Today, Scholastic announced the findings of the 2010 Kids & Family Reading Report, a national study of children age 6-17 and their parents. The study, conducted every two years, explores a wide range of topics around reading in the 21st Century.

One of the main findings from this year’s report is that the more kids use technology, the less time they spend reading books for fun. The Kids & Family Reading Report found that from age 6-17, the time kids spend reading books for fun declines while the time kids spend going online for fun and using a cell phone to text or talk increases. And the parents surveyed in the report expressed concern that the use of electronic and digital devices negatively affects the time kids spend reading books, doing physical activities, and engaging with family.

But it’s not all bad news. The findings also suggest that technology can be a positive motivator to get kids reading – 57% of kids age 9-17 say they are interested in reading an eBook, and a third of children age 9-17 say they would read more books for fun if they had access to eBooks on an electronic device.

And those eBooks? They’re here to stay. While only 6% of parents surveyed currently own an electronic device used for reading eBooks and other digital publications, 16% plan to purchase one in the next year. And parents are happy to share: approximately 8 in 10 (83%) of these parents say they do or will allow/encourage their child to use their eReader.

The report has already made a splash in the national news – check out today’s pieces in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Associated Press. The full report is available for download at www.scholastic.com/readingreport.