Children’s eBooks for Learning

eBooks and technology do not have to be a negative influence.
Instead, they can blend interactivity with learning.

Despite the controversy and mixed opinions surrounding introducing children to technology, eBooks can be beneficial as both an educational tool and as a way to make learning to read more accessible to children with cognitive disabilities. Though many parents are concerned about their children spending too much time on screens, 44% of parents claim that it is important for their children to be using devices for learning (Rideout & Robb, 2020, p. 39); however, only 4% daily average screen time is devoted to educational topics, such as reading or completing homework (Rideout & Robb, 2020, p. 17). Thus, children’s education can be augmented with devices that are already in their hands through eBook technology. For example, children’s eBooks can include audio, videos and educational games relating to the story they are reading, along with support for new readers, like word pronunciation and narration.

Children’s book publishing in the United States has been on an upward trend since 2014 where it is estimated to reach $3 billion dollars by 2027, and because there will always be demand for children’s books regardless of format, this trend is likely to apply to eBooks as well (IBISWorld, 2021). eBooks reach a larger audience than traditional books, especially among lower income families due to the fact eBooks can be accessed through a variety of devices that are commonplace in many households (Rideout & Robb, 2020, p. 29). Furthermore, eBooks benefit those with certain cognitive disabilities, such as dyslexia. As Dr. Robert Melilio states, it is easier to read on screen than print for those with dyslexia, and there are also some fonts designed specifically with dyslexia in mind (Goldman, 2013).

This technology is particularly beneficial to children learning how to read. A 2012 study by Curious Learning found that Ethiopian children developed basic reading skills when given eBooks, despite not attending school or having literate parents (Hansen, 2021). Furthermore, eBooks have the ability to cater to different learning styles, such as visual and hands-on learning, that print books do not.

As previously stated, there are some perceived disadvantages to introducing eBooks to children. To name a few, children may only want to participate in interactive games and videos rather than reading, some may desire the fixed-page layout and page turning, there is a belief that eBooks can impede discussion, and that children learn through human interaction for word to object association, and thus may struggle to adapt to eBooks (Guernsey & Levine, 2016; Hansen, 2021). As such, many studies have been held to disprove or argue against these points. For example, a 2020 study showed that, despite child development stemming from interaction via other humans, this can be replicated with animated characters that display “human-like gestures,” which is seen throughout media directed at children (television and movie characters, mascots, etc), and eBooks are no exception (Hansen, 2021). Based on this research, eBooks are likely to be implemented more and more into classrooms and at home due to advancements in technology and are likely here to stay.

References

Goldman, M. (2013). E-READERS HELP KIDS WITH DYSLEXIA. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tX8gldT6vE&t=48s.

Guernsey, L. & Levine, M. H. (2016). Getting Smarter About E-Books for Children. National Association for the Education of Young Children. https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/may2016/ebooks-for-children.

Hansen, C. (2021). E-books for kids raise questions about consequences. knowablemagazine. https://knowablemagazine.org/article/technology/2021/ebooks-for-early-readers.

IBISWorld. (2021, Oct. 27). Children’s Book PUblishing in the US – Market Size 2005–2027. IBISWorld. https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-statistics/market-size/childrens-book-publishing-united-states/.

Rideout, V. & Robb, M. B. (2020). The Common Sense census: Media use by kids age zero to eight, 2020. Common Sense Media. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/research/report/2020_zero_to_eight_census_final_web.pdf.