– Kavita Kerawalla, Vice Chairperson, VIBGYOR Group of Schools

Today, information is available at the click of a button. Students can find a novel’s summary, understand the key points of a chapter, or get a quick explanation of a complex idea within seconds. With this convenience becoming part of everyday learning, it is natural to ask: if technology can tell us what a book says, why should children still spend hours reading it?

Reading offers children much more than information. It gives them the opportunity to pause, understand, reflect and form their own ideas. As children move through a story or explore a subject, they learn to look beyond the obvious, make connections and see things from different perspectives. These experiences are important in developing thoughtful, curious and independent learners.

Reading teaches children to stay with an idea

Deep reading requires time and attention. Children follow characters through different situations, understand why events happen, remember details and connect different parts of a story. In non-fiction, they may follow an argument or understand how one idea leads to another.

This sustained attention is increasingly important. When students become accustomed to receiving information in short forms, they may find it harder to engage with something that requires patience. A book gives them an opportunity to slow down and stay with an idea until they understand it fully.

Imagination begins where the words end

One of the most valuable aspects of reading is that a child creates a world in their own mind. When a book describes a character, place or event, the reader imagines what it looks and feels like. Two children can read the same story and imagine completely different worlds.

A summary can tell a child what happened, but reading the complete story allows them to understand how it happened, why characters behaved in certain ways and what emotions the events created. That personal experience encourages interpretation and imagination.

Reading develops comprehension, not just recall

In school, learning involves understanding, interpreting and applying knowledge. Reading plays an important role in developing these abilities.

A child who reads regularly learns to notice details, understand context, recognise different viewpoints and connect ideas. They also encounter unfamiliar words and expressions in meaningful situations, gradually strengthening their language skills. Most importantly, reading teaches children that understanding something is more than simply knowing its conclusion.

Books give children space to form their own opinions

A good book does not always provide an easy answer. It may leave a child wondering whether a character made the right decision or whether a situation could have ended differently. Such moments encourage children to question and form their own opinions.

Teachers and parents can build on this by asking questions such as, “What would you have done?” or “Why do you think the character behaved this way?” Such conversations turn reading into an opportunity for critical thinking rather than simply checking whether a child remembers the story.

Technology should support, not replace, reading

The question should not be whether children should use technology or read books. Both have a place in education.

A summary can be useful when a student wants to revise a chapter, recall a forgotten detail or gain an initial understanding of an unfamiliar subject. However, it should remain a support rather than become a substitute for the original reading experience.

Schools can help students understand when technology is useful and when it is important to return to the complete text.

Making reading meaningful for children

Encouraging children to read does not always mean asking them to read more pages. It means helping them discover why reading is enjoyable and meaningful.

Schools can create reading spaces where students explore different genres, recommend books to peers, discuss stories and share interpretations. Teachers can also connect books with classroom discussions, creative activities and real-life experiences. Giving children some choice in what they read can help reading become a personal habit rather than another task.

Reading is an experience, not simply an answer

Education is not only about reaching the right answer quickly. It is also about developing the ability to think deeply, remain curious and understand different perspectives.

A summary may tell a child what a book contains. Reading the book allows the child to discover what it means to them. As information becomes faster and more accessible, the ability to slow down, concentrate and think independently will become even more valuable.

That is why the book still matters — not because children cannot find information elsewhere, but because the act of reading helps shape the kind of learners they become.

Also read: The Voice That Never Logs Off, Understanding Gen Z’s Activism, Identity and Digital Behaviour