A new application for your iphone joins the growing list of ways in which parents can "read" to their children -- without actually sitting down and snuggling with their child and READING together. Parents (and children) are busier than ever, and sometimes parents do need something to occupy their child while they put in a load of laundry, or fix dinner, or pick up one last thing at the grocery store. With this "app", parents can have their child hear a story read aloud, while looking at the pictures on the tiny screen.
There will always be times when it's just not possible to sit down together and read, and I guess that this is no worse (and possibly better?) than sitting down in front of a video. When I speak to parents, I like to suggest borrowing a book/cd combination from the library for busy times like this, so at least the child is getting the experience of turning the pages and using the book.
However, I worry that with so many options like this available, we will lose even more valuable lap reading time. I don't think this application is a BAD thing, just that it's another one of many "easy outs" available to parents now.
Yet another reasong why it is SO important for librarians, caregivers and others to preach the importance of parent-child reading together time, and the many, many benefits it offers children that an electronic instrument cannot.
What do you think?