The Best Learning Tool: The Internet vs. Print

I was once treated to a joke about a grandmother and a young boy on his first-ever visit to a public library.  With his jaw dropped he gleefully asked, “Grandma!  They actually printed all of these?”  

Humorous as it may seem, some of us walk around with mixed opinions regarding what would make for the most effective medium for learning in this age of globalization.  Many a pundit would ascribe a child’s apparent “lack of creativity” and “laziness” to an overdose of the World Wide Web and a notable lack of traditional sit down, reading time.  Yet, responsible use of the internet imparts many useful contributions to a child’s intellectual development.  Here are some handy key points for any parent to consider:

1.    Adapting to the Modern World
These days, Internet literacy is a must to be a progressive individual.  Starting a child early will allow him or her not just an edge up, but an easier transition to adapting to a rapidly advancing technological environment.  Children raised with it, will come to grow with it.

2.    Selection of Materials
There is a nearly overwhelming source of educational information available online, as opposed to the books available in school or any leading bookstore.  Books of particular interest to your child can be sourced, ironically, online.  A caveat though: while contents in most books are pre-screened before publishing, Internet sources should be verified properly, as anyone can make a page on Wikipedia.  

3.    Pricing
If you haven’t been to a bookstore lately, you’ll be in for a surprise.  Sturdy toddler books your child will enjoy again and again can cost a small fortune.  Of course, you can always recycle them by giving them away, or keep them as a collection, but children can get bored with a material easily in a matter of weeks, so soon enough you’ll find yourself making another purchase, if not borrowing a new book.  Older children might find information outdated in months, rendering the book practically useless.  The Internet, on the other hand, does not cost as much.  More and more, internet service providers (ISPs) become more competitive, which works for us consumers.  Pre-paid options abound.  

However, nothing beats an easy-to-access reference book when it comes to basic scientific knowledge on, say, astronomy and planets.  Then again, remember that scientists ruled out Pluto as a planet in 2006, changing something that all of us were taught in elementary school.  And it will take a while before the encyclopedias can be updated and printed.

 

Click here to learn more points to consider when choosing between the Internet and print media for your child's learning resources.

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Read on to learn more points to consider when choosing between the Internet and print media for your child's learning resources.

4.    Mobility
For the family that likes to travel, both books and the Internet offer conditional benefits and arguments.  Books don’t need wi-fi, but then Wi-Fi is everywhere - unless you decide on a mountain trip, where reading at night by the fire is simply classic.  Books don’t consume power, but always need a light source.  Laptops and notebooks have become less costly, but battery life may be a concern.  As a parent, weigh the pros and cons and use both sources for their potential to enrich the learning experience.

5.    Sustaining Interest
In this regard, books have limited offerings.  There’s typically one pattern, and that’s it.  When orienting a toddler to the world of reading, he or she may lose interest in flash cards or books.  With the Internet, however, you can type in ABC and you’ll find a wealth of resources for learning, with songs and cartoons to match.  

Both books and the Internet are fun; still, there’s nothing like having your child sit on your lap and help him learn, but my 28-month-old son can literally read letters, and I credit the internet for this, although walking around and pointing out objects, signs and even plate numbers helped a great deal.  Online learning can be fascinating and multi-dimensional.  Bigger kids can learn through moving diagrams and step-by-step illustrations that come to life.  Plus, monitored chat rooms allow older children to share their leanings with individuals of the same age from any part of the world.

6.    Eye Health
Although there are great debates on the amount of eye strain resulting from prolonged use of the computer, genetic factors greatly play into this matter as well.  Both books and the internet use light as a source, so improper or excessive lighting could be an issue.    Kidshealth.org recommends that a computer screen be placed 18 to 20 inches from a person, and that the screen be tilted to eye level.  Breaks should be taken every 30 minutes to rest the eyes.  Doctors recommend up to two hours maximum screen time daily for young children.  Meantime, associatedcontent.com instructs us to “Have the child make a fist, the measure the distance from the knuckles to the tip of the elbow. This is the ideal distance between the child's head and the book or paper he is reading or writing on.”   Similarly, regular breaks from reading should also be observed.  At the first sign of eye strain, headaches, blurred vision, dry or watery eyes or dizziness, consult your doctor right away.


Opportunities for learning, whether through books or the internet, should always be explored.  It is best to have a healthy and balanced incorporation of both.  We owe it to our children to live up to the axiom that parents are, indeed, their first and finest teachers.


Photography by Miguel Nacianceno