Why Do Parents Prefer Printed Books Over Digital Medium For Children

The digital medium is a curse and a blessing in all its true sense. Depending on how someone prefers to use Information Technology, this necessity which became the mother of all inventions has enjoyed its fair share of limelight and backlash.

However, when weighing a children’s requirement for exposure to digital media, it should always be limited. Child psychologists have even confirmed that excessive exposure to social media for a young child (before age 5) could lead to too much psychological stimulation, leading to distress.

But how does one avoid it? In the age of overpowering digital media, how does one prevent their child from overexposure in their growing years?

The answer is through exposing them to the traditional medium of learning. Children’s literature and good old storytelling are a way to enhance a child’s imagination and curiosity, which will never go out of style!

Hence the reason why many are choosing printed books over digital mediums.

Parent’s Preference Over Digital Medium

Many might bring about the high definition of a youtube video and how better colors and animations help children learn better. However, if you have had the chance to pick a recent children’s illustrated storybook, you would see a vast difference between the former printed ones.

• The illustrations are 100 times better!
• Animations are immaculate!
• The characters are more relatable to a child’s life!
• Stories have a fair share of magic and life lessons!
• Virtual book clubs for kids reading through the same physical copies can allow them to find relatability and joy among similar social companies.

Plus, no one can deny the tangible feel of paper, which every child should experience!

This is the real reason parents overtly prefer books over printed mediums.

1. The Tangibility

No Ebook and ‘Paperback’ Kindle feel they can beat the feeling of turning the pages as the story progresses. It is not the millennial parents who support this statement but also the children who get excited with the idea of a new book because of the sense of ownership.

Sometimes it is the fresh pages, and other times the pictures which adorn these pages.

2. Too Many Distractions From Digital Medium

The distractions are easy, whether they are reading an ebook through a mobile phone or Kindle. There is always another book within a touch. If it is a mobile device, the distractions are in the form of notifications.

It might be easier to remain concentrated as a full-functioning adult, but a child has a curious mind. Physical books allow your child to be engrossed without any distractions. Plus, reading through the large formatted texts, alongside seeing the pictures, engulfs their brain in that one activity.

This also prevents early childhood mental health issues like ADHD (Attention Deficiency Hyperactivity Disorder). This is where the child can lose concentration frequently. With age, frequent forgetfulness, hyperactivity, and anxiety are some of the major side effects of ADHD. Therefore, parents believe it’s better to avoid the meditative technique of immersive storytelling in physical books.

3. Language Comprehension

Nowadays, there is an increase in the trend of showing children videos for language comprehension. Although that is a good way to understand different languages, it also depletes comprehension since the child isn’t doing the reading.

Through sensory activation, our child’s cognitive development of memory enhances. They remember the images they have seen in the books and the text that follows. They read them aloud, allowing their own auditory system to hear them.

This overall improves the child’s comprehension of the language, helping them get a grasp of the language quicker.

4. They Protect The Eyes

Probably the most important one out of the bunch. Every parent’s worst fear is the depletion of eyesight due to early exposure to the screen, especially when every part of the body is still in its developing phase.

It is no secret that phones and tablets (essential source digital mediums) have harmful rays emitting from them. Rays can damage the eyes, dry them out quickly, irritate the cornea, and many more. A child whose visual senses are just growing shouldn’t be exposed to such troubles. 

This is why many suggest not providing any digital medium until the age of 3 and relying on physical books.

Physical Over Digital!

Today’s newborns are born in the digital era. With virtual reality being at its peak of invention, it is very easy for children to lose their sense of reality.

It is through physical copies of children’s literature that one can give them the reality check!

Plus, once they find the joy of reading, they will be inclined towards higher academic achievement.