When I think of the treatment so-called fragile paper books went through during our son's early years, up to 8/9 especially, AND still survive, by the way,I laugh, thinking of how many replacement readers I would have had to buy !
Wet gardens, sloppy food, bathtime, picnics, left out in a shower, dogs, and dog baskets, parties, MUD , camping out, cycling, the top bed in bunks (!), high-chairs, salt/sea/sand/rockpools/rocks......etc...
Yes, right, great idea....
Present-day devices, in my opinion, just aren't robust enough for most active children's life-styles.
And a socking great picture book is a wonderful exerience for parent and child. Not much fun in reading with a child on a reader, surely.
Oops, yes, it's dropped on the floor again....
We couldn't have afforded the "risk" - and certainly wouldn't have wanted to curtail our off-spring's exhuberance !
Although I suppose it could be argued they aren't as active any more !