Experts: Reading develops imagination, but screens confuse concentration

Sharjah, November 11 / WAM / Specialists have confirmed that reading is an essential means of nourishing a child’s imagination and developing his mental and emotional skills at a time when screens have come to dominate the interest of new generations with the fast and exciting content they provide, which limits children’s ability to concentrate and weakens their interaction with stories and books.

During a session entitled “Between Books and Screens: How to Restore Childhood’s Balance” within the activities of the 44th session of the Sharjah International Book Fair, they stressed the necessity of restoring balance to children’s lives between books and modern technologies through family awareness of ways to encourage them to read and provide appropriate content that arouses their interest and motivates them to discover.

The session, which witnessed the participation of writer and publisher Nour Arab and pediatrician and expert in artificial intelligence, Dr. Muawiyah Al Aliwi, discussed the impact of digital content on children’s behavior and the role of the family and the publishing industry in restoring the book’s place in the lives of the new generation.

Nour Arab confirmed that interest in the book has not declined despite the spread of modern media, explaining that e-books and audiobooks are not a substitute for paper reading, but rather different means of displaying knowledge, noting that generations are changing and require writers and publishers to diversify the methods by which the book is presented to children in order to maintain its appeal in the face of digital temptations.

For his part, Dr. Muawiyah Al Aliwi spoke about the scientific effects of screens on the child’s brain, explaining that watching colorful and fast clips leads to the secretion of the hormone dopamine, which gives the child a temporary feeling of happiness, but over time it reduces his ability to concentrate and imagine.

The session emphasized that the challenge today does not lie in keeping children away from screens, but in teaching them how to balance the two worlds, and that the responsibility of the family, teachers, and publishers is complementary to establish a healthy and renewed relationship between the child and the book, as it is an authentic source of imagination, knowledge, and human growth.

• For more: Follow Khaleejion 24 Arabic, Khaleejion 24 English, Khaleejion 24 Live, and for social media follow us on Facebook and