Do you love turning the pages of a book? Or do you like swiping across a screen as you read? These days, a lot of books have electronic versions, called e-books, that you can read on a laptop, tablet, or smartphone.
Reading on a device feels natural to many kids who are used to doing homework, watching videos, and playing games on screens.
But printed books are still more popular. When reading for fun, kids ages 8 to 12 devote much more time to reading print books than e-books, according to a survey by Common Sense Media.
Studies have shown that reading on paper may also be better for learning.
“We concentrate more when reading in print than reading on a digital screen. We go more slowly. We’re more likely to reread something,” says Naomi Baron. She is a former college professor who wrote a book about how technology is changing the way people read.
Also, some people argue that kids spend too much time in front of screens and need to give their eyes a break.