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Books vs screens: are today’s parents and kids headed for a crossroads?

Zara Atique with mer mother Nabiha Atique and sister Sara Atique

Zara Atique with her mother Nabiha Atique and her sister Sara Atique Credit: Nabiha Atique

On one side, parents’ own childhood — a time of books, outdoor play, and simple living. On the other, their children growing up surrounded by screens, games, and a digital world. Is this gap creating a disconnect? Or is it an opportunity — for deeper understanding, better upbringing, and a brighter future? Today, we explore this question through the story of Melbourne resident Zahra Atiq.


Today’s parents come from a “book era,” where entertainment meant playing outside and reading. Their children, however, are growing up in a “digital age,” where the entire world is just a click away. So is the issue really just about games? Or are some of our own mindsets and stereotypes part of the problem too?

In a multicultural society like Australia, children learn not only from screens but also from each other — respect, diversity, and the art of living together. If parents can bridge their “book-era” experiences with their children’s “digital world,” they can raise a generation that is not only technologically advanced, but also deeply human.

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