Very sweet article. In my own case, I spend a good deal of time explaining to my children some of the fun things I remember from childhood...and many of them were from an earlier generation that my parents shared with me. Silent films, the Three Stooges, Rubic's Cube and so much more. I think the important thing to keep a hold of in this fast-paced technology-driven society is that we continue to connect with our children.

The one daily experience (tradition) I have continued with my children is dinner around the table. It allows use to share each others day, good and bad, and usually ends with lots of sillyness. It keeps us connected on many different levels.

Haha, 'amateur father'. I can't wait to have children some day! What an honor to see the world through their eyes :)

As a small town girl contemplating having kids and children's librarian by day I LOVED this piece, thank you! I think embracing the softer side of technology is so important and that it doesn't have to be so good vs. evil, black vs. white... Well put.

I agree with pitterpattertutus... there can be positives to the technology that is geared towards toddlers but it IS frightening how integral they can become to children's lives. I endeavour to find a balance and some days I succeed... and some I'm sure I don't. I love the idea of a touchstone, real moments of engaging and linking and I find them through baking with my son as my mother baked with me. Thought provoking stuff. Thank you!

Verdurebydesign I always dinner around the table! (it usually turns silly!) My 3 year old can work the iphone better than anyone in the house. He will sit next to his books and type in the title he sees on the book into the iphone!

Super sweet =)

I find it hard to relate to my son since my childhood did not include legos and transformers as his father's did.

Nothing can replace the good ol' hold-in-your-hands-and-smell-the-paper book. One of my daughter's favorite books was "Grover's Bad Awful Day". She still quotes it today and it has a spot in her old bedroom - next to her wedding pictures.

Life is so alarmingly fast paced with technology, I agree with you completely about books being a touchstone, a place to connect with our own past & unite it with our kids. Books feel like an anchor in an ever faster growing stream of new inventions... a chance for imagination to play in a way that doesn't need any other props. I also play a game with the kids where we throw 'wishing' pebbles into the lake - the first is the wish for the self, the second a wish for the world. It's a way of knowing each others dreams & fears & it's very beautiful. We have done it ever since the kids in our family were tiny!

I am the mom of a two year old and some days I am terrified of the pace of the world and what that's going to mean for my son's future. I get a little stubborn when it comes to technology, I fell like everytime I buy one of these gadgets I am stepping further away from the more tangible things (family time, reading, playing in the dirt, dancing, make-believe) that I loved so much as a child, I just don't want to see those things get lost in the rush for my son. I think balance, and remembering to take in every minute we have with them while they are small, are the most important things we can do for our kids.

Thanks, guys. Glad to know some other people think about this stuff too.

Long live the book! The tangible experience of holding, touching, even smelling the pages cannot be reproduced. Particularly for children.

Books, absolutely, and large city experiences mixed with a small town life!

Books, absolutely, and big city experiences mixed with a small town life!

My mother works at an Elementary school, and was telling me about working with one young boy who, although being extremely well versed in video games, didn't know how to play catch. As in, go outside, throw a ball, catch it. He didn't even know what it was. ...... yes. That was my reaction as well: blank stare. I am pro-technology, but I am also pro-self awareness. Good article. Way to be a self-aware father!

I'm only 27 but I have this rebellious anti-tech side. I gave my ipod to my grandma! I will not allow a computer to read a story to my son, that's my job! I'd let a robot/computer cook dinner or clean though!

Less is more. Great words to live by!

I'd like to think children need to be exposed to reading in all forms, whether print or digital. If my niece can learn her ABCs better from a Youtube video versus some flash cards, so be it. She likes flipping pages of a book at a library, though. She can touch the pictures and ask me what this is (a duck) or that is (ducklings). But there's something endearing about that header picture. It seems no matter what's in a toddler's hands the first thing to do is try to decipher it upside down. Maybe they absorb the pages better that way? Who knows. It got a giggle out of me.

Being a grandmother now, I've found that they, too, all love to be read to. Having that time together to interact, whether it be techno or not, seems to be what's important. What a great, thoughtful dad!

