FEWER children are reading books for pleasure as they ditch traditional after-school activities in favour of spending time online, a study found today.

Children would rather be on the computer playing games or surfing the net than reading, doing homework, playing sport or looking after a pet, researchers at the Schools Health Education Unit found.

There was also a slight decline in young people working part-time after school, the study found.

The research said: "Several activities seem to have declined over the last decade or so, like reading and doing homework.

"We have started collecting figures about young people acting as carers in the home, and as volunteers in their communities."

In the early 1990s, 45% of 12 to 13-year-old girls said they enjoyed reading after school, but this has dropped to just 25%.

And the study suggested that children were spending less time on homework.

Around 45% have regularly reported doing up to one hour of homework, but the figure fell to just 38% among older pupils.

Young people play sport after school less often as they grow older, with 60% of 10 to 11-year-old boys and around 25% of 12 to 15-year-old girls taking part in sport after school.

There was a slight downward trend in children working part-time, the study found.

Half of children reported using a computer after school the day before they were questioned. Many also had access to the internet at school.

There was little change in the number of children playing a musical instrument, seeing friends and watching television.

:: The report from the Schools Health Education Unit was based on data for 448,124 children aged between 10 and 15. Tweet