Why Reading Print Books Is Still Important For Kids

In this modern age of technology, print books are taking a backseat to screens. However, reading the printed word has timeless benefits to young readers. Here is why reading print books is still important for kids.

Vocabulary Acquisition

According to Booksource, “exposure to vocabulary through reading physical books not only leads to higher scores on reading tests, but also higher scores on general tests of intelligence for children.”

So, it’s a fact: reading print books makes you smarter! But how, one might ask, does reading a print book make you a stronger reader?

Sensory Experience

Reading a physical book offers a child opportunity to dive into reading. It becomes a sensory experience. The smell of paper. The audio sensations of pages flipping or voices reading aloud. The feel of putting one’s finger under a word in an attempt to sound it out. All of these sensory experiences become core memories of the reading experience.

Focus and Concentration

While tablets and computer screens brightly light up the written word, they are full of distractions for young readers—the attraction to open a video game tab (it’s always there!), the distraction of pop-up ads, the possibility of shallow reading (where the reader is more skimming the page than reading for comprehension)

Whereas, reading a print book takes focus and concentration allowing for a richer literary experience.

Health

For healthy living, Canadian Blood Services recommends, “every 20 minutes, look up from your screen and focus on an item approximately 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.”

Screen time can affect vision and create issues with focus and dry eyes. When you think about the number of screens pushing out messages to us in our daily lives (in transit ads, menus at restaurants, TV, movie theatres, billboards, home computers, driving consoles, etc.), we are exposed to screens throughout the day.

Reading a print book gives our bodies a pause from the constant screen time. Think of it…when you read on a computer you lean in. When you read a book you lean back. Even our physical posture changes when reading on a screen vs a print book. Which again…affects health.

Creating Community

Whether reading together at bedtime or enjoying story time in the classroom, reading a print book in a group setting creates a special community for the reader. Where reading on a screen is an isolating experience, reading a print book together is an opportunity for bonding.

Screens have their place in society. However, reading a print book still has an important place in the life of a reader. And in a world where libraries and bookstores still have solid places in our lives, it is important to visit them and take the opportunity to borrow/buy a printed book.