Introduction
There’s something magical about watching a child get lost in a story — eyes wide, imagination soaring, and the outside world fading away. As parents, many of you must have fond memories of curling up with a good book with your children, flipping through pages and getting drawn into faraway lands.
But today, the reading landscape has changed. Children now grow up with screens at their fingertips, and the question we often find ourselves asking is—should they be reading on paper or on a screen? We at Delhi Public School Sushant Lok, ranked among the top school in Gurgaon, understand this modern dilemma and, thus, thought of discussing it with you through this blog post today.
Building the Reading Habit: Do Paper or Screen Really Matter?
We firmly believe that reading isn’t an ordinary activity — and this is especially true for children. That’s so because even reading a few minutes regularly can help children build an impressive vocabulary, spark imagination, strengthen focus, and improve their comprehension abilities. This, thereby, aids in improving their overall academic and non-academic life.
While nurturing reading habits in kids may look simple, today’s parents face challenges that never existed before. Many parents get overly consumed in deciding whether to encourage their kids to read from paper books or digital libraries. If you’re also caught up in this dilemma, we’d like to clarify that neither format is universally ‘better’ than the other as each offers distinct advantages for different situations and people.
So, instead of focusing on eliminating one format, understand when and how to use each one effectively. To make things easier for parents, we have created this epic guide so you can fuel your child’s reading journey without obsessing over picking the ‘better’ reading medium.
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Reading Comprehension & Memory
If you want your kids to learn through sensory experiences, introduce them to paper books. The weight in hands, the sound of turning pages, and even the book’s smell create multiple memory anchors that help children recall the material better, leading to high retention.
However, if you feel your child is a virtual learner, you may choose screen reading through digital libraries as they generally provide built-in dictionaries and search features that allow curious children to explore unfamiliar words instantly. Since most e-books feature interactive elements, they’re ideal for visual learners.
Here, we at Delhi Public School Sushant Lok would like to recommend you to explore both formats and choose a reading medium that aligns with your child’s unique reading preferences.
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Accessibility
Accessing paper books doesn’t require any batteries, internet connection, etc., making them an ideal reading medium for many children. Additionally, there’s no fear of damage in case of accidental drop.
Digital reading, on the other hand, can give your kids instant access to thousands of book titles across diverse genres – something impossible to achieve with paper books. This variety will instil curiosity, making reading a fun experience.
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Sleep Quality & Eye Comfort
Choose paper books if you want to encourage reading without worrying about disrupting your child’s sleep cycle or putting excessive strain on their eyes. Paper books provide excellent bedtime transitions and help create a calming bedtime routine. The absence of blue light emitting from screens also protects your kid’s eyesight, making it easier for your kids to fall asleep.
However, if your children don’t like reading paper books or you don’t have enough space to store multiple books, consider giving your kids access to digital books. You can use features like dark mode, adjustable brightness, etc., to reduce the blue light emitting from screens. It will help you create a reading experience most similar to reading a paper book.
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Focus & Distraction Management
While both paper and digital books can aid your child’s reading journey, we recommend choosing a medium that limits distraction and facilitates focus-driven reading sessions.
Physical books are generally the first choice for distraction-free reading as the reader doesn’t get distracted by notifications, games, videos, etc., competing for their attention. Paper book’s single-purpose nature develops deeper focus and the ability to concentrate on complex stories.
However, if paper books somehow fail to pick your children’s interest, try shifting to screen reading, as some platforms provide gamified experiences that may boost your child’s interest in reading. Choose digital libraries with simplified displays, progress trackers, and a novelty factor that may motivate reluctant readers.
Conclusion
The debate between paper and screen reading is still ongoing, with some parents preferring paper books for their kids while others find screen reading to be more fruitful. If you’re still confused between the two options and wondering which is a ‘better’ choice to facilitate smooth reading for your kids, we at Delhi Public School Sushant Lok would like to recommend including a healthy mix of both based on their unique advantages.
For instance, you may use paper books for bedtime bonding with your kids and deep focus and digital books for instant access to wider titles. You can also let your kids read through both formats and monitor how they respond to each. Pick a reading medium that feels natural to them, facilitating sustainable reading habits.
At the end of the day, what truly matters is that your child enjoys reading — whether it’s through the rustle of paper pages or the swipe of a screen. Every child is different, and their reading journey should reflect that. At Delhi Public School Sushant Lok, positioned among the top school in Gurgaon, we firmly believe that as parents and educators, our role is to nurture curiosity in our children, encourage their love for stories, and support them in finding the format that keeps that spark alive. So, let’s not worry too much about the medium. Let us focus on what’s really important — building readers for life.