Gaming to Blame for Falling Literacy Levels?

A new study suggests that gaming is one of a number of factors contributing to a drop in literacy levels amongst UK children.

The literacy study found that England’s place in the worldwide reading league has declined sharply, dropping from third to fifteenth, something UK tabloid The Sun attributes to children spending too long playing videogames, MCV reports.

“Kids hooked on computer games have sent England plummeting down world league tables for reading,” reads the intro to the story in The Sun.

According to the study, 37 percent of UK children play videogames for three hours a day, much more than children in other European countries.

However, schools secretary Ed Balls noted that gaming is just one of a number of pastimes that has led to children neglecting reading.

“Today’s youngsters have more choice now than in 2001 about how they spend their time. Most of them have their own TVs and mobiles and 37 percent are playing computer games for three hours a day. We all need to help our children of all ages to see that reading can bring fun to their lives.”

News-Source: Next-Gen