E-books have become increasingly popular over the past few years. While it has not deterred people from buying physical books, it has instead increased the sale of books altogether. People who already purchased and read books regularly have stuck with their habits, but the presence of e-books has encouraged these same readers to look at a wider variety of books than they ever have before. It has also enticed non-readers into purchasing and trying out books for themselves. The great thing about e-books is that they take up less space and, for many; they tend to cost less than their print counterparts. These factors have helped to sell bestsellers to infrequent readers but it has also made lesser known titles and authors far more marketable as well.
Why e-books?
Now, what does any of this have to do with children, you ask? Well, a lot of the same logic applies. E-books can be great alternatives for children who already love to read. As a parent, you can introduce more titles to your child than ever before. Since you will also be buying your child these books or lending them from the library in limited numbers, knowing that you can purchase cheaper e-books or even find some free online, can certainly put you at ease.
For the reluctant reader, e-books can be exactly what may help a child get hooked. In this day and age, tablets, phones and computers are a part of our everyday lives. It has gotten to the point where even kids demand a significant amount of screen time to watch their shows and play their games. As a parent, you can make a child’s screen time valuable by making sure that they are at least using a majority of this time to ply educational games and watch interactive and imaginative shows. The same goes for e-books. If a child is reluctant to pick up a book and wants to use their tablet instead, there are plenty of interactive e-books out there that can pique their interest. Some of these e-books feel more like games, especially if they are on a screen. Since many reluctant readers feel as if reading is a chore for them, introducing them to e-books can show them just how fun it can be.
For these same nonreaders, there are not only plenty of fun e-books out there, but there are even personalized e-books that make the experience even more exciting. KD Novelties has several personalized e-books that can feature your child’s name and make them feel like they are a part of the story.
e-books and Comprehension
E-books can be great learning tools for avid and nonreaders alike. The interactive interface can make the material more engaging and exciting for them, which can be extremely helpful if you are introducing them to reading material that is more educational than fantastical. Reading any kind of book will help boost their reading comprehension and even their writing skills, but if you want to introduce your child to a more difficult subject or want them to read a more informational book, then using an e-book format can make it feel more fun for them. This can be especially helpful to parents who homeschool their children or parents who want to play a bigger role in their child’s education outside of school.
Engagement
For many kids, looking at a screen is far more engaging than looking at a page. On a technical level, these two activities are identical, but to a child whose world is increasingly becoming more and more digital, it may be the thing that helps them interact with books and reading more in general. Even if your child is not reading an e-book per se, even encouraging them to use their tablet for educational games and other activities means that they are learning how to become more computer literate. In the fast-growing technological world, this sort of skill can be vital. So many children these days know how to better navigate the settings of an app than their parents do. Computer literacy also means that they are developing their general literacy as well. As kids learn how to go through the motions of menus and sidebars, they learn how to read some things on their own out of their own inherent interests.
As far as e-books go, some kids may feel more of a sense of engagement and accomplishment when reading in this format as it sometimes provides additional visual cues that physical books cannot offer. While reading does require visual skills, not all visual learners are good readers. Depending on what you use to read e-books, some devices provide in-system dictionaries to help with words that kids may not recognize. Some also allow for the reader to highlight sections and use the Internet to ask questions or find related sites to the books they read. Even the counter on the bottom of most books telling the reader just how far they’ve gotten can help keep kids motivated as it may feel a bit like a video game.
How to Read an e-Book with Your Child
Reading an e-book is a lot like reading a traditional book. If you are trying to get a reluctant reader to read, reading aloud and often with them can help encourage them to read on their own. If you are reading with an avid reader, then you can ask them to read to you instead.
As a parent, you will want to read e-books with your child before letting them read them on their own. This way you can help them learn how to operate the device and how to use everything they have available. Showing them how to read on their own will encourage them to be responsible when they do so alone.
