>Essay Topic:
Reading story books is better for children than watching television or playing computer games. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your knwledge or experience.
>Example Essay:
It is more helpful for children to enjoy reading stories than to spend time in front of the screen. However, it seems that nowadays quite the opposite is happening and this is certainly not beneficial to their learning process. While watching television and playing computer games do serve as alternative sources of education, there is nothing like the importance of the ability to read well.
As far as the basic learning process is concerned, it is important to resort to reading books for effectiveness. Besides being a great form of entertainment, reading can improve children's language skills and enhance their ability to write, almost unconsciously and automatically. If nothing else, since reading increases one's vocabulary, children are more likely to encounter new words by reading (rather than by watching television or playing computer games). For the most part, children who have better reading skills do better at all subjects and they do better all the way through school. Reading benefits children because they not only can expand their knowledge but also cultivate reading habits. And this explains why it is usually being recommended that reading behavior should start at an early age; and, for that matter, conductive reading environment plays a crucial role in order to stimulate lifelong learning.
Meanwhile, it is true that watching television or playing computer games can be an excellent educator and entertainer, but neither is as effective as reading books when it comes to the learning process. Even though screen time in moderation is a good thing, being excessive in both may double the risk of developing attention problems. It is due to the fact that youngsters' brains can become used to the flashing images and fast-moving editing of video games and television, making it harder for them to concentrate in academic studies. In comparison to the quantity of hours wasted on the screen, reading paperback books provides children with quality learning. That is to say, children should be taught that the use of television or computer games is for occasional entertainment, not for constant escapism. Therefore, it is necessary for parents to set viewing limits and ensure that their children do not become "couch potatos" or electronic-game "nerds".
To conclude, while there is no need to prohibit kids from watching television or playing computer games, parents should encourage them to do more reading instead. It is for their own life-long learning that people can become good readers at an early age. After all, reading is fun, too. (Essay by Jeenn Lee Hsieh)
