Screens & Attention

RentToRead Blog

What the actual research says about screens

19 articles in Screens & Attention
A father reads a book aloud to his young daughter in a children's library.
Reading Habits4 min read

Does Fidgeting During Story Time Mean Your Child Isn't Listening? What the Research Says

You're three pages into the bedtime story and your child is upside down on the pillow, picking at...

3–5 yrs6–8 yrs
A child wearing a red hat indoors, holding an open storybook.
Reading Habits4 min read

Winter Holidays Without the Fights: A Realistic Reading Plan for the December Break

The term ends, the suitcases come out, cousins arrive, and the carefully built bedtime-reading routine quietly disappears for...

3–5 yrs6–8 yrs9–12 yrs
A young child sitting at a table, lit by the glow of a tablet screen in a dim room.
Screens & Attention4 min read

My 2-Year-Old Won't Put Down My Phone — What Actually Helps

It's 6pm, dinner isn't ready, and the only thing standing between you and a meltdown is your phone...

0–3 yrs3–5 yrs
A young child outdoors in Dharamshala gazing intently at a tablet screen
Screens & Attention4 min read

Physical Books, E-Readers, or Reading Apps: Does the Format Actually Matter for Kids?

The school tablet already has a reading app on it, free e-books are a download away, and here...

3–5 yrs6–8 yrs9–12 yrs
A young boy wearing large over-ear headphones, eyes closed, listening intently
Reading Habits4 min read

Do Audiobooks Really Count as "Real" Reading? What the Research Actually Says

It's a long drive to the grandparents' place, your child has headphones on and a story playing, and...

3–5 yrs6–8 yrs9–12 yrs
Two toddlers sitting together on a sofa, both absorbed in watching a shared tablet screen
Reading Habits4 min read

My Child Would Rather Watch the Cartoon Than Read the Book — Does It Matter?

Your child has watched the cartoon version of their favourite story four times this week and hasn't opened...

3–5 yrs6–8 yrs9–12 yrs
A young boy looking closely at a tablet screen
Screens & Attention3 min read

My Child Only Reads on a Screen — Does That Still Count as Reading?

Somewhere between an e-reader for bedtime stories and a tablet full of reading apps, a lot of parents...

3–5 yrs6–8 yrs9–12 yrs
A boy looking thoughtfully through a window
Screens & Attention4 min read

Is Boredom Actually Good for Kids? What the Research Says

"I'm bored" is one of those phrases that makes a lot of parents reach for a screen, an...

6–8 yrs9–12 yrs
A young child reading a book, deeply focused, in front of a bookshelf
Screens & Attention5 min read

Does Screen Time Really Hurt Children's Attention Span? What the Research Actually Shows

Most articles on this topic open with a warning. This one won't, because the honest answer is more...

3–5 yrs6–8 yrs9–12 yrs

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