Parents praise the benefits of books in east Belfast

There is no app to replace your lap.

That is what they tell parents at St Matthew's Primary and Nursery School in east Belfast to encourage them to read with their children.

And Jennifer Donnelly from the school said the message was getting through.

"When children are developing their speech and language a book can take you anywhere," she said.

"Although there is a place for technology at times we feel that if a child is sitting reading with you, turning the pages and learning all about how to read the book it's so much better than the technology."

Jennifer was among those at the Eastside Learning reading fair at the Skainos centre in east Belfast spreading the message about the benefits of books.

But parent Faith Ritchie, who had come along with her young daughter, needed no convincing.

She reads with her daughter most nights.

"I find it's a good way to engage with my daughter, to spend time and bond with her," she told BBC News NI.

"Since she's started early already it's helped with her communication skills.

"It started off where I'd just look at the pictures with her and now she's able to tell me what the pictures are and we create our own stories.

"Now as she's starting to get a wee bit older we're looking more at the words, to see if she can recognise words from the book then."

For mum Jessica Gilmore, reading with her young daughter had also changed her own view of books.

"To be honest, I didn't like reading when I was in school so I really want to boost her to like books and love them," she said.

"So I'm trying to get myself to like books now.

"She really has a love for it so I want to kind of put that in my flow while she's going before she gets into P1.

"I think it's really good for their imagination."

Both parents said they knew that screens and phones were likely to enter their children's lives more as they got older.

But Jessica is hoping to delay her daughter getting one "until she is at least P7".

Education Minister Paul Givan recently gave guidance advising all schools to restrict when and how pupils can use mobile phones.

Some schools have introduced their own measures - like putting phones in magnetic pouches - to stop the use of phones during the school day.

Though recent research suggests that evidence for the benefit of phone bans is not clear-cut.

A number of studies, though, have highlighted the benefits of reading for children.

Reading improves language skills and fires the imagination. Some research suggests it's also good for our general wellbeing, improving confidence and self-esteem.

But fewer children say they read for pleasure outside school.

In St Matthew's, they take part in a scheme called the Big Bedtime Read to encourage children and their parents to read at bedtime.

And Jennifer Donnelly said the response from parents has been positive.

"The bond between the parent and the child is developed, the speech and language is developed," she said.

"It's speech and language that'll help the child proceed through the school and have better outcomes and that's what we're hoping for."

Ruth Guildea from Eastside Learning said part of the reading fair's purpose was to give parents more confidence about reading with their children.

"Even if they didn't feel confident themselves, they're still able to pick up a book and read the story, look at the pictures and interact with it," she said.

"Just being confident that they're doing the right thing for their child is really, really important."