The Magic of Reading Aloud: Why an iPad Can’t Replace Your Voice

In today’s digital world, it is easy to hand a child a tablet and let a YouTube video tell them a story. The colors are bright, the animation is fast, and it keeps them quiet.

But I believe we are losing something precious when we replace our voice with a screen.

My Favorite Bedtime Memory

When my children were young, our nightly ritual was non-negotiable. They loved having a story read to them every single night. We mainly used the Value Tales from the World Book series—stories that taught lessons about truth, trust, and friendship.

I remember reading to them when they were all tucked into bed, the very last thing we did before sleep.

Those were precious times of bonding that I cherished. But I must confess: often, the story was so long (and my days as a doctor were so full) that I fell asleep right along with them! Or sometimes, I would doze off before they did, only to be woken up by a little voice pleading, “Mom, read another one!”

Why “Drama” Beats Digital

What intrigued my children the most wasn’t just the plot; it was the drama I added to the reading. I used different voices for different characters, whispering for the secrets and booming for the surprises.

An iPad cannot do that. An iPad cannot pause to answer a question or change its tone to match the child’s mood.

When you read aloud, you are inviting the child into a shared imagination.

This is why I wrote Dolly Duitt. It depicts a problem that many people face—kids and adults alike: poor focus. Dolly starts many tasks but finds herself not finishing them. After racking up a list of 10 incomplete chores, she faces a situation with a grave outcome if she doesn’t act.

When a child hears this story read by a loved one, they learn about “resolve” and “priorities” without feeling like they are being lectured.

“I Am Not Alone”

The most powerful gift a book offers is Hope.

When a child identifies with a character like Dolly, they realize, “Wait, I am not alone. Someone else has this problem too.”

Instead of feeling ashamed about their distractibility, they feel optimistic. They see that Dolly figured it out, so they can too.

As parents and grandparents, we can use these moments. After reading, we can ask, “How did that make you feel?” or “Have you ever felt like Dolly?”

This opens a door to feelings that a screen simply keeps closed.