Have trouble getting your kids to read? Are they more interested in playing games? According to Healthline, more than 90 percent of kids are addicted to playing video games. Video game playing has been demonized often enough in media—cited as a possible factor for inciting players to aggressive behavior.
Given the evidence suggesting links between video games and a growing violence in children, it’s easy enough to see where conclusions lie. With violence a central theme in many video games—about 90 percent are violent—there’s a high chance that your kid could be playing with one that’s way above his understanding or maturity level. As more games depict violence without consequences, more kids are growing up without the proper concept of violence.
The results of one study that monitored 3,000 kids for about 3 years revealed that video gaming increased a child’s impulsiveness. This impulsiveness, in turn, drove them to more video game playing which increased their aggression, according to another study.
Given that violence is often associated with mental health problems, factors able to modify and change behaviors—like video games—are suspect.
Encourage Kids to Read with Reading Apps
One way to counteract the violence in video games is to encourage a love for reading instead. Getting an app to read books and easy to use eBook platforms like Nook are possible ways to interrupt video game playing and the growth of violent behavior and tendencies.
However, according to The Guardian, kids are reading less. The numbers say that about 32 percent of kids read every day, with 60 percent of them reading every night. However, the numbers are dropping. There’s no indication that kids think reading is uncool. They just don’t do it as much as they used to.
Kids Don’t Read Because Parents Don’t
Forbes, though, offers an explanation for the drop in numbers: as more and more parents cease to have time to read, more and more children cease to read as well, preferring other interactive pursuits like video games. In government studies dated to 1984, there was about 70 percent of 13-year-olds who were weekly readers. That number was bumped down to 53 percent while 17-year-olds who were weekly readers went from 64 percent to 40 percent. In addition, the number of 17-year-olds who say they hardly ever read—if at all—made a leap from 9 percent to 27 percent.
These days, many people spend so much time online. A lot of them cut back on real life interactions in favor of online communication. That behavior echoes inside the home. Common Sense Media report says among kids who were regular readers, 5 percent of parents often set aside reading time with their kids.
Text Delivery Doesn’t Matter
According to same article on Forbes, text delivery has makes no difference in the reading behavior of kids. Good reading behavior would be consistent, regardless of technology. That’s true, in fact, if you base the behavior on adult reading habits. For instance, it won’t matter to you if you’re reading a book or eBook. If you love the book, technology is irrelevant. So whether your kids read a book or a tablet, it doesn’t matter. However, by using reading apps, you could help increase their interest. Plenty of reading apps offer a ton of benefits.
Benefits of Reading Apps
- Most reading apps are free so you only need to download them into the device.
- Better Prices. Often enough, there days when your favorite bookstore sells wonderful books—for kids and adults alike—at a discounted rate. You can immediately take advantage of these to buy your kids great books at a steal.
- If your kids love a book series, then make them happy by buying a book the minute it becomes available. No need to go to the bookstore to get it. Simply log into online eBook store from your reading app and you’re good to go.
- Cloud library. Another great advantage to reading apps? You won’t have to worry about losing a beloved book. If you and your kids have to take a 16 hour flight, you won’t have to land in the airport, frantically searching for a lost book. The eLibrary keeps your children’s favorite stories safe and sound.
- Less heft. And because of cloud storage, you won’t have to lug around a bag of heavy books every time you and the kids go off on a trip. You don’t even have to pack a specific device. So long as the reading app is synced into your devices, you and your kids can use a tablet or mobile to read your favorite bedtime tales.
Conclusion
Limit your kid’s exposure to violence and video games. Encourage better learning habits with reading apps. And remember, while reading apps are useful, it all ultimately depends on you. The more you read with your kids, the better readers they’ll grow up to be.
