Screens Are Reshaping Australian Childhood

Perth, Nov 11: Children are now more likely to own a tablet than a shelf of print books, according to a new book by University of Melbourne researchers.
Between Reading and Screens: Navigating Changes in Children’s Digital Lives, by Sybil Nolan, Wonsun Shin, Katherine Day and Xin Pei, draws on five years of research, including national surveys and interviews with families and librarians. It looks at how digital devices have changed the way children grow up.
The authors argue that the story is more complicated than the familiar “screens versus books” debate. They examine how pandemic lockdowns and remote learning increased children’s media use and changed many parents’ attitudes. For some families, being more involved in their children’s digital lives led to understanding rather than fear. For others, especially those with limited support or resources, the challenges were much greater.
Nolan and Shin are associate professors at the University of Melbourne and co-lead its Child and Family Mediascape Research Group. Day is a senior lecturer in publishing and communications, and Pei is a lecturer in media and communications.
DailyStraits put eight questions to the authors, who answered them jointly below:

Who is this book for, and what will parents and educators take away from it?

The book is written specifically with parents, grandparents and other caregivers in mind. Its main focus is families and how they manage books and screens at home. Rather than arguing whether books are better than screens, we make the case that both are important in everyday life. We explain why, and also discuss ways parents can help their children use screen media without becoming obsessed with it.

The ‘screens versus books’ debate comes up every few years. Why will these ideas still matter in five or ten years?

All books are written at a particular moment in time, and our aim is to help parents and grandparents now. But many of the key ideas will last. Reading to toddlers and preschoolers is essential to building the foundations of literacy and developing children’s imaginations.
“Co-use of screen media is also an excellent way for parents to manage screen time. That means sometimes watching shows or reading together, then talking about what you’ve seen or read, rather than just laying down the law about turning off devices. Listening to audiobooks in the car is a great way to share media with your child or teen.

What are the real benefits of reducing children’s screen time?

Negotiating reasonable limits helps make sure growing children get enough sleep and also focus on other forms of play and story-based entertainment. Children don’t stop developing physically until their late teens or twenties, and their brains keep developing for longer still. Even teenagers need regular rest and sleep. Negotiating when they’ll turn off their gaming console can be challenging, but it will benefit them.

Many adults doom-scroll too. How much do parents’ own habits shape their children’s?

Screens are not the enemy, but the way we use them can be a problem. Our surveys showed that more than 80 per cent of parents say they use their phone ‘often’ or ‘all the time’. A lot of this may be necessary ‘life admin’, but children won’t necessarily know that. Parents are the first role model for children’s screen use, so explaining why we’re on screens and cutting back where we can are both important.

What about concerns over screens and eyesight?

As adults, we know how we feel after an hour of pointless scrolling on social media or searching retail sites for that elusive purchase. We feel tired and drained, and if we have weak eyes, they’ll probably feel sore. For children, it’s even more the case. Negotiating reasonable limits is essential for their social and cognitive development, and for their vision.

Some childcare centres and homes switch on the TV to keep children quiet. What does that do to young children?

It’s one way for busy parents to manage childcare, chores and fatigue. But too much passive TV means missed opportunities for activities essential to cognitive and social development, such as playing, moving, reading, talking and interacting with others.
“Better alternatives include audiobooks and story podcasts, sensory play with playdough or kinetic sand, busy boxes with stickers or dress-up items and, where possible, outdoor play. Occasional screen use is sometimes unavoidable, and parents can make it less of a problem by choosing age-appropriate, slow-paced content, talking about shows with their children and turning the TV off when no one is actively watching.

With AI now reading stories aloud, writing them and answering children’s questions, what is at stake?

When adults read to children, they bring their own perspectives and can’t always answer every question straight away. That gives children the chance to understand different views and think for themselves. When children read on their own, they use their imagination, work out unfamiliar words and interpret meaning, which builds critical thinking, patience and independence.
“AI-generated stories and interactive reading can be fun and support children’s reading skills. But when AI gives instant answers, explains everything and constantly adapts stories to children’s preferences, the next generation may miss chances to think independently, use their imagination and engage with perspectives different from their own.

Australia has banned social media for under-16s. Will that change children’s reading habits?

The ban may reduce some forms of social media use, but it doesn’t necessarily mean children will spend less time on screens. Their attention may simply shift to platforms that aren’t restricted, such as AI chatbots, messaging apps and gaming. A survey by eSafety this year found that 78 per cent of Australian children aged 10 to 17 now use at least one AI assistant. The ban is unlikely to automatically increase children’s reading, and there is no evidence that their overall screen use has fallen since it was introduced.
Between Reading and Screens: Navigating Changes in Children’s Digital Lives (Melbourne University Publishing) was released on 15 September 2026. It is available in paperback (208 pages) for A$29.99.

Editor’s note: A copy of this book was provided to DailyStraits by Melbourne University Publishing. Responses were provided jointly by authors Sybil Nolan, Wonsun Shin, Katherine Day and Xin Pei.