Books or e-books: which are best for your child?

The National Literacy Trust’s study into the impact of e-books on children’s reading attitudes, attainment and behaviour revealed positives across the board. Children’s reading ability improved as a result of using e-books, and the effect was particularly marked in boys: over the four-month study, the average boy’s reading level increased by over eight months. Girls benefited too, with their reading level going up by over seven months.

There are a variety of reasons why children may find e-books more engaging than printed books. ‘Some children say they find reading on paper uncomfortable because the print is too small and there are too many words on the page,’ Irene explains. ‘Being able to change the print size when reading an e-book makes them easier to read.’ Other studies have suggested that this could have particular benefits for children with special educational needs like dyslexia or visual processing disorders.

The accessibility of e-books makes them attractive to children, too. ‘Young people often have their tablet or phone on hand, so it’s more convenient to read an e-book on their device rather than taking a paper book out with them,’ Irene says. They also have the advantage of looking ‘cooler’ than paper books: children are less likely to be self-conscious about being seen reading if they’re using technology to do it.

The reason why boys in particular benefit from reading e-books is unclear. One theory is that boys spend more time on computers than girls and are more comfortable with them in general, which makes digital reading a more appealing option. ‘It’s a format that they’re familiar with, and that has a dramatic impact on their reading attainment and enjoyment,’ Irene says.

All reading is good reading, and if a child won’t touch paper books but will happily devour e-books, then of course it makes sense to make them easily available. But ideally, children should spread their reading time across e-books and printed books.

‘Children need to be encouraged to read a range of different formats: print books, e-books, audio books, comics, newspapers and magazines,’ explains Irene. ‘We’ve always advocated giving children a choice over their reading material, as this is a great motivator, so I would also recommend giving them a choice of reading formats.’

That said, paper books do have some advantages over e-books. Research shows that children who read print books daily report higher levels of reading enjoyment compared to those who only read on screen, and are more likely to exceed their expected reading age. ‘Some children will prefer one to the other, but the more choice we can offer, the better the chance of getting children to discover themselves as readers,’ Irene says.

At the moment, the range of e-books for children and young people is limited, although it’s expanding by the day. ‘Our research looked at children aged seven to 16, as the selection of e-books for children under seven is even narrower,’ Irene explains. ‘However, there are some lovely story apps and games that are great for children who are learning to read, alongside paper books.’

The issue of whether reading on an e-reader or other electronic device counts as screentime is a thorny one, and it can be difficult to negotiate if you’re trying to limit the amount of time your child spends on screens. The America Academy of Pediatrics, for example, currently recommends a strict two-hour daily limit on screentime (although this guidance is under review), and says parents should provide alternatives – like reading.

There are also issues with screens being used late at night, affecting children’s sleep. Bluelight devices like laptops and tablets are the worst offenders, whereas e-readers don’t have the same issues with screen flicker, but there are suggestions that even these might make it hard for children to wind down.

Ultimately, how you choose to implement screentime – and whether you include digital reading in your child’s daily ration – is up to you. But if you’re playing it safe, you can’t go far wrong with a traditional bedtime story from a printed book.