The power of the printed word

Credit to Author: Cheryl Song| Date: Tue, 21 Jan 2020 15:15:44 +0000

Seven reasons why print books are still powerful tools in the digital world

With increasing use of technologies, many parents are turning to electronic books, or other audio-visual media to replace reading old-fashioned print books to children. Does this mean that print books are obsolete? While there are pros and cons to both options, I believe that print books continue to be very effective learning tools.

Below are seven powerful reasons for families to pick up print books and start reading to children.

1. Print books help children to use their imagination, based on the words and illustrations provided on the pages of books. This provides an opportunity for the readers’ unique experience, knowledge, and vivid imagination to come alive, helping them build connections between the stories in the book and their imagination to bring the stories to life.
2. Reading books allows readers to control the pace of reading and the way the story is being told in comparison to audio-visual devices where one is not often able to control the speed of the narrative or the delivery. This helps readers choose what phrases or sentences to repeat, when to pause, slow down or speed up according to the needs or level of their children, so that they can best absorb the knowledge from the books. This also allows the parent to personalize the content by interjecting sound effects or comments along the way.
3. For th0se learning a new language, one can write or highlight the texts on their copy of the book, make revisions, jot down notes on pronunciation of new words being learned or mark the words down in one’s own language, especially when it comes to learning a new language.
4. Print books don’t require costly equipment, batteries, apps, wi-fi or passwords! Anyone can pick up books from a local library or a bookstore and start reading, anywhere, anytime.
5. Print books are suitable for people of diverse levels of technology skills or literacy levels. From picture books to novels and non-fiction books, there is something for everyone.
6. Parents can rest assured that with a printed book, their children cannot wander to inappropriate online websites or be distracted by other online apps. This can help having to deal with negative behaviours associated with excessive technology.
7. Authors and illustrators often invest quite a bit of thought and effort in designing the book, from the placement of words, illustrations selected and the language chosen to create books for children of all ages and interests. Make use of some of that excellent learning material!

At the end of the day, reading together, whether it is an electronic or print book, is one of most effective ways to bond with our children, and connect on a deeper level. Remember that our children do not need or want digital storybooks with fancy effects or an audio-visual device that offers a professional storyteller with perfect English skills.  What our children really need is having their parents’ time and attention – reading books together regularly can be a powerful bonding experience.

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