Is it true that boys find it harder to learn to read than girls?

Interesting article from Julia Eccleshare in the Guardian UK on the current state of research around male and female reading skills and development. I'm not sure I agree with her assessment in whole (it's too brief to know for sure), but I do suspect it has less to do with gender and more to do with how children are taught.

That said, when I was a wee lad learning to read, I didn't. The girls were learning by the time we were in Kindergarten but the boys were seeing who could run faster, who could swing higher (and then jump), or who could hit the tetherball the hardest.

Is it true that boys find it harder to learn to read than girls?


There is no scientific proof of gender differences in reading, but more boys than girls become either 'can but don't' or 'can't and don't' readers


Julia Eccleshare
guardian.co.uk, Monday 24 October 2011



Hidden code? ... primary one children learning to read at Menstrie Primary school, Scotland. Photograph: Murdo Macleod


There is no scientific proof of gender differences in reading and lots of boys do learn to read easily and do enjoy it. But what is known is that, once in the classroom and certainly under test conditions, more boys than girls become either "can but don't" or "can't and don't" readers. Often-cited reasons for this are sociological ones such as boys having fewer reading role models or boys being more interested in more active pursuits. 

The wealth of funny books such as Andy Stanton's Mr Gum titles, Dav Pilkey's Captain Underpants, Francesca Simon's Horrid Henry or Jeremy Strong's The Hundred-Mile-an-Hour Dog are all perfectly pitched to encourage boys to read. Additionally, the current vibrant climate for authors and readers to meet has been beneficial as boys relish meeting their favourite authors and are likely to become keener readers in the process.