Are Children's Books Doomed? - Page 3

ProfCrash · 04-26-2012, 02:46 PM

I see my kids using technology and watching TV when they are out of the toodler stage. I just don't get the need to have them watching movies and playing video games at 18 months. (shrugs)

Just4kix · 04-26-2012, 04:27 PM

I certainly hope that children's books have a future. I can remember the first time I went to the library on my own to choose some books. I excitedly took three books home and read them within a couple of hours, so went back for more. The librarian rather sternly told me that I could only have three per day, but did allow me to take another one. I thought that was quite off-putting and I was scared to go back for at least a week.

taosaur · 04-26-2012, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScalyFreak

And no pop-up ability!

I was thinking of pop-ups

Not to mention books with built-in finger puppets, and bits to slide or crank or scratch and sniff (I suspect tablets won't see that feature any time soon).

LovesMacs · 04-27-2012, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taosaur

I was thinking of pop-ups

Not to mention books with built-in finger puppets, and bits to slide or crank or scratch and sniff (I suspect tablets won't see that feature any time soon).

And for books geared to babies and toddlers, textures. I don't see anything like "Pat the Bunny" working on tablets in the near future.

stonetools · 04-27-2012, 12:06 PM

While I admire parents who read to their children, I fear that MobileReaders are an unrepresentative sample. The issue is what does the average parent do. It seems that more and more to keep their children amused, parents don't hand their children a book: they hand them (insert electronic device here).
If that is the case, there will less and less demand for children's books and therefore less of a chance for children's book writers to make money.
I have a friend who wants to go into writing children's books. I have to say, based on this article, that my advice will be that she try her hand at a children's content app. ( She's a techie).

QuantumIguana · 04-27-2012, 12:44 PM

I wouldn't relish the prospect of handing an expensive, breakable tablet to a child. I don't think parents who read to their children will switch to handing them a tablet.

stonetools · 04-27-2012, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuantumIguana

I wouldn't relish the prospect of handing an expensive, breakable tablet to a child. I don't think parents who read to their children will switch to handing them a tablet.

Apparently , a lot of parents buy kids Ipod touches ( See the OP- my brother is not alone).
I know one parent who regularly gives his four year old child an iPad. Says its the best child education tool ever.

elemenoP · 04-27-2012, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stonetools

While I admire parents who read to their children, I fear that MobileReaders are an unrepresentative sample. The issue is what does the average parent do. It seems that more and more to keep their children amused, parents don't hand their children a book: they hand them (insert electronic device here).

Again I ask: are these.... ahem... less-involved parents handing their kids an electronic device where they once would have handed them a book, or where they once would have turned on the TV?

eP

ProfCrash · 04-27-2012, 02:20 PM

My SIL allows my 18 month old nephew to play games on her IPad regularly. There are some neat drawing apps and the like that can keep a child happily occupied when out and about. I don't think there is anything wrong with a young child using a tablet, if the programs are age appropriate. I do think that you have to really scrutinize what you are allowing them to do with it and make sure it is age appropriate.

And I don't intend to let electronics get in the way of kids books. I do see my kid having an e-reader at a very early age, 6 or 7. By then they will have brands out that are more kid friendly. I don't think it is all that different reading an e-book then a physical book but I do think that the child has to be old enough to be reading chapter books before handing over an e-reader.

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04-26-2012, 02:46 PM	#31
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	I see my kids using technology and watching TV when they are out of the toodler stage. I just don't get the need to have them watching movies and playing video games at 18 months. (shrugs)

04-26-2012, 04:27 PM	#32
Just4kix Zealot Posts: 135 Karma: 365040 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Durban South Africa Device: none	I certainly hope that children's books have a future. I can remember the first time I went to the library on my own to choose some books. I excitedly took three books home and read them within a couple of hours, so went back for more. The librarian rather sternly told me that I could only have three per day, but did allow me to take another one. I thought that was quite off-putting and I was scared to go back for at least a week.

04-27-2012, 12:06 PM	#35
stonetools Wizard Posts: 2,016 Karma: 2838487 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Washington, DC Device: Ipad, IPhone	While I admire parents who read to their children, I fear that MobileReaders are an unrepresentative sample. The issue is what does the average parent do. It seems that more and more to keep their children amused, parents don't hand their children a book: they hand them (insert electronic device here). If that is the case, there will less and less demand for children's books and therefore less of a chance for children's book writers to make money. I have a friend who wants to go into writing children's books. I have to say, based on this article, that my advice will be that she try her hand at a children's content app. ( She's a techie).

04-27-2012, 12:44 PM	#36
QuantumIguana Philosopher Posts: 2,034 Karma: 18736532 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2 gen, Kindle Fire 1st Gen, Kindle Touch	I wouldn't relish the prospect of handing an expensive, breakable tablet to a child. I don't think parents who read to their children will switch to handing them a tablet.

04-27-2012, 02:20 PM	#39
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	My SIL allows my 18 month old nephew to play games on her IPad regularly. There are some neat drawing apps and the like that can keep a child happily occupied when out and about. I don't think there is anything wrong with a young child using a tablet, if the programs are age appropriate. I do think that you have to really scrutinize what you are allowing them to do with it and make sure it is age appropriate. And I don't intend to let electronics get in the way of kids books. I do see my kid having an e-reader at a very early age, 6 or 7. By then they will have brands out that are more kid friendly. I don't think it is all that different reading an e-book then a physical book but I do think that the child has to be old enough to be reading chapter books before handing over an e-reader.