Reading can be magic – even for those who struggle with the printed word!
Regular use of audiobooks can help level the playing field for the growing number of young people in the UK who face significant barriers to reading print.
With 10% of the UK population believed to be dyslexic, more than one in 100 being autistic and as many as 5% of children estimated to have ADHD, these young people are all at risk of missing out on the huge educational and other benefits that reading brings.
Research carried out by the National Literacy Trust has shown that listening to an audiobook requires the same cognitive skills as reading in print and supports the development of skills that children need to read, including language comprehension and the ability to understand and retain information.
What’s more, by removing the barrier of the printed word, they open up the world of books, giving young people the chance to experience great stories and expand their minds through biographies and non-fiction they would otherwise be unable to read.
A simple click to play an audiobook can give access to relaxation and enjoyment to enhance mental wellbeing, as well as widening vocabulary and supporting sentence construction, comprehension and general knowledge. It can also help young people socially giving them the opportunity to join conversations with friends and family about the latest bestsellers rather than feeling excluded.
So what’s the best way to go about introducing young people to audiobooks?
It might take a little time and perseverance to get a young person flying on audiobooks. Here are a few tips to help:
Offer support to get set up
Talk about the different options for listening - streaming or downloads via apps on phones or tablets – let them decide on the method that appeals most.
If needed, help them download the app/find the streaming site and log in.
Talk them through how to find and listen to books.
Create a comfortable listening space where they won’t be distracted or disturbed.
If they like routines, identify a regular time for reading that would work for them.
Use headphones to cut out external distractions and help them focus.
Reading the printed book at the same time as listening to the audiobook supports young people to learn to read by helping with word decoding and recognition. This can be particularly helpful for school set texts too, but if it is likely to put your child off, there are still huge benefits to just listening.
If it works better, they can listen on the move - on the way to school, on a car journey, while exercising or even helping out around the house.
In today’s visual and fast-moving world, listening doesn’t always come easy to everyone, so you may need to start with short sessions and build up.
How to help with book choices:
It might be obvious but the real key is to find the right books read by the right voices.
Talk to them about their preferences - you might not hit the jackpot at first, but keep exploring. Offer encouragement and support to find the books that will really interest them - fiction or non-fiction.
Experiment with different narrators - do they prefer male or female, do they like a particular voice? This is really important, especially at the beginning. Many of the books are narrated by authors or celebrities - these might work well initially to capture their attention and help them get used to audio.
Try choosing a book series to keep their interest and encourage them to move on to the next book quickly.
Show interest in what they’re reading or listen with them – or as a family.
Discuss the characters and the plot and encourage them to think about what will happen next - this will stimulate the desire to see if they are right.
Give plenty of praise.
Inspiration for the Reading is Magic festival name came from Cressida Cowell’s message: ‘reading is magic, and magic is for everyone’ and this focus on inclusivity underpins the very essence of the festival which strives to provide accessible online events for all children. The programme has been thoughtfully designed to ensure that every young person is able to participate. All visual events have captions, a British Sign Language interpreter and the festival has worked with Bath-based The Egg Theatre’s young audio describers to advise the authors and illustrators on audio describing so that more children can enjoy them. Reading is Magic Festival has partnered with Calibre Audio to ensure that children who struggle to access print can enjoy the books that will be featured in the programme.
Young people under 18 with dyslexia, autism, ADHD, visual impairment and physical impairments that prevent holding a book can join national audiobook charity, Calibre Audio, for free. A Calibre membership gives access to thousands of audiobook titles spanning all age ranges from classics to the latest releases, as well as regular newsletters and plenty of reading suggestions. The audiobooks are available on streaming or download or via USB memory sticks. To find out more and sign up, please go to www.calibreaudio.org.uk.