Children losing interest in Books amid rising Screen time
Screens overtake Storybooks
Kolkata | Desk: In the present era, children are spending more of their childhood on smartphone screens than amidst the pages of books. According to a recent analysis, interest in storybooks is steadily declining among children aged 8 to 13. While some children, such as Arnav, Megha, and Ankita, still find solace in the literature of Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury, Lila Majumdar, and Narayan Gangopadhyay, the number of children like Shubhajit who prioritize watching reels and playing games is far greater.
Experts believe that the burden of academic curricula and mobile phone addiction has diminished children's concentration and patience, causing them to shy away from reading long stories or novels.
Publishers and educationists argue that, in today's times, children require literature that resonates with their modern mindset and reflects contemporary reality. According to publisher Soumen Dasgupta, the demand for traditional fairy tales is currently on the decline, whereas children's interest in science fiction remains undiminished.
Meanwhile, experts like Shubhankar Dey believe that books in Bengali and other regional languages require modern updates in terms of presentation and illustrations to make them as visually appealing as their English counterparts. According to retired teacher Sudeshna Maitra, the initial step should be to engage children with short stories featuring colorful illustrations, rather than immediately introducing them to voluminous novels.
Changes in family structures are also considered a major underlying cause of this issue. Author Mahua Dasgupta observes that the disintegration of joint families has led to the disappearance of the tradition of listening to stories from grandparents; consequently, children are turning to their mobile phones as companions to cope with their loneliness.
Furthermore, the practice adopted by parents from early childhood of relying on mobile phones to feed or pacify their children is stifling their imagination. Ultimately, teachers and parents believe that children can be brought back to the magical world of books, which is essential for the development of their vocabulary and moral values, only by revitalizing the school library and fostering a conducive environment for study at home.
