Teachers lament as kids now swipe, tap books like phones

Teachers have raised concerns in a new survey over a growing trend of young pupils trying to tap or swipe the pages of books as though they were using smartphones.

The concerns emerged from a survey conducted by early years charity Kindred Squared, which polled more than 1,000 primary school staff across the United Kingdom.

Nearly one in three children who started reception last year were reported by teachers to struggle with handling books properly.

Some pupils were said to press pages, tap pictures or attempt to swipe forward, appearing to expect the book to respond like a digital screen.

Staff said the behaviour is part of a wider pattern they are noticing in classrooms, with more children needing extra support from their first day in school.

Many teachers reported losing approximately 2.4 hours of teaching time each day while trying to help pupils who struggle to settle into basic routines.

The report describes the scale of the challenge clearly, noting that “primary school staff report that growing numbers of children are struggling with life skills such as being toilet trained, emotional regulation, and having basic language skills.”

Teachers warned that the effects go beyond individual pupils and are now disrupting entire classes.

The report added, “The impact is felt by every child in the class, with, on average, 2.4 hours of teaching time lost each day due to catch-up needs, more than half of which (1.4 hours) is spent supporting toileting alone.”

Survey data also showed that 26 per cent of children were not toilet trained when they started reception, rising to 36 per cent in parts of the North East. Staff said 28 per cent could not eat or drink independently, while around one in four struggled with basic language skills.

Teachers also raised concerns about emotional development. One reception teacher said, “I’m finding this year more than ever I’m having to teach perseverance… we’re finding that they’re a lot more impatient and quick to anger… I’ve never seen anything like this emotional dysregulation.”

More than half of those surveyed linked the trend to excessive screen time at home, saying it is changing how children interact with real-world objects such as books, toys and learning materials.

There also appears to be a gap between what parents think is happening and what teachers see in the classroom. While most parents believe they are doing enough, the survey found that 86 per cent said they accept responsibility for toilet training before school, yet many children are still arriving unprepared.

Chief Executive of Kindred Squared, Felicity Gillespie, said the findings reflect wider pressures on families, including rising living costs and a lack of early guidance on child development.

The UK government has said it wants more children to be school ready by 2028 and has promised funding for early years support through new family hubs.

However, the survey further revealed that habits formed at home, especially around screen use, are already shaping how children approach books, learning and classroom life before they even begin school. (Guardian)