The consistent use of screens for learning, research, collaboration, and entertainment is a growing concern, particularly for younger generations who experience prolonged screen exposure both in and out of the classroom. Technology is an inalienable element of our lives, but many students are now suffering from decreased attention spans and a weakened ability to retain information as a result of an over-reliance on digital mediums. Parents and educators are emphasizing printed materials in an attempt to limit the distractions that digital devices provide. Print-based materials offer a critical counterbalance to this digital fatigue and studies show that incorporating more paper-based assignments and textbooks into students’ learning schedules can help alleviate some of the cognitive strain caused by excessive screen time. The data suggests that print can play an important role in supporting student learning and development.
Printed Paper Counters Excessive Screen Time
You may wonder why educators are being asked to shoulder the load. That’s because books are losing the battle outside of the classroom.
According to a survey from Common Sense Media, children under the age of 2 years old average 1 hour and 3 minutes of media use per day. According to the same survey, children ages 2 to 4 years-old average 2 hours and 8 minutes of media use per day, while children ages 5 to 8 years-old average 3 hours and 38 minutes. By the time the children reach ages 8 to 12 years-old, that number skyrockets to an average of 5 hours and 33 minutes of screen media use per day. If our youth aren’t unplugging in their free time, the classroom may be one of the few places where they can engage with print-based learning experiences.
It isn’t feasible to expect all students to have access to physical books or an environment that facilitates the quiet time that long-form reading requires, but opting for physical resources like printed excerpts, assignments from novels, and workbooks whenever possible is a choice that can make a real impact on a child’s development. While eReaders provide easy access to a wide range of titles without requiring a trip to the library or concerns about late fees, they still contribute to the issues stemming from the heavy use of screen time. Unlike eReaders, paper offers spatial and tactile cues—turning pages, tracing your finger as you read, the weight of the book—which help anchor memory. These cues reduce the tendency to skim and support immersion, leading to deeper learning.
Printed Paper Encourages More Meaningful Reading
Why is reading so important?
Reading correlates strongly with better comprehension skills across the lifespan, but unlike digital entertainment, many of us spend less than an hour reading per day, especially our youth. Results from the Long-Term Trend (LTT) report show that in 1984, 35% of 13-year-old students reported reading for fun daily. In 2022 and 2025, only 14% said the same. A greater share of 9-year-olds—37%—indicated they read for fun every day, but that’s still a significant decline from decades earlier.
Source: 1971-2025 Long-Term Trend Reading and Mathematics Assessments, U.S. Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), various years. Approximately, 16,000 13-year-old students in 440 schools participated in the assessments between October and December 2024. The Assessments were administered to students in public and private schools.
Credit: LA Johnson/NPR
The same study provides a national look at progress in reading and math for 9 and 13-year-old students. The tests used in the study, which students take with pencil and paper every few years, have asked many of the same questions since they were first administered in the 1970s. Younger students—the ones reading more often—showed significant gains in both reading and math compared to their older counterparts.
Reading has a measurable effect on performance across subjects, and print even more so. Educators don’t need to overhaul their curriculum to make a meaningful impact—small, intentional shifts toward paper-based learning can help students focus, retain more information, and engage more deeply:
- Swap occasional digital assignments for printed worksheets or response prompts
- Use print for active learning exercises
- Distribute printed discussion guides or group activity sheets
- Try cut-and-sort exercises or sequencing activities using printed materials
- Create printable graphic organizers (Venn diagrams, mind maps, storyboards)
- Encourage handwritten notetaking or annotation directly on paper to reinforce comprehension
Print and digital tools both have a place in today’s learning environment. By thoughtfully incorporating paper-based materials alongside technology, educators can help students balance screen time while supporting focus, comprehension, and engagement.
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