My boys tween and teen. Technology is a large part of their lives, but every night, sometimes well into the night, they are snuggled up in their beds, night light on, reading a good book with a homemade bookmark resting beside them. This is when I take a deep breath and think, all is good.

yeah its really amazing how technology is becoming such a massive influence great post :)

acuriousbrood: luv your comment, esp. the homemade bookmark. Indeed, all is good!

my 3 yo daughter knows how to drive our iPod waaay better than I do, but also knows how to read paper books & loves both experiences. I am trying to resist getting an iPad, but think the interaction she'll have with that is learning in different ways. Not good, not bad, just another tool of their generation. Nothing shall replace my childhood book collection though, I get a kick out of seeing her reading them of her own volition! Beautifully balanced points in this article :)

I am a grandmother. I find it essential to try distracting my granddaughter from computers, Nintendo’s and WI games. I take her to museums and parks. I teach her how to appreciate and love nature. We paint together and make ceramic art. Our kids need well balanced life to become sensible people. But you are right that technology has become a great part of children's life now days.

LOVE this post! When my dear friend had a little girl, I dreamed of all the books I'd write and illustrate for her. I made more picture books than would fit on her shelves! But when it came time for her to start reading, we realized she was having difficulty seeing and found out that she has extremely low vision and is almost legally blind. My friend was devastated, but after looking at different assistive technology, we realized the ipad was perfect. She can enjoy books in very, very large format that wouldn't be available in large print paperbacks. It's a miracle! By the way, this line made me laugh. Hard. "He calls Chicago home, and in winter, less-nice things." As a Vermonter with a sister in Chicago, I hear you.

Cheers to you. When you said, "he loves my hippo voice" you touched on the most important thing about reading together-your togetherness + unique input that will make good memories for him (and you) no matter what the media.--Funny thing about memory and imagination: a group of five yr. olds I work with can construct just about anything with paper ,markers and a roll of masking tape.What do they often make? A paper laptop complete with detailed keyboard! LOL creativity check.

Hooray for reading, however it is being done. I love books. I like that they can be sucked on, crumpled, thrown, stacked, snuck under covers and treasured. I hope they will never stop. But the digital world is incredible too. Incredibly rich and available. The importance and life is in the fact that you can sprawl next to your son, your heads together, eyes looking at each other and whatever it is that you have in your hands. That sharing, that connection is what will last a lifetime and be passed on. IMe, i think paper books do a better job, but then again, I'm an old fart.

Love and nurturing take place when we read aloud to our children, no matter what form that takes. I think the best way for kids to learn about the world is safe in the arms of a parent or loved one who can show what is valued and cherished by the choices that are made, and the cadence of the voices that are reading are so comforting.

Beautifully said by Emerging Image and BirdiesCozyNest! At 30, I have just recently got my first smartphone that connects to the interweb and everything, but cannot bring myself to download any e books despite my husband's recommendations - to me, books are tactile, books smell funny, books get dogeared and worn (and books don't have glare issues). But to my 3 year old who is already an avid reader, I am happy to introduce digital books as well as reading him our torn, stained copy of the Little Engine that Could every night. I think balance is the key... a little from column a, a little from column b. It's not like digital media is going away so we need to embrace it for our children's sake, but also need to nurture the magical world of printed books and ensure they never disappear!

Continue on, you are doing a great job....and yes, you said something that was very true, "when I can be a child again with him", fantastic to discover that, how else could one ever be a child again (and get away with it)! All the best to you and your family!

what a great way to look at raising children. mixing the past with the present.

I work in education and from my perspective, there has never been a time that has changed so much in the history of education.

Great post! I can totally relate. This part- "...the device is a toddler godsend, especially while traveling"- is so true! But when it's time to put away the technology, my two year old son and I enjoy going for walks, collecting pine cones in his wagon and finding the white "make a wish and blow flowers" together. Such a sweet age. @ anemonecomms - love your wording, "magical world of printed books".

Interesting story. Cute video.

I enjoyed your article. My husband and I are extremely low-tech. We don't have Ipads or Ipods, and favor records to cds. We all enjoy sharing things from our childhoods (that we still cherish) like Beatles movies, Babar books, drawing with colored pencils, building legos while listening to music on a little cassette player. It's so important to share your loves with your children.

