Handheld Gadgets: Enhancing the Bedtime Story Experience
I read to my son regularly. Recently, I also volunteered to read to reception year children at a local primary school. I believe that being read to makes a huge positive difference in a child’s development, such as improving their language skills, cognitive development, and overall academic success. Therefore, I would advocate for reading to young children. Today, I am going to focus on one particular aspect of reading, nighttime reading, and how handheld devices such as e-readers and tablets have helped me read nighttime stories to my son. Furthermore, I will discuss the potential future of technology and Artificial Intelligence in enhancing the reading experience for children.
I regret not considering reading books to my child on a Kindle e-reader or the Kindle app on my iPad Mini during the COVID-19 pandemic when libraries were closed, bookstores were out of business, and Amazon deliveries were slow, especially since our own collection of books was limited and we had more time to read. It was not until my son, who was just over two years old, expressed interest in looking at the pictures on my Kindle and requested his own stories to be read on the device, that I began using it for reading to him. As a researcher, I had been utilizing e-books and other digital resources since 2014, yet it took my son’s interest for me to think of using it for reading to him. In retrospect, I realize that my habits and familiarity with technology took precedence over my thought process in this situation.
Reading on a Kindle e-reader or the Kindle app has revolutionized my approach to nighttime reading and has played a significant role in strengthening my bond with my son. The benefits of using a Kindle e-reader for nighttime reading are numerous.
One of the biggest benefits I’ve experienced is that it now takes less than half the time it used to take me to put my son to sleep. Additionally, while I was reading print nighttime storybooks, I had limited choices and they were not as easily accessible. This was because I did not have enough space to keep physical books and I did not want to bring library books into my home, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On the other hand, e-books offer a wide variety of choices from all over the world. I have been able to find a diverse range of stories that are nourishing, enjoyable, and fun to read, such as Bedtime Stories For Kids by Uncle Teddy, Magical Bedtime Stories by Amelia Roberts and A Bedtime full of stories: 50 Folktales and Legends from around the world by Angela McAllister.
English is my second language, and I still encounter words, even in children’s books, that I am not familiar with, not only in terms of their meaning, but also in terms of their pronunciation. Initially, I was too proud to admit it, but my son and I quickly moved on by using the built-in dictionary to expand our vocabulary and enhance our understanding of the stories we were reading.
My son has developed a keen interest in reading and I attribute this partly to my ability to read diverse and captivating stories to him at bedtime. I believe I have also been successful in instilling a love of reading in him. Although he can already read on his own, I anticipate that in the coming years, he will likely choose to read a book on his own before going to sleep, whether it be on a Kindle or with a physical book.
As technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, along with the emergence of artificial intelligence, I believe that some of the benefits I have experienced from utilizing handheld gadgets in my reading will only be amplified. However, it is important to note that with these advancements come potential risks, particularly for the parents of young children. These risks include potential privacy and data concerns, which can have a significant impact on the future of our children. Therefore, I call on governments to actively monitor, scrutinize and take necessary actions to oversee and protect the privacy, data, and future of our children. It’s important to have a balance between utilizing technology to enhance learning experiences while also ensuring that our children’s safety and well-being are protected.
