On the Radar: Reading Down Among Children; E-Cigarettes Likely Cause Cancer; What Does ‘NPC’ Mean

Fewer Schoolkids Read for PleasureWhat? The National Center for Education Statistics released a report indicating that kids and teens are reading on their own time at lower rates than ever before. In 2012, 53% of 9-year-olds and 27% of 13-year-olds reported reading for fun every day. In 2025, those numbers had fallen to 37% and 14%, respectively.So What? Reading is a key component in child development, affecting brain growth, increasing vocabulary and enhancing memory. Other studies found that c