I'm low tech... my wife is in touch with Kindle and other things. My little girl... not really she's 13 and my son is 9, ...they really don't play the game console or sit around watch TV...but read alot of HARD cover books...I'm proud, they love to read. My son out read he whole school this year and got trophy...almost had a tear choke moment...seeing I played sports, never got anything like that before. We should keep it low tech, let the kids do with the basics...we grew up with....how much GARBAGE is out there on the internet, thats not true.

great article! It's become our issues at the moment at home with our kids whether we should or shouldn't give freedom to high tech world. as at home me and husband are equipped with the latest gadgets ipad, laptop, computer (you name it!). But we still strongly hold the traditional way of reading printed books and playing outdoor instead sitting down with their gadgets. We are still not allowed our kids 5&2 to play with ipad or computer except when very rarely they get a treat watching video from Ipad. We lived right in the centre of Sydney-Australia while almost every kids exposed to those electronics world. Im just worried that soon our children forgotten how beautiful is printed books and outdoor activities, playing with clay, chasing butterflies and fantasising about fairies!! . But it is a real good article and an eye opener! thanks for an interesting article :)

i share apprehension in allowing my kids online (to be honest i dont much like my husband on it either) i miss the old days when computer time was a special treat not an every day thing as for myself checking etsy for a few minutes a day is the most of my technological adventures but i guess there is no going back is there now i just cherish the times when i can get every one in one place with out the stupid battery powered things.

I think its really sweet that you want to give your son the kind of childhood memories that you love. Times move on though sadly but I'm sure he'll fondly remember reading books on your iPad!

I love to volunteer, especially for non-profits whose mission I am passionate about. Needless to say, I dragged my kids along and always found a job for them to do. At times I have felt a little guilty for "forcing" them into my lifestyle, however, now,as adults, continue to volunteer for their own "causes" either on a regular or "as needed" basis. The experiences and relationships these experiences have afforded them have enriched their lives...and it shows!

Complicated issue! When our children will be adults ipad will be vintage and they'll possibly be nostalgic about it as we are now about our worn out childhood books. I think a bit of reading + a bit of computer activity + a bit of outdoor playing is fine as long as there's a balance.

when we asked our godsons, aged 7 and 8, what would they like to play, they listed all possible games from Wii to playing football (soccer) on a real field, to playing the old fashioned board game version of Monopoly. they were happy that we were spending time with them, and I think that's the key point. I recall reading somewhere that Harry Potter brought books back into fashion.

My son also likes the IPAD, I was surprised to find out that he knew how to turn it on himself and find the game he wanted. He's three. Sometimes I wish the technology wasn't so advanced these day, I feel like I rely on it a little too much to keep him entertained.

It is hypocritical to me for us as parents to completely rely on technology but expect our children to "be cozy" and read a book because of our own guilt about admitting that we cannot live without modern technology anymore. It is our own yearning for the time before computers, but you just can't stop a running train. I told my husband (who is African American and I am not) once, :"I should have been born a hundred years ago". His reply woke me up : :Not me, I still would have been a slave...".

I have no children but I teach journalism to 8th graders in a after school program. They are obsessed with new technology and gadgets. But, as a writer and a lover of books...It makes me sad. Will there be any books left? I say teach your son both. They will need both to remain competitive. But, I understand your concern.

you are certainly not alone!!!!

Being a mother of a 25 year old son, i remember reading the classic childrens books to him such as "Ill love you forever".All grown and a collage grad working for a large company now, this brings back fond memories. Isnt it funny how things change yet remain the same!! Good for you!Spend time with him,childrens books,ipad whatever!!!

It's almost scary how fast things can change in just 10 years. I didn't have a mobile phone/ cell phone untill I was about 18 and now my two year old can manage to unlock my touch screen phone and get into his favorite apps. It seems now this is normal for todays toddlers. Amazing.

Things are so different now that it's easy to feel disconnected from the childhood that we had when we look at the childhood experiences our kids are having. We're not as tech savvy, but the divide is still there. I agree, adding in elements from our own childhoods helps us feel connected.

