Digital books for children: New platform promotes reading experience from 2026!

Digital books for children: New platform promotes reading experience from 2026!

The media landscape is changing rapidly, and children are increasingly spending time on digital devices such as tablets, smartphones and laptops. Interest in classic books has declined. Scientists from the University of Paderborn and its partner universities from Norway, the Netherlands, Turkey and Malta, who have launched an innovative project called “SAYL” (“Stimulating Adventures for Young Learners”). Thanks to funding from the European Union amounting to around 400,000 euros, the three-year project was successfully completed.

The result of this extensive project is a freely accessible multimedia platform with interactive digital stories in ten languages. From January 2026, the platform will be accessible via modern devices. The new multimedia books aim to promote reading comprehension in children and are supported by current research. Available features include language selection, read-aloud functions and interaction with animations.

Target groups and study participation

A central goal of the project is to strengthen the reading experience for families and early childhood education institutions, with a particular focus on children with a migration background and those who speak minority languages. Interested families with children aged four and five can now be placed on a waiting list to be informed about the official launch of the website.

As part of a study, participants are being sought in which children experience stories on the tablet and then tell them. Each participant receives a small surprise as a thank you. Those interested can register directly via the email address Sprachspiellabor@uni-paderborn.de or by telephone on 05251 60 57 05.

Media use by children

In addition to the points from the project, a large number of studies reveal the changing media usage behavior of children. According to the BLIKK study 2017 70 percent of children of daycare age use their parents' smartphones for more than half an hour a day. Families with children ages 6 to 13 are often equipped with a variety of digital media, including televisions, cell phones, and computers.

However, various studies, including the 2016 KIM study, warn that excessive media use can lead to negative effects such as problems with attachment and concentration. Research has shown that there is an increased risk of digital media addiction in adolescence. This makes it all the more important that parents and schools work together on media education. 76 percent of parents attribute this responsibility to schools.

The Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs has identified media competence as a key qualification for primary schools. Studies show that digital media can make learning content more attractive and increase learning motivation, provided that teachers are professionally trained and appropriate technical equipment is available. But reality shows that German schools often lack IT equipment and training opportunities for teachers. These challenges can make media education significantly more difficult.

In summary, digital media today offers both opportunities and challenges. Programs like SAYL could help support this media education and promote a positive reading experience.