Priceless Experience

As a small child, if I was kept off school with a runny nose and shivers, I would reach for the two things which would bring me the most comfort - my teddy bear and favourite book. At school, back in the early 60's, we had 'Janet and John' as the books we learnt to read by. So when we moved away from London to a new town, I was happy when my mother found these books for sale in a book store for me to continue enjoying. Now we have e-books online and Kindle, and I think that if tiny children ever lose the experience, of the thrill of holding a book in their small hands as they learn to read, or in having it read to them, something precious will be lost to time. The format of reading shouldn't matter I realise, but there is something comforting about curling up with a good book. One you find hard to put down, as you turn the page to get the next exciting installment. Classics are best read as they were written, on the printed page. Having our favourite books on (sometimes) dusty shelves, ready for us to take down at a moment's notice to read, as we sit in an armchair for a few quiet moments, is something priceless that technology cannot replace.

Interesting thoughts. There was a somewhat recent NPR article on a similar vein - Will Your Children Inherit Your E-Books?
http://www.npr.org/2012/06/21/155360197/will-your-children-inherit-your-e-books

You might want to check it out.

Okay thanks, I will.

I also find time spent reading to my daughter to be priceless. There's no experience quite like curling up with a good book. We don't have an e-reader and I'm not inclined to get one. I like the feel of a book in my hands. We do enjoy listening to audio books. I find they are good for longer books--they hold her attention well and many are beautifully narrated. While we listen I knit and she draws or plays with toys.

What a lovely scene springs to mind! This is just how it should be between parent and child. I think these kind of things make you bond even more and build so many happy memories. There is more mystery and fascination with old books on the shelf of a quaint bookstore, than any ebook online in the virtual world.

I think it's very important to start children with real picture books. So many children's picture books have such beautiful illustrations; I'm not sure you can experience these works of art in quite the same way with an e-reader.

While I was reading Dog loves books to my 3 year old the turned to me and said "Dog love books and mommy love books and me love books".