Ebooks: what are they?
Ebooks are books in electronic format.
Ebooks for children have words and pictures, just like traditional print books. They might also have interactive elements like recorded narration, music, sound effects, animations, games, inbuilt dictionaries and so on.
You read ebooks on ereaders like Kindle or Kobo, on computers, or by using apps on tablets and smartphones.
Benefits of ebooks for children
Like print books, well-designed ebooks can help children learn language and develop social, listening and thinking skills.
Ebooks can also be a different and fun way for children to enjoy reading, experience stories and learn information. For example:
- Illustrations, animations and games can help children understand and recall story details.
- Music can help children understand characters and plot developments.
- Dictionaries and narration can help children learn new words and expand vocabulary.
Ebooks can help beginning readers and children who struggle to read independently, including children with learning difficulties. For example, these children can listen to narration while they follow the words. They can also use interactive features to better understand stories.
Ebooks can sometimes motivate reluctant readers.
You can start reading print books with babies as early as you like – the earlier the better. But it’s best to avoid reading ebooks with children under 2 years. Ebooks are unlikely to have benefits for this age group and aren’t recommended.
Disadvantages of ebooks for children
Ebooks can distract children from reading if animations, sound effects and games don’t work well with the text. For example, if ebooks have games that don’t really relate to their stories, children might just want to play the games rather than read the stories.
Sometimes interactive features can make it harder for children to understand stories. For example, this can happen if there are sounds that don’t relate to the story.
Reading and storytelling with your child promotes brain development and imagination, teaches your child about language and emotions, and strengthens your relationship. That’s why it’s good to read with your child every day. It’s fine to share a mix of print and ebooks.
Choosing ebooks for your child: tips
When you’re choosing ebooks for your child, look for the same qualities that you’d look for in print books.
These qualities include:
- well-told stories about things your child relates to or is interested in
- a wide variety of words
- funny, engaging rhymes that help your child learn language
- information that’s pitched at the right level for your child.
It’s also important to look at features like sound, animation and games. These should work well with the text to illustrate the story and help children understand the story or learn something new.
You can also check whether you can customise the ebook. For example, it’s good to turn off the narration so you can read the book and talk about it with your child. A read-only mode is good too – this allows your child to listen to the story without the interactive features.
Reading ebooks with your child: tips
Your child will get the most from ebooks when you read ebooks together. These ideas can help:
- Hold your child close or on your knee while you read so your child can see your face and the book.
- Move slowly from page to page. This gives your child time to look at the images and text.
- Explain the meaning of unfamiliar words or images, talk about the story, focus on the things your child is most interested in, and ask open-ended questions. For example, ‘How do you think the dinosaur is feeling?’ or ‘What do you think will happen next?’
- Try to focus on the story or information rather than on the device. You can do this by connecting interactive elements to the story. For example, ‘Why do you think there’s happy music?’
- Watch for signs your child is getting distracted or losing interest. It might be time to put the ebook away or try a different kind of book.
Reading ebooks together gives you the chance to help your child learn to use ebooks in a positive way. For example, you can show your child how to swipe, scroll, click on words to hear their meanings, turn narration on and off, and use other interactive features appropriately.
Ebooks and bedtime
Traditional print books are best for bedtime because they help your child relax and get ready for sleep.
If you want to use ebooks close to bedtime, it’s best to avoid noisy and exciting ebooks, which might overstimulate your child.
It’s also a good idea to use an ereading device that lets you minimise blue light. Blue light can make it harder for your child to get to sleep because it tricks their brain into thinking it’s daytime. Some devices have a ‘night shift’ or ‘night light’ setting that changes the light the device emits. You can also download blue light filters.
Choosing an ereader for your child and family: tips
Ereaders come in 2 types:
- ‘do-it-all’ devices like tablets
- ‘just for reading’ devices like Kindle and Kobo.
These questions can help you choose the right device for your child and family.
What do you want to use the device for?
Kindle or Kobo devices are just for reading and come in black and white only. They’re usually not as responsive to touch as tablets. You can do more things on a tablet. For example, you can play games, use apps, access social media, watch videos and so on.
How old is your child?
Young children whose fine motor skills are still developing might find it easier to use ‘tap and swipe’ touchscreens on tablets. The controls on devices like Kindle and Kobo are harder for very young children to use.
Will you be using the device to do a lot of reading?
Devices like Kindle and Kobo have screens that are more comfortable to read because they use a technology that mimics ink on paper. Tablets have backlit screens that are associated with increased eye strain. If you’re using a tablet, smartphone or computer, it’s a good idea to turn down the brightness to prevent eye strain.
Do you want to borrow ebooks from your local library?
If you want to borrow ebooks from your local library, you can do this with tablets or Kobo. Kindle uses a file format that isn’t supported by Australian library systems.