Ebooks Versus Print Books, The Best Option For Kids Story Time

Image result for parent reading an ebook for the child

 

We say that we have to move with the times and the seasons as they come and technology is slowly taken over everything. Technology is said to have solved most thing in the domestic lives of humanity but some things are better left done in the traditional way.

Areas like education, technology has taken the forefront to make things better accessible and of course light in weight, we are no longer carrying 100 books for the 100 subjects we do. However, this is not the case of toddlers.

According to a study done by the Journal of Pediatrics, reading print books over digital versions has more impact on the cognitive and emotional development of toddlers.

Image result for parent reading a story for the child

The study gathered 37 parent-toddler pairs and had the parents read stories using different formats including a print book, a basic ebook, and an enhanced ebook (one that comes with music, sound effects, and animated characters). The researchers then recorded the sessions to observe the interactions between the parent and toddler.

Researchers found that parents and toddlers talked more and had more collaboration, for example, turning pages and holding the book when reading printed books together. When using electronic books, toddlers were more focused on tapping or swiping on the device instead of focusing on the story.

Speaking during an interview with ABC News, Dr. Tiffany Munzer, the lead author of the study said parents who read to their children print books had more positive interactions with them.

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“The print book is really the gold standard in eliciting positive interactions between parents and their children,” said Dr. Tiffany.

Perri Klass, a paediatrician who co-wrote the study’s accompanying commentary, notes that ebook enhancements diminish story engagement and obstruct text comprehension as both parties are too busy engaging with the device.

If you want to teach your child to read and be smart, print books are a great start. Children learn a lot from their parents and by reading books aloud for them,  you will be teaching them how to be confident and love reading from an early age.

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