As kids head back to school, area pediatricians and librarians are encouraging parents and caregivers to help younger children embrace a love of reading.

In some cases, that task may be an uphill battle. Surveys have shown that reading for fun is on the decline among kids and parents.

The most recent Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report found the percentage of U.S. children who read for fun at least once a week declined from 79% in 2010 to 72% in 2022. More kids also report reading less as they get older.

The Scholastic survey also showed that fewer U.S. parents are reading to their newborns. Out of the surveyed parents, 43% read to their newborns in 2018, but 37% did in 2022. And parents reported being less frequently advised to read to their newborns; 63% said they got that ad

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