New study says kids are trying to use books like phones in the classroom

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A recent study revealed that almost one-third of children begin school without the necessary skills to handle books. Some even try to swipe or tap the pages, behaving as if they’re using a smartphone or tablet.

A recent survey by the early years charity Kindred Squared revealed that nearly one-third of children starting school last year struggled with basic book handling skills.

I was really surprised to read a recent survey – it found that about 25% of kids haven’t fully learned to use the toilet by the time they start school! And even more concerning, around 28% still need help with eating and drinking on their own. It just seems like so many are starting school without those basic self-care skills.

Teachers link school readiness to screen time and life skills

According to teachers involved in a recent study, too much screen time for both children and parents is a key reason why some students aren’t prepared when they start school. Kindred Squared found that 37% of children were entering reception year without the necessary skills, an increase from 33% in 2024.

Readiness levels fell noticeably in areas like the North East, West Midlands, and North West. Staff reported spending about 1.4 hours daily changing diapers, and losing over two hours of teaching time because students were missing fundamental skills.

According to Kindred Squared CEO Felicity Gillespie, the problem of children falling behind isn’t limited to schools. It’s a widespread issue caused by factors like limited school funding, low expectations for students, the increasing cost of living, and a lack of information for parents about how to best support their children’s early development.

A recent study found that almost one-third of children attempt to swipe the pages of books as if they were using a smartphone when they begin school. The same survey, conducted by Kindred Squared, also revealed that a quarter of children are facing difficulties with fundamental life skills.

— TopMob (@TopMob) January 23, 2026

So, the UK government wants to make sure 75% of kids are properly prepared for school by 2028. Looking at the latest stats from the Department for Education, about 68.3% of kids were hitting those key development goals by the end of their first year (Reception) in 2025 – which is a little bit better than last year, thankfully. Hopefully, they keep making progress!

A different survey of parents showed that most – 88 percent – felt their child was ready for school. Over a third of those parents also thought their child was actually more prepared than other children their age.

Paul Whiteman, from the school leaders’ union NAHT, emphasized the importance of providing more support to children and families before they begin school. He also noted that quickly identifying and helping children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) can be very beneficial.

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2026-01-23 18:19