds; and 29% of 14-year-olds) disagreed that books had helped them navigate situations they have faced. A further 17% are neutral on the topic. 

This presents an opportunity to provide more support to help older readers discover books that reflect their experiences and interests so that they feel reading is more meaningful and engaging. 

Elizabeth Munn, Managing Director of OUP’s Education division, said: “This research shows how deeply children are engaging with the books they read and using them to make sense of the world around them. It’s incredible to see how children are actively applying what they read on a page to real life—whether that’s understanding the perspective of somebody else, navigating a situation in their own life, or reflecting on their own behaviour towards others.  

“Children are growing up in an increasingly complex world. Our research reaffirms that reading remains one of the most powerful ways to help them develop empathy, confidence, and emotional understanding—skills that are just as important as academic success in equipping them for the future.”  

The report also includes contributions from leading literacy and education organizations, including Book Aid International, EmpathyLab, and the National Literacy Trust. 

Read the full report here.