Reading Day 2025: Opportunities for children – One in three children remains without a book!

Reading Day 2025: Opportunities for children – One in three children remains without a book!

In a world that is increasingly characterized by digitalization, reading aloud must not take a back seat. This message is particularly well received on nationwide reading day, which is always celebrated on the third Friday in November. According to the Diocese of Eichstätt, numerous parish and community libraries in the diocese are taking part and show how important this tradition is for young families.

However, a current survey that accompanies the Reading Monitor 2024 finds worrying findings. In one in three families, people rarely or not read aloud. This has an impact, as DIE ZEIT and the Reading Foundation show that there are a particularly large number of children between the ages of five and seven who hardly receive any impulses to read aloud. Such early experiences play a crucial role in the motivation to read and the basics at primary school age.

The role of libraries

In this context, diocesan librarian Martha Gottschalk emphasizes the valuable and often voluntary work of the library teams. The Berngau parish and community library, for example, is celebrating 40 years of existence. The volunteer leader Monika Lorek has been active for 27 years and organizes regular reading campaigns. Not only is their library accessible, but it also attracts many parents with young children.

A look at Ornbau shows that the library there offers monthly reading activities for elementary school students. The director there, Monika Bast, is observing increasing use by families from new development areas, which underlines the importance of local library work. “Reading aloud promotes concentration, language development and also consideration in children,” says Gottschalk.

Reading activities are catching on

The library in Eichstätt is also a pioneer by regularly offering bilingual reading times. In Seppelsdorfer Paulushofen, the reading day was particularly successful this year and is becoming more popular every year. Claudia Hiebinger, who organizes the event, emphasizes the importance of reading - including comics. This diversity appeals to many children and promotes reading culture. The Paulushofen library has established itself as a popular meeting place, so events sometimes have to be held in the fire station - a sign of the large number of visitors.

But there are also challenges. According to the Vorlesemonitor, parents who do not read aloud are often unable to assess whether their children have difficulties learning to read. While more and more parents are turning to digital media, analogue reading remains an indispensable basis. After all, 43 percent of parents already use children's apps, 26 percent of them specifically for reading aloud.

In order to strengthen the culture of reading aloud, it is important to continually motivate parents and inspire children to do so. This is the only way to ensure that more children discover the world of books and stories - and perhaps a generation will soon grow up again that cultivates reading aloud as a valuable tradition.