Research reveals fewer children than ever enjoy writing

I`ve often wondered why writing isn`t formally taught in schools, as the written expression of one`s thoughts is such an important skill to possess. From composing a succinct text, to writing a lengthy dissertation, the art of writing is of vital significance. A poorly composed email will hardly create a good impression, and as for a badly written CV or job application, one might just as well go to the effort of writing a series of paragraphs explaining how you aren`t right for the role.

According to the latest piece of research from the National Literacy Trust, children`s interest in writing has descended to a `crisis point.` The charity, which was founded in 1993 with the aim to work alongside schools and disadvantaged children to assist with their literacy, has said an `alarmingly low` number of children currently find enjoyment in writing.

In an extensive study conducted across the UK, a mere 34.6% of children aged between eight and eighteen said they enjoy writing during their free time. Those beginning secondary school seemed to find more interest in this area, with three out of four saying they enjoyed writing - though disappointingly this fell to just one in four by the age of sixteen.

This data comes out of a report entitled `Children and Young People`s Writing in 2023,` which surveyed more than 70,000 children from across the country. In the thirteen years since the NLT has been collecting data, the total number of children who stated they find enjoyment in writing during free time has fallen by 12.2%. This is especially disappointing since children and young students have stated to researchers at the NLT that writing greatly improves their mental wellbeing. They have also reported that writing improves social connectivity, helps them become involved and support those causes important to them, and engenders creativity, self expression and imagination. In reference to this the report goes on to say that `the decline in writing engagement should therefore be a cause for concern.`

This decline of interest in writing appears to be associated with a fall in literacy standards across the country. In 2022 41% of year six pupils finished primary school falling below the standards expected in maths and literacy. According to the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) thinktank, the number failing to attain the standard was 275,000 year six pupils (eleven year olds) - a figure 50,000 higher than in 2019.

Of course the pandemic very likely had a large part to play in these disappointing figures, the report conducted by the CSJ goes on to say the attainment gap in children (defined as the average educational grades between the poorest and wealthiest) is higher than it has been for a decade.

Research has found that more girls than boys find enjoyment in writing during their free time, while interestingly more children in receipt of free school meals enjoyed writing, an inversion of earlier results.

The report went on to say that `Every year since 2010, the National Literacy Trust has consistently found that children on free school meals are more likely to engage with writing in their free time than their better-off peers.`

`This trend has remained steady in the face of a global pandemic and an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis that has forced up the price of consumer goods and services at the fastest rate in four decades. This highlights the potential for writing for pleasure to play a vital role in the lives of disadvantaged children and young people.`

What kind of writing did children voluntarily engage in? According to the NLT report texts on mobile devices, and DM`s (direct messages) on computers are the most popular form. Over a quarter of children who enjoyed writing said they composed short stories on paper, while a fifth said they wrote creatively on tablets or computers. Almost a third kept a diary, with just as many writing letters. Almost half of these children said they would share a significant experience by writing about it.

The NLT Chief Executive Jonathan Douglas has stressed how important writing for pleasure is, expressing how it must be `encouraged, protected, and nurtured as a priority,` going on to say:

`The reduced scope for creative writing in the curriculum may be affecting children`s motivation and enjoyment for writing, which can, in turn, affect their confidence and literacy skills. We need to prioritise writing for enjoyment and recognise it`s important in helping children express their thoughts and feelings as they make sense of the world around them.`