The march technology may seem unstoppable, but all things digital may have a way to go before they replace the traditional bedtime book - the paper one. A new study shows that paper books are better than e-books bedtime reading. The study suggests that the good old printed book, real pages that you turn your fingers, makes parents and children interact more than they do when reading an electronic book. Researchers the University of Michigan studied how 37 pairs of parents and toddlers interacted e-books and paper books. The researchers found that electronic books, parents asked their children fewer questions and made fewer comments the story.
The study involved observing parents and children (aged two or three) reading three different book formats. These were printed books, basic e-books a tablet, and enhanced e-books with features such as animation, graphics and sound effects. The researchers discovered that the parents and toddlers interacted each other less both types e-books than they did the printed books. A researcher said that when they did speak, they were far likelier to talk 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 the story.
