Struggling with reading? Access knowledge through audio
My child has dyslexia, so is struggling with reading, how can I ensure that she is still able to pursue her love for learning?
Lets dive into the science behind the benefits of listening to audiobooks
"Anyone who finds reading difficult… might retain more from listening to an audiobook. The additional effort involved in reading the words uses mental resources that they would otherwise need for comprehension and memory.”- Matt Davis
Audio creates a safe and comfortable space for learning
When our children learn to read, it is important to remember that all children are different. While some children pick up reading quickly, and read faster than everyone else, others need more time to understand and learn at their own pace. According to the British Dyslexia Association, 1 in 10 people in the UK suffer from dyslexia. Children might fare away from reading if they feel embarrassed by their reading speed or level. With audiobooks, children have the opportunity to re-listen and slow down. They have the chance to really experience literature in a calming and non frustrating way, while still growing as readers, writers, and communicators.
Audio allows children access to knowledge, not limited by words on a page
As our children grow, they learn new things every single day, which only encourages their curiosity. It is such a special time in their lives, when young children want to know everything about anything, and as parents we want to make sure that they are denied this opportunity because their reading level isn't high enough. Maybe a child has a burning passion to discover all they possibly can about space, but the only books available have words he hasn't seen yet. In a study conducted by the National Literacy Trust, young adults and children said that they were able to access audiobooks more easily than hardcopy books, allowing them to engage more than they normally would with literature. With audiobooks, there is no limit to pursuing this same information. Audiobooks provide endless ways that our children can develop both their love of literature and thirst for knowledge.
Audiobooks help children retain more information than reading might
As we learned in our previous blog post, there are two major processes that come together when reading: decoding and comprehension (click here to read the blog in full). As put best by Matt Davis of The University of Cambridge and Programme Leader of the hearing and language group, "Anyone who finds reading difficult… might retain more from listening to an audiobook. The additional effort involved in reading the words uses mental resources that they would otherwise need for comprehension and memory.” This means that audiobooks allow access to another entrance to the world of knowledge and literature without a physical book.
Click on the links to explore STORYSKIMO's curated audio stories: Climate Change, Pollution, Sustainable Solutions, Extinction, Africa - Zanzibar, Funky Animals, Witches are Cool, Timeless stories, Journey into Space, All about Germs, Famous Authors, Majestic Asia, Tales around the World, The Dazzling Mediterranean
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About STORYSKIMO
STORYSKIMO is on a mission to nurture children's love for storytelling through the power of audio. We have created a digital platform of highly curated audio stories to delight all families. Let's stimulate children's imagination, boosts their literacy and love for literature!