Blog Roll:

25th June 2009

Audio Books - The Bedtime Fairy.

After returning from a hectic day, then cooking, filling the dishwasher, making packed lunches, bathing the kids and putting them to bed, the bitter sweet words “We want a story!” flutter to your ears.

It is so wonderful that they want to spend time with you and that they are developing an interest in literature that you sit on the end of the bed and grab a book – probably the same one for the fourth time this week. With one eye on the book, the other already asleep, you try to sneakily turn more than one page at a time – but are undoubtedly caught out.

Well, this is where the bedtime fairy comes in. Having spent a few minutes choosing a delightful selection of stories – you are armed with the recipe for bedtime bliss!

“We want a story” rings pleasantly in your ears and you snuggle up with the kids and press play.

The bedtime fairy does all the work! She reads with expression and interest, she engages and delights, she transports you all to the prince’s ball, the mead hall, the princess’ tower, the land of nod.

 

24th June 2009

The Audio Story vs.The Book!

So why would we listen to audio books with children when we are concerned with them learning to read? Isn’t listening to a story rather than reading it just lazy?

Listening to audio books will not inhibit the literacy development of children. Teachers have long understood this and use audio in the classroom as an education tool.

Playing an audio story can be exciting for children and can channel a child’s energy towards learning. And what better way to get a reluctant reader to start learning than helping them fall in love with the written word!

A professional story teller can read a story with expression and can engage their audience with funny voices and dramatic pauses. A clear voice and good pronunciation will aid in a child’s understanding of language.

The benefits of playing audio for young children are numerous and should be embraced at home as well as at school.

And what is to stop you making use of valuable time at home when all the stories on OnlineAudioStories.com are free! They are not just for children after all! We all love the traditional tales we were told in our own childhood – so throw the cushions in a circle, get the family cosy and press play. You can have great fun afterwards comparing the size of the wolf, the ugliness of the witch or the beauty of the world you created.

Some audio stories, like those on www.talesoftime.co.uk are of a more deluxe nature and are filled with dramatic sound effects and emotive music, to heighten the experience. There are some free ones on the site, so try these for a really wonderful quiet time with the kids.