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Touch-screen devices could close the gap in children's literacy

Touch-screen technology could be used to to combat low literacy in boys and disadvantaged children, suggests a new report.

According to the 'Early Years Literacy Survey', carried out by the National Literacy Trust (NLT) and Pearson, three- and four-year-olds from working class and non-working households, compared to their peers from upper middle and middle class families, spend more time reading stories on a touch-screen device than they do reading books.

Based on the responses of 1,012 parents of three- to five-year-olds and 567 early years practitioners who work with this age group, the survey shows the same is true for boys when compared to girls, regardless of their socio-economic status.

Twice as many boys than girls, 24 per cent compared to 12 per cent, look at or read stories on a touch-screen for longer than they look at or read printed stories.

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