Blog take over: Family Fever and reading

The lovely Kate from Family Fever is taking over the blog today – please do take a moment to pop over to her fabulous blog as well as having a read of this post! 

We all know how important it is for our children to read. Many of us reach for the traditional book at bedtime, and research shows just how vital this is.

But did you know that technology can actually help your child to read? I am not suggesting for one minute that smartphones and tablets replace the written word, but these things are such a big part of this generation that it seems silly not to use this to their advantage.

These devices can offer an important route into reading for many 3-5 year olds. Research discovered that children are more likely to enjoy and choose to read if they use a combination of technology and the printed word. This can come in many forms – there are heaps of lovely books and stories available online that you can download and share, from picture books for teeny tots to young adult books for keen readers. There are also hundreds of apps that are great for developing phonics and other reading skills – we love Endless Alphabet and Magic Town.

So technology isn’t always a bad thing. Deep down I think we all know this. Our children are growing up in an age where computers are the norm, and they will more than likely be using them during school and their working lives. A knowledge of touch screens, internet and word processing is a life skill, and if it can help with their reading too, then great. Just as long as the written word isn’t forgotten too.

Do your children enjoy reading? Do they prefer a traditional book, or do they like to use an electronic device to read and explore?