The Reading Medium as an Agent in Shaping Cultural and Cognitive Thinking: A Longitudinal Case Study of a Young Algerian Girl’s Transition from Print to Digital Reading

Abstract

This longitudinal case study explores the role of the reading medium in shaping the cultural and cognitive thinking of an Algerian Girl’s from birth to the age of thirteen(2011-2025). It traces the evolution of her reading habits through four main phases: guided story listening, independent print reading, engagement with Arabic and world literature, and finally, the shift to digital reading. Using daily observation, informal interviews, and content analysis, the study illustrates how the reading medium contributes to the development of cultural awareness, intellectual maturity, and academic excellence particularly in gifted children. The findings show that a gradual and well-guided transition in reading media reinforces the child’s relationship with reading and sustains it as a dynamic practice aligned with cognitive and developmental needs.