According to a recent study, childhood reading boosts mental health and brain health in adolescence. It was also revealed that early childhood reading for pleasure often results in teenagers who demonstrate improved test scores during adolescence.
In fact, engaging in reading for pleasure contributed to better verbal learning, memory retention, and speech development, while also showing signs of reduced stress, depression, and behavioral issues.
Several key facts emerged from the research. The optimal weekly reading duration was found to be around 12 hours. Adolescent readers also exhibited larger total brain areas and volumes, particularly in regions associated with cognitive functions and mental health. Published in Psychological Medicine, the University of Cambridge was the source of this study on habits of childhood reading and mental health in teenagers.
Early childhood reading for pleasure is a significant and enjoyable activity during childhood. Unlike listening and spoken language, which develop rapidly and naturally in young children, reading is a learned skill that requires explicit learning over time.
During childhood and adolescence, our brains undergo development, making this a critical period to establish behaviors that support cognitive development and promote brain health. Until now, the impact of encouraging children to read from an early age on their brain development, cognition, and mental health later in life has remained unclear.
To address this knowledge gap about how childhood reading boosts mental health, researchers from the University of Cambridge, the University of Warwick, and Fudan University analyzed data from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) cohort in the United States, which included over 10,000 young adolescents. The research team examined various data sources, including clinical interviews, cognitive tests, mental and behavioral assessments, and brain scans.
They compared young individuals who started reading for pleasure at an early age (between two and nine years old) with those who began later or did not engage in reading at all. The analyses took into account important factors such as socio-economic status.
The findings reinforced the cognitive and mental health benefits of reading. Leisurely childhood reading boosts teen mental health, besides reducing the risks of mental health disorders and conduct problems related to restlessness, aggression, and rule-breaking.
It was also found that early childhood reading makes children prone to spending less time in front of screens, such as watching TV or using smartphones or tablets, during the week and weekends. Additionally, they tended to have longer sleep duration.
However, while the study celebrates how childhood reading enhances brain health, the researchers also warn against excessive reading time that extends beyond the stated duration of 12 hours per week.
Beyond this threshold, it was noted that there was a gradual decline in cognition, possibly due to increased sedentary behavior and reduced engagement in other activities that could provide cognitive enrichment, such as sports and social interactions.
Elaborating on the findings of the study in a Forbes publication, the lead authors stated: “We encourage parents to do their best to awaken the joy of reading in their children at an early age. Done right, this will not only give them pleasure and enjoyment, but will also help their development and encourage long-term reading habits, which may also prove beneficial into adult life.”