Should Kids be reading Ebooks or paperback

jdy · Post by **jdy** » 13 Apr 2016, 16:21

I have the same question. My children are all teenagers so they are able to decide for themselves how they like to read. The Ebooks are more accessible especially if they have read the paperback books they have recently purchased. I do think however there is something missing if that is the only way they read. There is something to be said about the feel of a real book in your hands and the enjoyment you can get from that. With a "real; book as a parent you can tell how much they have enjoyed it and how many times they have read it by the way the pages look. That is just something you cannot get from an electronic book.

MakieMae · Post by **MakieMae** » 13 Apr 2016, 21:47

I was against ebooks for the longest time, but now I love the convience of my ereader. It's really nice to be able to get a new books as soon as I finish one. With that said, I definitley think that kids should start off reading real books. Today's youth are getting too emersed in technology and I think that there needs to be some sort of boundary.

Booky_BettyC · Post by **Booky_BettyC** » 13 Apr 2016, 22:10

I think as long as they are reading it shouldn't really matter. They will get their preference as they get older. Maybe give them some of both so they can pick what they like and have certain nights before bed where they pick from their actually library rather a device? I don't have any kids but looking back at the many times I have babysat in the past, it would be really weird to read a children's book from a device. Kind of takes the fun away from the cute graphics and physically picking a story with them.

apaigeinabook · Post by **apaigeinabook** » 18 Apr 2016, 11:34

I personally feel paper books are best, but if you have an older child, the fact that they are reading would be enough for me to say ebooks are good too!

Mille · Post by **Mille** » 19 Apr 2016, 19:09

I am a millennial and I have noticed my generation is suffering from premature vision deterioration due to all the time we spend on our phones and computers. I would place a kindle or Ebook in the same category as a product that creates chronic eye strain and other long-term vision issues. For that reason, I would recommend not letting young children read anything other than regular, paper-based books.

LydiaTheBookReviewer · Post by **LydiaTheBookReviewer** » 20 Apr 2016, 19:14

Kids should get the experience of both. Later on in life, they may need to be able to use an e-reader, but it is still good to read paper books

Ubissen · Post by **Ubissen** » 26 Apr 2016, 17:10

I am a Mother of three and a retired preschool teacher. When it comes to kids and reading I think it depends on their age and the situation. For very young children reading a paper book is a whole different sensory experience than reading it on a tablet or computer. Many of the books come with things to stimulate the senses like touch and smell and those things plus the feeling of paper and developing of fine motor skills by turning the pages are really great. The children's books you find in ebook versions teaches them a different skill set. Many have interactive features that lets the child interact with the story, many has a read to me feature as well. On the go and combined with regular paper books I think ebooks for small children has its place, but since they teach the child different things and stimulate different things in their development, I think it's best to combine them. That way you get the best of both worlds.

SEXYLM · Post by **SEXYLM** » 26 Apr 2016, 17:41

I work with kids and I think is good to be in used of both paperback and e-reader, but I have to say that sometime is good to have the feel of a real book in your hands.

Laura19804 · Post by **Laura19804** » 27 Apr 2016, 05:30

I have two young children 7 and 4, at the minute we love to sit close together pouring over a book, touching the pictures (without turning the page like with kindle books) they help turn the pages and one of our favourite things is to go into a book shop and spend ages finding the perfect book. I have no doubt in my mind that this will change especially when they get to the teenage years (especially considering I mainly get ebooks unless I love a book so much I will re-read it, then I buy it in actual book format too) but our time spent with paperback and hardback books is some of our families favourite. My boys get just as excited at bedtime choosing their books to read as they do when they go out for the day I just hope we can keep this enthusiasm.

lmoses · Post by **lmoses** » 06 May 2016, 16:15

I think that as long as a child is reading, it should not matter what they read on. Getting children to love books when they are young, will carry with them throughout their lives.

sch0013 · Post by **sch0013** » 06 May 2016, 19:29

I have trouble with insomnia- apparently electronic screens can contribute to it. My doctor told me try reading paper books at night instead. I think paper is a better choice for kids.

dragontattoo · Post by **dragontattoo** » 07 May 2016, 02:20

I absolutely have to have a hard copy of a book, being in college it's still a necessity but I have found that eBooks can also be helpful in college because it's a lot lighter and easier to locate key words and ideas that I can't seem to find due to my mind glazing over sometimes from all the information in a chapter. As well as underlining and high lighting that can be undone if I made a mistake. I can't stand it when I get used books that have high lighting and underlining in it from previous users, or when they have bent corners to save their page.

Orionsbelt · Post by **Orionsbelt** » 07 May 2016, 11:48

I think that if they're are reading and developing a habit, it doesn't matter what platform they read from.

AnnelizeDW · Post by **AnnelizeDW** » 07 May 2016, 13:00

I have to say I read a few of the posts on this subject and everyone mentioned some valid points. I never really thought of the differences between the two, but since I became a little girls guardian I started to notice what difference it makes in a child when reading from an electronic device or an actual paper book.

Electronic readers are good and all, but what do they learn from it, nothing. They learn nothing except how to get clever at downloading books and stuff (trust me it does not stay at books) and they get so attached to the device that you never see their eyes. When done reading they might be able to tell you what they read about, but not what the value of the book is or what the book meant to them.

Paperback, the new book smell when you open your book for the first time, you can not experience that with an e-book. The feel of the pages moving and sliding under your fingers. Having books can teach a child things like how to be organised (cause you'll have a book-shelve) and how to value what is on the shelve. And were electronics can be bad for the eyes, actually books can only damage your eyes when you read in the dark.

So, both have pro's and con's.

Vermont Reviews · Post by **Vermont Reviews** » 07 May 2016, 14:14

Booky_BettyC wrote:I think as long as they are reading it shouldn't really matter. They will get their preference as they get older. Maybe give them some of both so they can pick what they like and have certain nights before bed where they pick from their actually library rather a device? I don't have any kids but looking back at the many times I have babysat in the past, it would be really weird to read a children's book from a device. Kind of takes the fun away from the cute graphics and physically picking a story with them.

I agree