Schools, parents and children divided over the benefits of reading e­books

Some parents say printed books develop motor skills, others say e­books are hassle­free

MUMBAI: Two recent surveys have showed that when it comes to e-books, there are two schools of thought. While one survey done by a city school suggests 80% children prefer reading on electronic devices, another shows that students will always opt to read printed books.
The 8 to 10-year olds from six Podar schools, who were the respondents of the first survey, said e-books made their schoolbags lighter.
“They said e-books were convenient because they can be accessed round the clock and it is easy to search for specific information on them,” said Anand Chawla, director, information and communication technology of the group of schools.

The second study is at odds with this school’s survey. When Scholastic, a publishing house, asked students about their reading habits, 4 in 10 children who have read an e-book said they preferred to read printed books.
Students and parents are divided over the benefits of reading online. “In 3 to 4 years, we may no longer be using pen and paper and so, we need to get used to reading online,” said Ayushie Chakraborty, a Class 8 student from Andheri. Echoing her views, Priyanka Takalkar, a parent from Thane, said she prefers e-books for her six-year-old child as they are hassle-free.
Some parents said that children should stick to reading printed books in former years of their education. “Reading print helps develop fine motor skills, such as eye-to-hand co-ordination,” said Bhakti Sawant Gupta, mother of an 8-year-old studying in a Borivli schools.
School principals fear these devices may distract students. “If every child is given a tablet, he or she won’t pay attention in class,” said Freny Mehta, principal, Alexandra Girls’ English Institution, Fort.

21 Sep 2016 | Mumbai | Puja Pednekar puja.pednekar@hindustantimes.com

• Source: http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx#

Sakal News Papaer | २७/०९/२०१६ | p.8
Source: http://epaper.esakal.com/sakal/27Sep2016/Normal/Mumbai/page8.htm

Make books part of children’s natural habitat: Ken Spillman

• Henna Rakheja, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Australian author Ken Spillman visited India recently.

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“It’s important to stay in touch with the child that is in all of us,” says Ken Spillman. The Australian writer, who was in the city, shares how children in Indian schools are still kept away from books, and how freedom of thought and speech makes one more tolerant.
Spillman has written 35 books spanning across genres, including the Jake Series, which is also popular in India. Ask the author how difficult is it to write engaging tales for young adults and pat comes the reply, “It is easier to draw young audiences.”

His reply might come as a surprise to parents who get exhausted trying to keep their young ones amused and entertained. He says, “One way to make a child read is to leave books on the table and say ‘Don’t read them’. For sure they will fiddle with them… even if they just browse; they will surely register the visuals in the book.”

Spillman first came to India 10 years ago. “Since then, I have been coming here regularly and have seen a tremendous change in the book industry. Indian writing for children has moved beyond Ruskin Bond and RK Narayan, who were earlier always talked about… Now there are more writers and titles. More Indian authors are household names,” he says.
On this trip, the author participated in the annual congress Jumpstart, and travelled across states. “In one of the sessions at a school in Mangalore, a boy asked me ‘Are we allowed to read novels?’ I have been to so many libraries and have noticed that the books are locked away behind glass doors. If we want children to read, we have to make books a part of their natural habitat.”

Known to present social history in a lucid-style, Spillman says: “Giving voice to the past is important. Societies have a very short remembrance in today’s 24-hour news cycle. In this age, it is important to narrate history to children through engaging narratives, without screens blaring at us.”
What seems to worry him more is curbing the right to freedom of speech. “The 21st century is calling out for more understanding and kindness. Leaders in politics and education must recognise that developing readers deliver more than academic success – it can make our societies more tolerant and cohesive,” he says

Source : http://www.hindustantimes.com/art-and-culture/make-books-part-of-children-s-natural-habitat-ken-spillman/story-4vLv9Twv8BZz1edrM5OTsL.html 

Just 15 minutes of TV may kill creativity in kids: study

Just 15 minutes of TV may kill creativity in kids: study

Sep 22, 2016 | 

Over time if children are less creative in their play, this could negatively impact their development.

London: Children who spend just 15 minutes or more a day watching television may become less creative as compared to those who read books or solve jigsaw puzzles, a new study has warned.

Watching TV for short periods does not impact on the number of creative ideas that young children come up, researchers said.

However the research, conducted with 60 children of three years of age at Staffordshire University in the UK, has found that 15 minutes of children's television temporarily reduces the originality of the ideas they come up with.

"We were looking at the immediate impact of television on children's creativity," said psychology lecturer Dr Sarah Rose, who conducted the study. "We compared children who watched slow and fast paced episodes of Postman Pat with children who were left to play with books and jigsaws. We then tested the children for the numbers of creative ideas and the originality of those ideas," Rose said.

"While there was very little impact of TV on the number of creative ideas generated, there was clear evidence that the children came up with less original ideas immediately after watching television although these effects seemed to disappear after a short time.

"Over time if children are less creative in their play, this could negatively impact their development," Rose said.

The new research is potentially useful to producers of children's television, early years' educators and parents as little study has been carried out on the development effects of television on young children, researchers said.

"There is a belief that the more slow-paced programmes are more educational but our findings do not support this," Rose added.

Source: http://www.asianage.com/life-and-style/just-15-minutes-tv-may-kill-creativity-kids-study-326           

Second hand books still in demand in times of e-reading

In the age of e-books and reading devices, second hand books are still doing a roaring business on the pavements of bustling Mumbai where open books markets sell works by an array of writers like Homer and Kalidasa.

By: PTI | Mumbai | Published: September 18, 2016 2:14 PM

Interactions with a host of booksellers in the sprawling metropolis, including one of the biggest “open book” sellers at the iconic Fountain, revealed that though digital era mounts tough challenges to their businesses, there is still a great demand for the books on display on the sidewalks.

In the age of e-books and reading devices, second hand books are still doing a roaring business on the pavements of bustling Mumbai where open books markets sell works by an array of writers like Homer and Kalidasa.
Advent of social media or e-reading devices and apps have failed to dampen the zest of bibliophiles for printed books, including the second hand ones which they can buy at affordable prices.
Interactions with a host of booksellers in the sprawling metropolis, including one of the biggest “open book” sellers at the iconic Fountain, revealed that though digital era mounts tough challenges to their businesses, there is still a great demand for the books on display on the sidewalks.
“Of course, the advent of digital tools like android apps have kept a large chunk of book readers away from us. But we have not given up hope and devise new methods to attract readers or say book lovers,” said Rajendra Chandel, treasurer of Mumbai Novel Book Welfare Association, himself a seller at Hutatma Chauk’s open book market.
Explaining how they are coping with the challenges from “digital distractions”, he said, “Primarily, we sell second hand books which are cheaper by more than 50 per cent.”
“Apart from that, to maintain long-lasting relationship with buyers, we also give books on rent, which has been very helpful in making the customers, mainly students, return to us,” Chandel told PTI.
This largest open book market of the city sells all kinds of titles ranging from fiction, biographies, fashion trends, history, war and wildlife, whose prices range from Rs 10 to Rs 5,000.
For instance, an internationally reputed home-learn set comprising 22 books is sold at a price of Rs 5,000-6,000, far below the price of over Rs 50,000 tagged by book stalls.
What often attracts readers to second-hand joints is that they have a wide variety on display, from pulp fiction to hi-tech thrillers and from science to management.
Though English titles continue to dominate, many of the sellers have in their stock books in Hindi and other Indian languages, including Sanskrit classics and devotional classics like “Ram Charit Manas”.

Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/industry/jobs/second-hand-books-still-in-demand-in-times-of-e-reading/381030/