My young son doesn't like my e-reader

avantman42 · 05-05-2011, 07:19 AM

Just thought I'd share this with you all. Yesterday I had to take my 3 1/2 year old son for immunisation jabs, so I put a copy of Hans Christian Andersen's stories (downloaded from here) onto my Kindle, in case we had a wait.

After the jabs, I was told to wait 10 minutes before going home, so we went into the waiting room and I asked him if he wanted a story or if he wanted to play with the toys. He asked for a story, and I read him The Princess and the Pea. When I'd finished, he asked for another story, but "one with pages". When I explained that I only had my Kindle, he decided he'd rather play with the toys.

I'd been wondering about whether or not it was worth getting some kid's books for my Kindle. Now I know the answer. He loves books, and has got a lot of them, but I guess he's one of those people that doesn't like e-books

Toxaris · 05-05-2011, 07:24 AM

Hmm, I can imagine though. He will learn when he grows up. But then again, perhaps it was just the story Dangermouse.

jbcohen · 05-05-2011, 07:53 AM

hmm, interesting tale I wonder if this has anything to do with what he has been exposed to in the past. Have your and/or his mother read to him with your electronic book reader in the past?

jamesbeat · 05-05-2011, 09:05 AM

My 9 year old is a pbook person too.
He is fine with me reading to him on my iphone (can read in the dark without a flashlight

) but I can't seem to get him interested in reading my 505, he just prefers ro read a pbook when reading to himself.

avantman42 · 05-05-2011, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toxaris

perhaps it was just the story

Possibly, but I doubt it. I did wonder if it was because there weren't any pictures, but I'm reasonably sure we have read to him from other books that didn't have pictures.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbcohen

hmm, interesting tale I wonder if this has anything to do with what he has been exposed to in the past. Have your and/or his mother read to him with your electronic book reader in the past?

No, we've always read to him from one of his books. He's got three bookshelves filled with books, and more that won't fit on the shelves, so there's no shortage of them

Just to be clear, I'm not particularly bothered by this. My wife prefers paper books, but is slowly coming around - when I bought my Kindle, she had no interest in e-books, but is now saying that she might get an e-reader one day. I'm pleased that my son likes us reading to him (and he's showing an interest in reading by himself), but I don't really care whether he chooses to read paper or electronic books.

queentess · 05-05-2011, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avantman42

When I'd finished, he asked for another story, but "one with pages". When I explained that I only had my Kindle, he decided he'd rather play with the toys.

Perhaps he meant "something with pictures".

avantman42 · 05-05-2011, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by queentess

Perhaps he meant "something with pictures".

Possibly. I may have to try reading something with pictures to him from my Kindle and see what the response is.

jhempel24 · 05-05-2011, 09:38 AM

My sister in law got a Nook for her 8 yr old daughter....I don't think she's seen it LOL.

ProfCrash · 05-05-2011, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by queentess

Perhaps he meant "something with pictures".

That is what I was thinking. A younger child cannot actually read yet so they are probably drawn to the pictures and the fuzzy ducks and the like. I know my nieces and nephews would jump around books to show me their favorite pictures and funny faces they found in their books.

jocampo · 05-05-2011, 10:23 AM

Call me old school

... but for a very young child, I would like to introduce him or use regular pbooks. The paper feeling and real interaction with the book maybe will stimulate him a bit more. Books with lot of pictures and just a few lines per pages also keep the motivation at a very high level. That's what my dad did to me when I was about 6 , lol ... it worked!

I am very pro technology, but I do advocate for regular pbooks for children. Same for electronic games. I do not have kids, but I would not give an electronic game to my kid until he learns and enjoy the real stuff 1st.

Barty · 05-05-2011, 10:29 AM

He's a child. He likes stuff he can touch. You don't think you can revert biology because you have a kindle, do you?

vulcan_girl · 05-05-2011, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jocampo

Call me old school

... but for a very young child, I would like to introduce him or use regular pbooks. The paper feeling and real interaction with the book maybe will stimulate him a bit more. Books with lot of pictures and just a few lines per pages also keep the motivation at a very high level. That's what my dad did to me when I was about 6 , lol ... it worked!

I am very pro technology, but I do advocate for regular pbooks for children. Same for electronic games. I do not have kids, but I would not give an electronic game to my kid until he learns and enjoy the real stuff 1st.

I agree with this - there's a reason that books for young kids have lots of pictures and few words.

jocampo · 05-05-2011, 10:43 AM

@Vulcan

Right, as a matter of fact, I read here in the site, from a professional writer and expert on the topic (unfortunately do not remember his nickname) that 3 to 4 lines are recommended, with plenty of pics (for kids under 6 or 5 years old I mean.) I cannot confirm or deny if that's true, but it worked for me when I was a kid and the reason why I love reading.

jersysman · 05-05-2011, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vulcan_girl

I agree with this - there's a reason that books for young kids have lots of pictures and few words.

