Children's vocabulary is shrinking as their screen time continues to grow, Susie Dent has said. 'The vocabulary gap is getting bigger and there is a real perception that vocabulary development is suffering and that impacts learning. I think technology has a huge role to play in enhancing children's vocabulary, if it's used in the right way, but I think reading is really suffering.' She is fronting a new campaign with her perhaps unlikely partner Soreen malt loaf aimed at boosting children's vocabulary while they snack. 'There is a huge concern around reading and vocabulary expansion,' says Dent, who co-presents Channel 4's Secret Genius with Alan Carr.

Source: Daily Mail February 13, 2026 11:12 UTC