Do your students read regularly? If not, can they remember the last book or article they read? Most of our daily reading behaviours consist of consuming easily digestible content on apps like X, Instagram and TikTok. But, by not engaging in reading properly, students may be missing out on a number of important benefits that reading can offer them.
By examining the research, we’ve discovered four scientifically supported ways that reading regularly can positively impact the life of your students.
So, in the spirit of the National Year of Reading, let’s find out:
How much reading is enough?
Before we start looking at the benefits of reading regularly, let’s look at how much reading is actually enough to make a difference in the first place.
The good news is that students don’t need to spend hours with their nose in a book to experience the benefits of reading. According to Renaissance’s 2025 report on children’s reading habits, students appear to only need 15 minutes of daily reading practice a day. In fact, children who followed this rule made academic gains well above the national average.
However, it seems that the amount of reading is less important than the content. Renaissance recommends reading needs to be purposeful. Is the text engaging? Does it have meaning or a wider story? Does it stretch students’ abilities? So, when encouraging students to form daily reading habits, emphasise that what they are reading is just as important as how long they are reading it for.
What are the benefits of reading regularly?
So, it only takes around 15 minutes of focused reading a day to reap its benefits. But what are the actual benefits of reading regularly?
1. Reading for improved learning outcomes
One study by the National Literacy Trust found that young people who enjoy reading regularly show greater reading proficiency, vocabulary development, text comprehension and grammar accuracy, proficiency in mathematics, and learning in general.
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley have found that books expose children to up to 50% more words than prime-time TV. As well as volume of words, children are more likely to be exposed to rarer words if they read instead of watch them. Importantly, the researchers go on to explain how exposure to higher levels of vocabulary helps children gain more knowledge and perform better in exams.
2. Reading to boost your brain power
It has been suggested that “reading is to the brain what exercise is to the body”. Not only does reading have the ability to help you become more intelligent, but it can also grow your brain’s functionality. It has been found that reading regularly has the power to improve memory retention and brain function and stem the decline of mental ageing by 32% in later life.
3. Reading to de-stress
At the University of Sussex, researchers have found that reading for six minutes per day can reduce stress by up-to 68%. Reading can be as cathartic as exercise or listening to music. Encouraging students to take a short amount of time out of their day to read can be a great way to help them de-stress away from school, sport and their social commitments.
4. Reading to help you sleep
One way to incorporate reading regularly into a busy schedule is reading before you go to bed (see our blog on ways to help you fall asleep for other more creative ways to prepare for a better night’s rest). Reading a book before bed can help relax the mind and can become a great substitute for a tablet or smartphone, which can actually make you stay awake for longer.
Final thoughts
Reading is one of the most powerful activities when it comes to student development, leading to higher academic outcomes and healthier lifestyles. It is also incredibly accessible to all children, with free texts often being available online or in school libraries.
Yet, despite the benefits and accessibility of reading, very few students’ daily routine even meets the minimum recommendation for regular reading. Whether you’re a student yourself, a teacher looking to model positive habits, or a parent wanting to support their child, encouraging and engaging with regular reading is an investment that is worth looking into.
Remember, it doesn’t have to be a big change; just 15 minutes of purposeful reading can make a great difference over time!
