Helping Your Kids Off Screens and into Books

If you have a young person at home struggling to fill their time post-social media ban, we have some suggestions of things to read and do instead!

The benefits of reading for comfort and connection are well known - Australia Reads say 'reading for pleasure has a range of benefits for children and teens – reducing stress and anxiety, boosting cognitive development, and supporting literacy and educational achievement. But more importantly, it’s also just fun!'

Previously, screens have been a real barrier to getting young readers into books. A recent study from the University of South Australia shows that social media use skyrocketed post Covid (everyday social media usage increased from 26% in 2019 to 85% in 2022), which has naturally meant less time for other activities like reading. 

So, the time is right is encourage kids and teens back into reading - but how? Takeaways from the Understanding Australian Readers report discuss how finding and choosing books can be overwhelming and become a barrier to getting into reading. We've pulled together some ideas below into five key categories aimed at grabbing young readers with easy, accessible hooks. 

Browse our collection of books to kick-off a new hobby, like drawing, crafting, gardening or board gaming. There's even activity books tied to beloved icons like Taylor Swift, Fortnite, sports stars and more!

We all know that you should read a book before watching the movie or TV series, so check out some of the books behind screen hits like How to Train Your Dragon, Pretty Little Liars, The Magic Faraway Tree and Heartstopper.

A good way to ease a reluctant reader in might be through a shorter, standalone book, or by trying a different text type like verse novels or graphic novels.

Or maybe you want to set your young reader up with a series that'll keep them occupied book after book. We've pulled together a list of the first books of various series that are binge-ready, from The Land of Stories to Cherub, Nevermoor to The Naturals. 

Another way to hook a reluctant reader is through books that feel like a game: extra fast-paced and action-packed stories. Our collection includes manga, sci-fi and more. 

We hope that these ideas help the young people in your house channel their spare time from the screen to the page, and encourage a life-long love for reading! If you're looking for more tips, Australia Reads has you covered with their post on the social media ban, and you can follow our Kids' and Young Adult social media pages for more recommendations, giveaways, events and more.