Paper books are better than e-books for reading with kids

Parents and kids who read paper books together speak and interact more when compared with those who read e-books, researchers found.

Reading with a child is a hugely important developmental activity as it helps kids learn new words, broadens their knowledge and provides time to bond with loved ones.So scientists wanted to see if parents and children acted differently when they read books together using traditional media versus electronic devices like tablets(平板電腦).

To investigate, the researchers studied how 37 pairs of parents and kids interacted with e-books and paper books.Researchers found parents and kids spoke more when interacting with a paper book rather than a story on an electronic tablet.What's more, parents used richer language when using paper books compared with tablets.

But parents were less responsive and children were less engaged with their parents when reading e-books.When they did speak, they were far likelier to talk about the device and the technology rather than about the story.Children were likelier to say things like, “don't push that button” or“don't change the volume” than ask questions or make observations about the story.

Dr.Tiffany Munzer, the author of the study from the University of Michigan, pointed out that the study was limited in several ways, including that the team did not test the kid's reading comprehension.“It may not be clear how reading comprehension on a tablet might compare with reading comprehension on a paper book，” she said.

The study was also limited by the small sample size, and the fact that the team used only one commercially available app for the e-books.“Future studies should use different types of apps，”Munzer said.“We can't say there is no benefit of electronic book reading compared with doing nothing, just less compared with paper books.Paper books are just better for promoting rich language from their parents and more conversation between parents and children.”

Reading Check

1.Compared to e-books, what's one advantage of paper book reading with kids?

A.It makes the reading experience more real.

B.It allows the kids and parents to communicate more.

C.It helps kids learn new words and broadens their knowledge.

D.It provides time to develop a close relationship with loved ones.

2.What were parents and kids more likely to talk about when reading e-books?

A.Food.B.School life.

C.Electronic devices.D.Reading materials.

3.What does Munzer think about electronic book reading?

A.It does kids more harm than good.

B.It is of equal benefit to kids as reading paper books.

C.It makes kids more focused on the reading materials.

D.It is more beneficial to kids than doing no reading.

Language Study

Sentence for writing

So scientists wanted to see if parents and children acted differently when they read books together using traditional media versus electronic devices like tablets.

【信息提取】if引導賓語從句，意義相當于whether“是否”。

【句式仿寫】他問我是否可以幫助他。