Now THAT is a tempting description of the ipad. We have a rotary wall phone and my 8yo isn't quite tall enough to dial all the way around. We watch the Muppets, and I'm proud that my kids thusly know who Connie Francis and Elton John are -- oh and the 4yo sings Alice Cooper's "welcome to my nightmare"! But yeah, I think a lot of parenting is about those touchstone moments that hearken back to our childhoods. For me, also, it is books. And the beach. And returning to my small town in Maine from our bustling schedule in PIttsburgh. Repeatedly. :)

Wonderful perpective. I do think there is definitely some value in "real" books. When I was a kid I used to hang out and take apart our cassette player, change the needle on the record player, read books. I don't know, but I think it makes you more connected to the media you're consuming if you understand where it comes from more than just clicking a button.

we have done the opposite migration from chicago to northern idaho. our kids spend their summer days on the river, in the woods, picking strawberries. but do i ever miss people, diversity, and the incredible humor that city folks have. i am now that strange farmwife selling soap of all things? we have plenty of technology in our lives. but i think connecting with nature is by far the greatest gift you can give your kids and you can do that anywhere.

What a sweet article!

There is something magical about a bookshelf full of books. And about being able to touch and read them. I will ALWAYS love them, and I hope one day my children do too. But I am not against technology at all. And I think I would like to have a Kindle or a Nook as well as my collection of pretty volumes from bookstores, antique fairs, and Ebay. :)

My 4 year old son can build complex levels on Little Big Planet. However, he spends even more time building complex levels with his Legos. Those of you who have expressed a concern for the loss of the paper book, remember that our children today are living in the future we dreamed about, but will always harken back to simpler times just like us. Their world will be a mix of old and new, just like ours was for our generation. Being born in the 80's, I remember my mother flabbergasted at my skills learning how to write simple programs using the computer language BASIC at ten years old. Imagine our grandfathers seeing us play those classic Atari or NES games in amazement. Yet, I get a warm, fuzzy feeling when I smell an old book. My son knows the difference between a home grown tomato and a store bought one, just as I did at his age. We, as parents, will always instill those values into our children, and even if they don't seem like it, they are listening. Fear not, humanity is safe. :)

I struggle with these same things constantly and it was great to read this article. I have a 5 and 6 year old who love the computer and iPad, but when it comes down to it cut and paste, play dough and hands on reading win over most of the time. I think it makes a difference on the parents involvement in activities. If you are enthusiastic about projects and "field trips" there is less of a need or desire for them to vegetate in front of a screen. Its better for all of us to keep in touch with the "real" world.

I'm a bit old fashioned I'm afraid, I know children growing up now will have more contact with technology than many of us did as kids, but I think young children should read paper books, get their hands dirty & run around outside...plenty of time for technology when they are studying for exams at secondary school and university and then into their adult working lives. My mum recently bought my 21 month old daughter my favourite childhood book - "My cat likes to hide in boxes" - I love the rush of nostalgia I feel every time I read it to her!

It is sad when a 6 year old niece knows how to work an iPhone better than her aunt does. We have an xbox 360 and it's sometimes sad when kids would rather play that than go out in the pool or play outside. I remember loving to be outside as a kid and just loved running around or riding my bike. Wish I took more advantage of that.

I really loved this post, as an expecting mother I find myself asking the same questions as you when it comes to the little touchstones such as children's books. It almost feels as if though some great cultural divide may happen if we don't treasury the little nostalgic moments such as "Green Eggs and Ham" or the original "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs." Thanks for posting.

Kids like touching things. I think it's a very important part of development. They want to see what happens when they do something. They want to manipulate and they are interested in the results. The iPad is a brilliant and obvious solution as a learning tool because it allows a child to test reactions, to control situations and to just mess around.

I love books. I give my daughter books to play with (she's only 7 months old), and she turns the pages and looks at the pictures. I read to her, pointing at the words and pictures and talking about what the characters are doing in those pictures. As a mom and teacher, I think it's very important that children know what a book is. Tactile stimulus is also important. Touching things to feel the shapes and textures is important for development. It's inevitable that our children will be more adept at computers and other technologies than we are, but those technologies shouldn't be their only experiences of the world. I for one, will continue to teach my daughter about the "old fashioned" things I grew up with. In the future I will expect her to teach me about the new technologies I can't quite grasp.

I believe that large chain bookstores will become things of the past. Where as there will always be small bookstores for those who love feel and smell of books. I certainly hope so.