By Edward Nawotka
Today’s story by Kristen McLean of the Association of Booksellers for Children explains why she believes digitization and e-books are good for literacy.
Of course, some parents are likely reluctant to put their child in front of any type of electronic gizmo — be it a computer, television or beeping toy. Some may also be reticent to give their child an e-reader, which has the potential to be more edifying. Tell us: have you incorporated digital media into your home and way you interact with your child? Do you use an e-reader to read to them at night? Do they use one on their own, and, if so, is it something you encouraged or did they come to it by themselves?
Let us know in the comments below or via Twitter using #ppdiscuss.
3 Comments
I think many parents would like their kids to enjoy and appreciate reading a book the old-fashioned way. Parents remember the pleasure they derived from curling up with a wonderful book and entering a world where imagination reigned. Perhaps parents should take hope in the fact that although different forms of reading will prevail in this new, electronic age, children will still love ‘real’ books and enjoy them the old-fashioned way. Parents can help here by reading to their kids at night, buying wonderful editions of stories, and accepting that for any child to succeed in an age of technology that child must embrace new electronic forms of absorbing information.
I live in South Africa where most parents are still rather traditional in outlook and would prefer their kids to actually page through a real book.
A refreshingly upbeat and informative article by Kirsten. We run a very ‘old fashioned’, traditional bookshop (new and second hand) and we’re also a small-time publisher, and I’m very excited about embracing these new forms of digital media, without feeling that our ‘bread and butter’ trade of hard copies need feel under threat in the immediate future.
My own daughter (9yrs old) loves to read e-books on my phone during car journeys and, if anything, encourages her to want to read even more and, consequently, buy more books (real ones!).
I recently set up a Young Fiction Review Panel (details on our website) and have been greatly encouraged by the response of young readers – we have over 30 panelists already, some of whom have asked if they can review e-book editions, something I’m going to look into very soon.
So, thank you for such a wonderful article. I, for one, feel very optimistic about the future.
David, Scarthin Books of Cromford
http://www.scarthinbooks.wordpress.com
I’ve recently taken to reading to the kids in their beds at nighttime via my iPod Touch. The lights can be down and the kids more inclined to relax with the lights out and my iPod in night-time mode.
The kids love it and I enjoy the process too.
Sometimes the kids ask for more during the daytime too and I’m happy to fish out the iPod and oblige.
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