Most children feel under pressure to make their summer holidays productive rather than just having fun, new research has found. Two thirds feel the need to "summer-maxx" by setting goals, learning new skills or achieving something during the break.
Half say reading is something they have to do rather than want to, according to the study by London Luton Airport (LLA). The airport has launched a new campaign to help families switch into holiday mode, encouraging them to swap "summer-maxxing" for a "pagecation" and take time out to escape into a good story.
Graphic novel aims to restore joy of reading
Staff have teamed up with Luton-based comedian, author and illustrator Olaf Falafel to create 26 Minutes to Save Summer, a graphic novel designed to help children rediscover the joy of reading for fun this summer. The book follows the adventures of Average Joe and Robo Snail as they take on the villainous Dr Prodktiv, who wants to fill the school holidays with efficiency and achievement.
"Nobody needs another thing to achieve during the summer holidays. Sometimes the best thing you can do is switch off and get lost in a story – preferably a funny one," Olaf said. "That's exactly what we wanted 26 Minutes to Save Summer to do. It's got a villain trying to optimise all the fun out of the holidays, a robot snail, and hopefully enough jokes to tempt even the most reluctant reader to turn the page.
"I loved comics as a kid, and they opened up my imagination completely, so I hope this helps children travelling through London Luton Airport see reading as something joyful, not something they have to tick off a list."
Reading for enjoyment at record low
Data from LLA's charity partner, The National Literacy Trust, highlights that reading for enjoyment among eight to 18-year-olds has fallen from 58.6% a decade ago to just 36.1% today. Just 20.3% read daily. 26 Minutes to Save Summer is being released during the National Year of Reading, a nationwide campaign to encourage everyone to discover the joy of reading.
Dinny Smith, assistant director of education at the National Literacy Trust, said, "The National Year of Reading is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine what reading can look and feel like for every child. We know that children are more likely to build a lasting love of reading when they can follow their own interests and choose formats that excite them – whether that's graphic novels, comic books, audiobooks, or reading digitally or in print."
Clare Armstrong, head of guest experience at LLA, revealed her hope that the new book would help convert some young holidaymakers into bookworms. "We're always looking for simple and friendly ways to make our passenger experience easier and more enjoyable," she said. "By partnering with Olaf to create this amazing graphic novel and distributing more than 2,000 free copies, we're giving families who fly from LLA this summer a free, fun and easy way to switch into holiday mode before take-off. We hope it will also help children rediscover reading as something exciting, imaginative, and full of adventure."
The book forms part of LLA's Summer Resort, a series of fun and interactive activities for passengers travelling this summer and will be available from 27 July while stocks last.
