Between Reading and Screens : Navigating Changes in Children’s Digital Lives

When the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world, Australian children's screen use surged - and with it came urgent questions about what this meant for reading, learning and family life. Drawing on national surveys and interviews with families and librarians, Between Reading and Screens uncovers how deeply digital devices have reshaped contemporary childhood.

Children are now more likely to own a tablet than a shelf of print books. Yet the story is far more complex than the familiar 'screens versus books' debate. Lockdowns, remote learning and other pandemic restrictions not only intensified children's media use - they also transformed many parents' attitudes. For some, closer involvement in children's digital lives fostered understanding rather than fear. For others, particularly those with limited support or resources, the challenges were profound.

This richly researched study situates children's engagement with books and screens where it matters most: within the everyday rhythms of family life. Through survey data and diverse family portraits, it reveals how reading and digital media now intertwine, how parental habits shape household media cultures, and what all this means for the future of children's literacy and imagination.

Between Reading and Screens offers a fresh and essential perspective on how families are navigating a rapidly evolving mediascape - and what's at stake for the next generation of readers.