Is E-Reading - story time or screen time?

In an article in the New York Times on Oct 12, 2014, Douglas Quenqua reflects on this statement.  Pediatricans have been promoting parents to read to their toddlers.  They do not recommend any screen tie for children less that two years old.  So what is a parent to do, when there are great interacive stories on the 'tablet' for their child?  Is it reading or is it the 'dreaded screen' time?

The first point is there is not enought data to determine if this is a problem or not.  But researchers say there is more interaction if the parent and child are reading together.  They turn pages together, they talk about  the pictures.  Researchers say that more time is spent on the devise than on the 'storeis' parents and children are reading.

Some studies were done that said children who used electronic books had a lower reading comprehension level that children who were reading with their parents.  Some electronic books  have buttons to press and songs to play so it can take away of the 'learning language' with the parent time.

Researchers say being talked to versus being talked at engages the brain differently.

So electronic books may be here to stay but they can't compete with the feeling of picking up your own book, turning the pages and making languge come to life.  A tablet is just an electronic devise and there is not the same thrill as opening a book.

Botton line- a little screen time may be ok, so don't sweat it if you want to skype or facetime a grandparent.

Signing off - the California Grandma to two grandsons who live in PA