This is true. Children learn by seeing and touching. This also is what keeps their attention. I remember my kid's favorite books was the ones with lots of pictures or the ones that had the fake fur of animals and the like.

jocampo · 05-05-2011, 10:52 AM

I do not know how you call that in English, but I remember some books that when you open or turn pages, the silhouette or person came out of the book, pop up, like a spring? The paper has been cut and gives some kind of 3D effect.

I still can see some of those on bookstores like B&N. To me, those are fantastic and very easy to read for some kids.

05-05-2011, 07:19 AM	#1
avantman42 Wizard Posts: 1,090 Karma: 6058305 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: UK Device: Kindle Paperwhite	My young son doesn't like my e-reader Just thought I'd share this with you all. Yesterday I had to take my 3 1/2 year old son for immunisation jabs, so I put a copy of Hans Christian Andersen's stories (downloaded from here) onto my Kindle, in case we had a wait. After the jabs, I was told to wait 10 minutes before going home, so we went into the waiting room and I asked him if he wanted a story or if he wanted to play with the toys. He asked for a story, and I read him The Princess and the Pea. When I'd finished, he asked for another story, but "one with pages". When I explained that I only had my Kindle, he decided he'd rather play with the toys. I'd been wondering about whether or not it was worth getting some kid's books for my Kindle. Now I know the answer. He loves books, and has got a lot of them, but I guess he's one of those people that doesn't like e-books

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05-05-2011, 07:24 AM	#2
Toxaris Wizard Posts: 4,520 Karma: 121692313 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Heemskerk, NL Device: PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura	Hmm, I can imagine though. He will learn when he grows up. But then again, perhaps it was just the story Dangermouse.

05-05-2011, 07:53 AM	#3
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,032 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Where am I? Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition and a Samsung S24 Ultra	hmm, interesting tale I wonder if this has anything to do with what he has been exposed to in the past. Have your and/or his mother read to him with your electronic book reader in the past?

05-05-2011, 09:05 AM	#4
jamesbeat Connoisseur Posts: 70 Karma: 1796 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: Sony PRS 505	My 9 year old is a pbook person too. He is fine with me reading to him on my iphone (can read in the dark without a flashlight ) but I can't seem to get him interested in reading my 505, he just prefers ro read a pbook when reading to himself.

05-05-2011, 09:38 AM	#8
jhempel24 Wizard Posts: 2,157 Karma: 7068605 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, B&N Nook Colro	My sister in law got a Nook for her 8 yr old daughter....I don't think she's seen it LOL.

05-05-2011, 10:23 AM	#10
jocampo Layback feline Posts: 3,034 Karma: 6980745 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: USA Device: Oasis 2nd gen, Sony DPTS1, iPad Pro 10.5"	Call me old school ... but for a very young child, I would like to introduce him or use regular pbooks. The paper feeling and real interaction with the book maybe will stimulate him a bit more. Books with lot of pictures and just a few lines per pages also keep the motivation at a very high level. That's what my dad did to me when I was about 6 , lol ... it worked! I am very pro technology, but I do advocate for regular pbooks for children. Same for electronic games. I do not have kids, but I would not give an electronic game to my kid until he learns and enjoy the real stuff 1st.

05-05-2011, 10:29 AM	#11
Barty doofus Posts: 2,549 Karma: 13089041 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kindle Voyage	He's a child. He likes stuff he can touch. You don't think you can revert biology because you have a kindle, do you?

05-05-2011, 10:43 AM	#13
jocampo Layback feline Posts: 3,034 Karma: 6980745 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: USA Device: Oasis 2nd gen, Sony DPTS1, iPad Pro 10.5"	@Vulcan Right, as a matter of fact, I read here in the site, from a professional writer and expert on the topic (unfortunately do not remember his nickname) that 3 to 4 lines are recommended, with plenty of pics (for kids under 6 or 5 years old I mean.) I cannot confirm or deny if that's true, but it worked for me when I was a kid and the reason why I love reading.

05-05-2011, 10:52 AM	#15
jocampo Layback feline Posts: 3,034 Karma: 6980745 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: USA Device: Oasis 2nd gen, Sony DPTS1, iPad Pro 10.5"	I do not know how you call that in English, but I remember some books that when you open or turn pages, the silhouette or person came out of the book, pop up, like a spring? The paper has been cut and gives some kind of 3D effect. I still can see some of those on bookstores like B&N. To me, those are fantastic and very easy to read for some kids.

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